My gardening Diary
MONDAY
Although we’ve managed to plant out lots of the primulas we grew from Barnhaven seed, there’s still tray upon tray to be incorporated in various beds and borders. All of them are going in on the west side of the garden and though it’s sunnier there, perennials will provide shade during summer and autumn.
TUESDAY
While I’m away at the Chelsea Flower Show, Neil has finished constructing our new compost heaps. They’re now officially open for business, or at least they will be as soon as the residual bindweed’s removed from the soil they sit on. I’m glad I’m still away!
WEDNESDAY
Orlaya grandiflora, sown to use its creamy-white, lace-cap flowers for Alice’s wedding, has peaked prematurely and is pu ing on a show in her garden here instead. The timing of flowers, estimating when they’ll reach their peak, is proving to be more difficult than I’d imagined.
THURSDAY
The frost damage at Glebe Co age was unusually severe, with fern fronds and other emerging foliage shrivelling and blackened, though at the Malvern Show it was plain it had been even more severe there. My friend Veronica’s magnolias were decimated. They’ll recover, but what havoc late frosts wreak!
FRIDAY
To my horror, we discovered a few Spanish bluebells on the shady side of the garden. There are lots of native ones close by and bees spread pollen. Orf with their heads! We need to dig out the bulbs and dispose of them.
SATURDAY
I’m back from Chelsea, so an opportunity to look at the garden and catch up with what has been happening. At this time of year, it’s at full thro le. Astonishing how fast plants grow in just a week. There’ll be peonies, poppies and peas galore.
SUNDAY
Our Cercis siliquastrum is in full flflower – smothered in its vivid purple-pink flflowers. My mum grew it from a pod she picked up from a pavement in Portugal! Last year it was looking rather poorly, but this year it’s magnificent.