GARDENER'S WORD

We have had beautiful sun here in West Yorkshire for the last two days. I've taken down the hanging baskets that I left over winter and hope to have rescued three fuchsias that did have some sign of life. In one of the baskets, I found moss growing. It's such a beautiful plant and I can understand why moss gardens are popular in Japan as well as other places, I expect. I removed the moss and laid it on a pot of very moist compost. I hope it thrives. If it doesn't, I have enough around the edges of my lawn to try again. 

Another job done, I've pruned Hydrangea paniculata 'White Lady'. I want to force it to branch so that there will be lots of white flowers this summer. The flowers are produced at the ends of the branches and each year has put on a delightful display from when the buds form to when the flowers begin to fade and become papery in autumn. This shrub attracts pollinators, like bees, butterflies, & hoverflies. Ideally, the plan is, that it will be a small tree. The dustbin men broke it in half when it was very young by throwing bags on it! So, I've had to adapt the plant accordingly.

One job done. Spring is in the air here in West Yorkshire, the garden is waking up and although England is still in the virus lockdown, at least I can do as I please in my own garden. I've hard pruned Buddleia Davidii Nanho Blue, which I grow in a giant container, down to about 2ft (60cm). It is surprisingly vigorous and before long will be displaying long branches, hopefully with lots of flowers. It attracts butterflies like the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), as well as other pollinators like bees and the lovely, harmless, hoverflies.