Spring Rolls On Regardless!

Down by the pond.

A self set Cowslip in the Saxifrage.

Nature isn't worrying about viruses and more and more plants and shrubs are bursting into colour.  The  Wisteria too is beginning to colour up and having been festooned with CD's and plastic owls to stop the birds from eating the buds, all defences have now been removed as the flowers begin to open revealing their intoxicating perfume in the warm spring sunshine.  The rest of the garden is alive with pollinating insects on overtime and birdsong from dawn until dusk.  The Japanese acers are wearing their spring livery and the colours are all so fresh and vibrant. Cowslips are all blooming in our mini meadow and can also be found having self seeded in lots of other nooks and crannies around the garden.  We've succeeded in preventing the birds from eating the Wisteria buds and it's just beginning to flower.  I can hardly wait!!

Geranium pyrenaicum Bill Wallis. 

Japanese Acers waking up.

WARNING - TULIPMANIA - INFECTION RISK!

There has been a severe outbreak of Tulipmania here at Pear Tree Cottage!  Very serious indeed.  Last autumn I bought some bulbs from J Parkers and they have been a resounding success.

 

I was also given some white ones by Tammy from Stockton Bury Gardens which have added to the show and, WHAT a show!  I adopted the layering approach and with a very poorly shoulder and in the pouring rain, enlisted Chris's help back in October.  Being used to heavy duty manly jobs, he (dare I say?) rather looked down his nose at such a girlie task.  We planted, Narcissus, Scilla, Crocus and varieties of Tulips.  As each flower faded, I was there deadheading and the show has continued since early last month.  Even Chris is impressed with the results.  

We have been lucky with such a prolonged sunny spell and I've not stopped admiring them so stand by for some photos!

VIEW WITH CARE - TULIPMANIA CONTAGION RISK!

Spring Garden Work in Lockdown

Despite lockdown and isolation, garden work continues apace.  The big shrubs overwintering in the greenhouse are all now outside as are Agapanthus, Lemona, Pistachio and Brugmansia - fingers crossed: no late frosts!  The tomato bed is all prepared and their cane framework all erected.  Our tomato plant supplier: CF Genever Tomato Specialist Supplier has come up trumps with 8 different varieties so the race is on to see who picks the first fruit!!

At the other end of the garden, the compost bay is now empty and creosoted and borders are all mulched.  Potatoes in the vegetable patch are popping up as are radish, broad beans, carrots and peas.  Runner beans have been sown and lettuce plants all pricked out.  Owing to a lack of seed, parsley and basil plants from supermarkets have been acquired, divided up and repotted.  Needs must!

Up the Garden Path - The Greenhouse Virtual Tour.

In view of the lack of garden visitors this year, it's been suggested by the National Garden Scheme that we offer garden videos for people who had planned or hoped to make a visit.

With that in mind, I shall be doing virtual tours.  So that no one falls asleep, I'll keep them short and so we start of with the first one which takes up to and around half the greenhouse!

If you're still awake, here's a short tour of the other side of the greenhouse!

Garden Tool Envy!

Top Lawn Border.

Amelanchier La Paloma

Nearly empty compost heap.

This week the bulk of our time was spent weeding and edging the top lawn borders, A bit of a Herculean task normally - however, Chris has a new garden tool in the form of a 3 tined cultivator with the single tine at the 'front' NOT the back!  It's amazing and makes such light work of such jobs.  I'm VERY envious!!  he then barrowed up loads of compost from the compost heap and gave everything a really good mulch.  All very satisfying work and so very smug making!!   

We are relieved and pleased to see the little Amelanchier in full bloom.  We have already lost one in this border and this is the second specimen - so far doing well.  Not only lovely flowers in spring but fabulous leaf colour in autumn. Bonus!!  

STILL BUSY IN ISOLATION!

5 barrow loads of well rotted horse manure!

Head Gardener was indisposed this Saturday, and missed out on vegetable growing preparations.  She had made a start in tidying the Vegetable Patch but luckily for her, Chris was on hand to do the heavy work come to the rescue!  

Chris's Mantis cultivator

It's that once a year getting ready for the growing season that I hate to miss out on!  Chris had brought some horticultural gold dust in the form of super well rotted horse manure and worked it in with his mantis cultivator.  Whilst there were jokes about it looking a tad girlie, it actually proved totally and perfectly ideal for our small patch.  I now have a perfect tilth in which to sow and plant.

Not only did he leave it looking as neat, level and pristine as humanly possible but knowing how I hate to miss out on garden stuff,  he even took a few photos! Thanks Chris! As soon as this cold spell is over (later this week, we're told), I shall be out there sowing and planting.  Seed potatoes in the form of Arran Pilots are already chitted and whilst I know that many sow broad beans far earlier, it's much easier for us to clear the entire plot in a single session rather than till soil avoiding plants growing already. Hence, over wintering Brassicas and Chrysanthemums were all removed beforehand.

All finished with bean tunnel back in place!

 Isolating or not, there's always plenty to do in the garden!

Garden Lighting MOT

Dave at work.

Another one fixed!

Visitors or not, it was time for an MOT on the garden lighting system. Dave Melhuish of DSM Electrical Services - PTC's very own lighting consultant & electrical engineer par excellence popped over to work alone in the garden replacing broken lights and generally ensuring everything was in tip top order.  If we're to have the garden to ourselves this summer, it'll be nice to have everything working properly.  After all, it looks as if we might be here for the long haul.  Garden lighting was one one of the best additions.  In winter, uplit skeletal trees come to life and on long summer evenings, soft lighting bouncing off the leaf canopies is the height of horticultural romance!!

An example of Dave's work on the terrace.