GARDENER'S WORD

The Tete a Tete daffodils are looking really pretty packed together in a wall trough at the front of my home under my living room window.  It was difficult to get a photograph of them face on as the breeze was blowing their little heads so that they were nodding frantically.  In the border below, the primula denticulatas are in full bloom.  Two of them anyway: the mauve and the white.  There should be a cerese one somewhere, probably, hopefully, about to flower.  I just love this time of year in the U.K.  The beginning of spring with summer and autumn ahead, leaving winter behind.  I noticed the other day that many fields where sheep graze are fully of baby lambs.  How lovely!  Tete a Tete daffodils Primula denticulata - white Primula denticulata - mauve

It's that time of year again - busy, busy, busy.  Well, actually, no, not too busy.  There are lots of things to do and so much of it that it is overfacing.  So, little by little.  I've started by repotting what needs it and taking cuttings from my large pelargonium plants (geraniums) which I overwinter indoors.  I've been taking cuttings from the same, original, red pelargonium for years now.  I love the colour, never tire of it, and so today I took 12 cuttings.  Fingers crossed that they do well, but the cuttings usually do.  And, the mother plants will make new growth and also be planted out when the frost has gone.  Pelargonium cuttings This is how my red pelargoniums look in full bloom: 

A friend gave me a miniature, sparkly, rooted Christmas tree back in December and although I wondered if it could possibly survive covered in gold glitter (and probably glue), it is making new growth.  So, I have repotted it into a slightly bigger pot as it was definitely root bound and we shall see what becomes of it.  I've no idea what kind of tree it is but if it turns into a demanding monster, it will have to go and live elsewhere.  I shall try and restrict it by keeping it in a pot.  For the meantime, I have it indoors, as it has been since December, but soon it will go and live outdoors permanently.  It is, at present, less than 30cm in height!  I wonder if it will mind if I bring it indoors for a week or two next Christmas (supposing I can still get it through the door!).  Miniature Christmas tree with glitter Miniature glittery Christmas Tree making new growth

There's an alert to watch out for, and report, Asian Hornets which have found their way to the United Kingdom from Europe and can kill honey bees at the rate of, it said on the BBC news, forty per minute.  They are savage little critters and I saw on BBC news a video clip showing an Asian Hornet attacking a little honey bee, and the other bees were trying to drag the injured honey bee back into the hive.  How sad.  So this is my contribution to the alert.  You are looking for a hornet (looks like a wasp) with a gold/yellow band on a dark abdomen.  See poster and the video clip below.  (c) Non Native Species Secretariat Description below from British Bee Keepers Association Vespa velutina queens are up to 3 cm in length; workers up to 25 mm (slightly smaller than the native European hornet Vespa crabro) Entirely dark brown or black velvety body, bordered with a fine yellow band Only one band on the abdomen: 4th abdominal segment almost ...

The other day I visited Gordon Riggs garden centre in Walsden, near Todmorden, and they had some super sculptures there.  I'm not sure how weather-resistant they are for the garden, but I particularly loved the giraffes.  I'd love to find a place for those in my garden.  What fun! Giraffe sculptures at Gordon Riggs garden centre, Walsden Elephant sculpture at Gordon Riggs garden centre, Walsden Due to wind damage to my fencing, I have decided to replace fencing and replan my garden.  I'm not getting any younger, my balance problem isn't getting any easier, and I want a beautiful garden which is less labour intensive.  The biggest worry is the fencing.  Powerful winds in January this year (2017) took down three panels and snapped a 4x4in post, so I am delaying any gardening until refencing has been done.  Watch this space! However, I did today buy a packet of sweet peas and a packet of Wisley Magic runner beans at the RHS garden shop i...

On the 20th of March 2017 it will be officially spring.  In my garden, which has been badly neglected over the unkind winter months of storms, rain, and general miserableness, encouraging signs of spring are appearing.  A couple of crocuses have opened, green leaves of bulbs are sticking through the soil of my containers, daffodils have buds which are not far from opening, and the brilliantly coloured Iris reticulata 'Harmony' has two flowers in full bloom which I swear you could see from the moon.  Well, maybe that's too much of a hyperbole, but you get my meaning.  Iris reticulata 'Harmony' At the front of my home, in a relatively narrow border, there have been signs of bloom all winter.  The blue flowered shrub Lithodora diffusa (also known as Lithospermum diffusa) 'Heavenly Blue' has just about flowered all winter.  It's a low growing everygreen shrub which flowers prolifically but, be aware, it's great for ground cover and if you are growi...