On queue the Deutzia is flowering in time for the Malvern Spring Festival. I don’t know which variety it is as it was here when I moved in 13 years ago. I cut it back heard each year after flowering or we wouldn’t be able to get up the steps to the garden! This year is seems to be groaning with flowers more than ever before.
The garden is looking very lush and fresh. Lunaria Chedglow has been wonderful for some weeks now and I plan to try and collect some seeds so I can keep these honesty going. I do like the fresh foliage on box, it will almost a pity to clip the two cones back at the end of the month.
The Woodland Border is getting into its pace with the Solomons Seal and False Solomon Seal flowering and I am pleased that the epimediums have really clumped up in the last few years to provide good ground cover. In the background you can just spot the young leaves of the Mahonia. I do like the fact that the new leaves are coming through in reddish hues which are bouncing off the Acer in front of it. I am also pleased to see the Mahonia leaves as two years ago I ruthlessly chopped the plant down to the ground in the hope that it would produce a number of stems instead of its one very tall stem. The plant sulked for a while but it is getting back into its stride now and looking good.
The top grass path is still in need of a cut. I have been rather distracted with other things this weekend so the only gardening that occured was cutting the front grass and potting up the pelargoniums. It might look shabby but the pollinators are loving it and the cat loves the long grass.
The Big Border is finally filling out this year and I am glad that I took the decision not to leave spaces for dahlias and other annuals this year. Its main focus is late summer which lots of aster and rudbeckias but at this time of year the camassias and aquilegia provide a bit of color.
Finally one of those unexpected delights – Paris quadrifolia – which I have forgotten I planted last year. I have to say that the flowers are a little smaller than I had anticipated but it is still a delight.
