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 Beidermeier
|
On the sunny side, I have lavendar, dianthus (pinks), heuchera 'Marmalade' and 'Licorice'
 |
| Heuchera 'Marmalade' |
 |
| Heuchera 'Licorice' |
The hanging baskets are doing really well too. Although, here in the north, they shouldn't really be put out until June, mine have been hanging outside since the beginning of May and I have kept a keen eye out for frost. I've only had to bring them in twice. I am hopeful for a good display. This year I have limited my planting to bacopa, lobelia, ivy, and begonias.
I always think if you are going to have a lawn, have a lawn, not a jungle weeds and bald patches and, for me, that is the hardest part of gardening. It's easier said than done, especially if you have pets as you are limited as to what you can put down in the way of weed killers and so on. This year I had to resort to a special weed killer/lawn feeder - Evergreen Complete 4 in 1, and kept my cat off it until it was safe. The result has been magical. Not a weed in sight and the little bare patches are closing up as the grass spreads and thickens. The problem with my lawn is that the soil underneath is poor in places, such a lot of rock was buried in my garden and it has been too much of a mammoth task to dig it all up, even for a professional 'gardener' (not me!). So I have to do what I can. I think it looks pretty nice though.
Hoping for a really lovely, sunny summer.
