It seems a while since I have done a ‘My Garden this Weekend’ post partly due to bad weather but also due to other demands on my time. However, this weekend I had the luxury of a weekend with no plans and despite the weather being changeable with sudden showers I still managed to steal a few hours both days to potter.
I think my favorite activity in the garden is pottering. I have tasks that really need doing and also things I would like to do and finding a balance is often a challenge. However the rain which made some areas of the garden difficult to work in meant my choices were restricted to working in areas close to the house were the ground was firm under foot and so a combination of tasks and plans were achieved.
Picking up dead leaves and pulling up weeds is so satisfying; from a jumbled mess signs of spring are uncovered and left on show to cheer you through the cold gray days. I was particularly delighted to see that my one remaining Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) has at least three flower buds emerging. I planted 3 or 4 some years back and I am thrilled that one has established tucked in between a rhododendron and box pyramid. Last year there were two flowers so to see an extra one emerging is very rewarding.
There are swelling buds on the rhododendrons and one of the camellias. Strangely the second camellia which is planted alongside only has a couple of buds which look quite under developed. This will be its second year in this location and it was moved here as it was very weak looking in its original location. The plant has put on growth so maybe its new location is better but the leaves still look a little chlorotic so I might try giving it a feed in the spring.
Another plant showing yellowing leaves is the Sarcococca. It seems to dislike being planted by the black bamboo in the front garden and its dark green leaves have become more yellow. Although it is covered in berries from last year’s flowers there is a lack of new young leaves and not too many obvious flowers. I wonder if the soil is just to damp for it. So I have dug it up and potted it up in a large pot with the hope that this be a better environment for it and it will recover. If it does then it will have a winter home adjacent to the front door so we can benefit from the scent of the flowers.
A couple of Hippeastrum bulbs arrived this week; purchased on a whim having read an article in The Garden magazine. Strangely the information sheet that came with them advised that the bases and roots should be immersed in lukewarm water for a few hours before planting. I suspect this is to rehydrate the roots but it’s not advice I have come across before. I dutiful followed the advice and we shall see how they do compared to the very cheap one I bought at the local supermarket that came wrapped in some dry compost.
I finished off by tidying the patio borders where again lots of snowdrops are starting to appear. I tied in the winter jasmine which has been flowering for weeks and cut back the clematis which occupies the same bit of wall. I have decided that the clematis and jasmine are not a good combination so the clematis will come out in the spring and will be trained up the house wall which I think will be a preferable location and it should flower better.
What could be better to sit down on a Sunday evening having spent some hours outside on a cool bright winter’s day and to look out at a border all neat and tidy and ready for Spring.