It feels like all the gardening jobs have hit me at once this week. Not only do I have my own garden to care for, but I also designed and manage my parents garden, so it's been all systems go with many more seeds to sow, new plants to find space for, ponds to clear and patios to jetwash.
My back wasn't thanking me yesterday after a whole day of weeding, digging and planting in my parents garden, only to come back and start digging and planting in my own garden. That, on top of jet washing two patios the day before must surely negate the calories in the cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels I scoffed yesterday ;-)
One thing I've really been trying to do this year is buy more UK grown plants. It's surprising just how many are grown overseas and exported here, which is really sad, as our economy needs the money as do our nurseries and garden centres. It's also said to be more beneficial to the gardener to have locally raised plants, as they will be more tolerant of our conditions here in the UK.
There was a small but pleasing UK grown selection at my favourite garden centre. I bought some of these beautiful Ipheion (Rolf Fiedler) to go around one of my wildlife ponds. They have the daintiest blue flowers and look amazing, especially after an April shower.
My back wasn't thanking me yesterday after a whole day of weeding, digging and planting in my parents garden, only to come back and start digging and planting in my own garden. That, on top of jet washing two patios the day before must surely negate the calories in the cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels I scoffed yesterday ;-)
One thing I've really been trying to do this year is buy more UK grown plants. It's surprising just how many are grown overseas and exported here, which is really sad, as our economy needs the money as do our nurseries and garden centres. It's also said to be more beneficial to the gardener to have locally raised plants, as they will be more tolerant of our conditions here in the UK.
There was a small but pleasing UK grown selection at my favourite garden centre. I bought some of these beautiful Ipheion (Rolf Fiedler) to go around one of my wildlife ponds. They have the daintiest blue flowers and look amazing, especially after an April shower.
This pretty lamium was also UK grown. It has shell pink flowers with variegated leaves and should look great once it starts to spread and mingle. I also picked up some more Narcissus, just because you can never have enough, and happily, they were locally grown.
During the same trip, I managed to find just the right plants to go up my new obelisks. I've chosen a beautiful climbing rose called Joseph's Coat for one and another called Summertime for the second. I also couldn't resist another Clematis. This one is Rosea, which I understand can support itself as it tends to have a bushy habit, but I've still planted it near an obelisk as it should flower at a different time from the rose and give more interest.
The perfume from the hyacinths is completely intoxicating in the garden now. I have so many in little clumps their scent follows you all over the garden.
The Himalayan Cowslips are in full bloom around the ponds along with the Snakeshead Fritillary.
And the ponds are my next job to tackle. Busy, busy, busy!
