GARDENER'S WORD

While the climbing and rambling roses are maturing, the borders have been a bit dull so I have been livening them up with a few plants.  I have a wet and shady side of my garden and, opposite, a sunny and drier border which competes with nextdoor's rhododendron and lilac bushes.    Arthur Bell, T-Rose first open this year On the shady, moist side, I have planted Astilbe 'Chinensis Vigour', Dicentra 'Luxuriant', and Aquilegia 'Beidermeier'.  They really do look pretty.  And I have transplanted the Honeysuckle  Lonicera Periclymenum Scentsation  that I planted in a pot last year and had in a corner against the house wall.  It really wasn't happy at all and so now I have it against the fence, between climbing roses and it is turning into a bully boy and trying to take over, even though it is only supposed to be a small variety, 10ft maximum height!  I can see I am going to have to get tough with it!  Aquilegia Beidermeie...

After having had a wonderful week or so in April, we are now receiving the much needed rain and far less welcome winds.  However, my garden is standing up to it quite well, with minimal damage.  The wind managed to tear the plastic on my mini-greenhouse but that was no matter as I was well armed with a new cover which I had bought in readiness for next winter.  It's a lot tougher.  I went out and pulled the new cover straight over the top of the old to protect the pumpkins, courgettes and butternut squash which are growing well, considering I should only just be planting the seeds.  Soon, I will be able to transfer them into their permanent summer places.    I've been clicking along with my mobile phone camera, so you can see how things are growing. The tomatoes are coming along furiously.  I bring them indoors during the evenings and put them outside during the day.  Already there are dozens of little cherry tomatoes on each Tumbling Tom....