happymarion

Spring sweethearts

Awww, thanks chicky. Lovely garden. Artjack.  The David Austin Roses at Chelsea look lovely and i bet they smell divine.

Spring sweethearts

Ahhh, C

Chelsea week and my spring garden is a knock-out.  I usually watch all the footage on TV and conclude at the end of the week none of the gardens are as satisfying as mine.  I hope my visitors on Wednesday will think so too.  I have 3patios to get ready for serving tea.  No 1 has just been done so here are three shots of it.

Tasty Tips

The flowers of rocket are delicious and lovely in salad.

Tree Peony in its 7th year

Here is my tulip tree, about 25 years old, on May1st this year just opening its leaves. whereas my tree peonies have big fat buds already.  The tulip tree will be covered in its beautiful yellow flowers end of June.

Tree Peony in its 7th year

Quite different.  A tulip tree is a Liriodendron and is a forest tree.  A tree peony is a larger version of a peony and does not make wood so not a true tree but a perennial /shrub which grows to about 8ft at most.  I have both.  I will post some pictures.A tulip tree will flower at about 15 years old.  this is tree peony "Flame"

seen at the Garden House Devon last June.  the leaves of the tulip tree are very distinctive with a "biteout of the top.  they have a tulip flower shape'

Spring sweethearts

Yes, hollie hock, Pieris "Forest Flame"  The white panicles of flowers should be coming soon.  I have a huge Bramley apple, a worcester Pearmain, a Charles Ross and a Cox's Orange Pippin all vying for the bees to pollinate their blossom but very few bees venturing out as it is too cold for them.So savouring and photographing the blossom may be all the satisfaction I get this year.  The pears have set however as the blossom came earlier in the warm little snap we had so Conference and pears poached in wine from my cooking pear tree with chocolate sauce at Xmas are on the cards anyway.  Thank you for your lovely comments.  i am so enjoying your snaps and getting ideas for my Golden Jubilee in my garden Year.

Can any confirm identification please?

I will try to find a photo of Viper's Bugloss at Westonbirt arboretum as i know i snapped one there. last year.

 The flowers are a lovely blue.

The daftest thing you've done in your garden

My worst mistake was not stopping my late husband when, on learning his cancer was terminal , he decided to make our half acre garden "safe" for me by planting ten, yes ten, Yucca gloriosa plants all over the garden, near the paths.  That was 24 years ago.  I have had various attempts to keep them from spiking visitors with the family's help ever since.  They flower to about 16feet twice a year, June ans at Xmas but the spikes are lethal.  The thought was lovely as we live in the middle of a huge housing estate but the work the thought has caused has been tremendous.  i should have said NO.

Spring sweethearts

Not bad - will try some bigger ones.

 My Bramley apple tree.

Spring sweethearts

That should be a huge picture.  i will try some with less kb's

 Above is a lovely ajuga

picture difficulties

Talkback: Gardening in Russia

Spring sweethearts

Spring Spectacular

Talkback: House sparrows

Gardeners World new season

Talkback: Blind daffodils

Talkback: Good things about February

Talkback: Waiting for the snow to thaw

Talkback: Learning from 2012

Winter wonders

Talkback: 2013 in the garden

Talkback: Winkworth Arboretum

Grow it and eat it

Talkback: December gardening jobs