CLICK ON IMAGES FOR ENLARGEMENT. THOSE IN GROUPS ACCESS GALLERIES THAT CAN BE VIEWED FULL SIZE BY SCROLLING DOWN AND CLICKING ON THE BOX AT BOTTOM RIGHT.
Today began dark, wet, and windy. Thinking we would be unable to do much more in the garden we transported the results of yesterday’s crab apple pruning to Efford Recycling Centre.
As is the Head Gardener’s wont, she bought two more fibreglass faux terra cotta plant pots from the sales area.
The sun did put in brief appearance this afternoon, so I was able to present a snapshot of the first official day of Spring.
Jackie has also started buying plants, like these violas,
and these snake’s head fritillaries just plonked in an urn for the moment.
Both are visible in this shot of the kitchen bed.
These camellias shed their confetti-like petals on the Dead End Path.
Others are visible on either side of the decking in this view beyond Margery’s Bed;
more in the Palm Bed;
and beside the Head Gardener’s walk which also displays cyclamens.
These two were buried in darkness when we arrived three years ago. Now they are able to flower,
being visible from across the Dragon Bed.
Figures lining the walk include dragons and a cherub.
There are, of course, hellebores and daffodils everywhere;
and pulmonaria, such as these clambering over a brick boundary.
A small mahonia planted last year is thriving along the back drive,
where a periwinkle has been stencilled on our neighbours’ wall.
A little bit of luck is essential to a successful photoshoot. As I was focussing on the garden it was appropriate that mine today should be blooming.
I was unhappy with my first shot at the epimediums, so I went back out to make some more efforts.
Then came my first ‘little bit o’ bloomin’ luck’. A bee had decided it was now warm and dry enough to flit from bloom to bloom.
As I clicked away at this insect, I received a second stroke. More clicking above my head alerted me to the fact that a pair of long-tailed tits were using the weeping birch branches as trapezes.
This warranted a tribute to Stanley Holloway:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jfkaf70SYM&w=560&h=315]
This evening we dined on our second helpings of yesterday’s Chinese takeaway with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Callia magna Malbec 2014.