Inspired by Kew

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was really inspired to add a few new plants to my garden after my recent visit to Kew Gardens. It was the Rhododendron Dell there that really captivated me. En masse, they looked incredible, and there were so many different varieties and beautiful colours that I'm sure it would have  been impossible not to find at least one to fall in love with. Add to this the fact that they produce beautiful blooms in Spring, well, I just had to find some space for a few.

I already had one Rhododendron, a Percy Wiseman, that had been languishing against the fence for a few years. Although it bloomed, you couldn't really appreciate it as it was tucked behind other plants. I bought this one forward, and it's now sitting snugly between a Hebe and a Hardy Geranium. It got a good feed of ericaceous compost, and has looked spectacular for the last fortnight, blossoming with little speckled flowers.

One of my new purchases was this gorgeous Azalea, Mme van Hecke. It looks just as good in bud as in bloom, and is evergreen, always a bonus I think.

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I don't 'do' red in the garden, with the exception of strawberries and tomatoes on the patio, so I was about to pop this Azalea, Geisha Red, back on the shelf. Looking again at the plant though, the buds appeared more pink than red, so I decided to risk it. I'm glad I did, as they have indeed bloomed a delicious deep pink colour that blends in beautifully with the others. 

The last purchase was this Dwarf Rhododendron, Impeditum. It has lovely little purple/blue flowers and I was taken with it enough to purchase two, the second of which I've placed in the new area where the garage was removed.

So, this is my very own little rhododendron dell, and I'm looking forward to seeing the plants grow and merge over the next few years.

The rest of the garden is looking full and lush at the moment, and though we've had a few really lovely sunny days, it's mostly been rain, rain and more rain. I do hope that's not the theme for our 'summer' again this year, as I'd love to actually sit in the garden and appreciate everything out there!

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It's all happening now!

It's been crazily busy here over the last week or so. I decided to get all the 'boring' jobs out of the way early in the year so I could spend the latter months doing the things I really enjoy, like planting, sowing seeds and taking cuttings, as well as just sitting and admiring the garden when everything is in bloom.

So, I've painted trellises and fence panels, scrubbed a zillion pots, had a shed revamp, re-lined the fish pond and generally worked my little socks off to get everything ready for the coming season.

My beautiful Hellebore Xsternii, a hybrid between Argutifolius and Lividus, is still putting on a great show of delicate green flowers tinged with pink, providing the bees with some much needed pollen.

The petals on my Angel Heart tulips are just starting to fall now. I do wish they would bloom for longer, as their colour is just wonderful.

Dicentra are getting ready to show off their fabulous teardrops. I must have gone a bit made with divisions last year, as they seem to be appearing all over the garden! The white varieties are lagging behind the pink though, no sign of their little blooms yet.

Clematis Freda leaves are appearing...and leaves are all I got last year! They were new plants though, so I'm hoping now they're established in their permanent homes and have had lots of tlc, they will reward me with masses of their deep pink flowers. I have one growing up my shed and another along the fence. I'm hoping they'll eventually meet to clothe that whole corner.

I still have Narcissus Thalia, a beautiful double headed white, in full bloom. And Muscari are everywhere!

Bluebells are just beginning to show. Still nowhere near as many as I want in my garden, so this might be the year I finally get around to purchasing more. I really want to fill the gaps I have in my little woodland areas  with them.

Anemone Blanda still in bloom. Azaleas and Aquilegias waiting to blossom and Marsh Marigolds are adding a touch of yellow sunshine.

And, this is not pest I really wanted to find in my garden again. They stopped me growing my favourite Oriental Lilies because of the devastation they caused, they started on my pond lilies last year, and now, NOW, I find them on my fritillaries! Pfft, darn things. Beautiful they may look, but they are complete pests, leaving barely anything of their favourite plants left. Leaves, buds, seed pods, they eat them all! Bye, bye Liliy Beetles, it's the squish for you!!

But these little darlings are more than welcome. At last, the first batch of tadpoles have emerged! Still lots more to come so the ponds are definitely going to be heaving and I'm going to need more fish food to keep their tummies full!

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