April - All's well that ends well!

April is generally the month Scottish gardeners call spring and although this year it got of to a rather slow start, as was apparent at the time of my last post it ended pretty much as I could have hoped.  April showers have not been as they would in a normal April but we can't have it all, can we?

The majority of my gardening time takes place in the afternoon, this is due to my working hours.  I feel that this month, especially, I have been able to take full advantage of the bright sunny days we have been experiencing.  The garden thermometer has been gradually rising this signals time for my winter gardening attire to have it's last spring wash and is now packed away for the foreseeable!

It was 3 years ago work began on the garden and now that some of the plants are entering their 3rd year, I am filled with hope that those that survived and thrived should look at their best this year.  3 years ago my garden consited of a large square lawn, a square of gravel chips and a large square deck.  Surrounded mostly by old rotten fencing - the gales in March 2011 and January 2012 soon saw the back of them.  I finally put the last remaining trellis tops on the fence that edges the sunny side of the garden - phew, as she wipes her brow!
I have, single handily removed and replaced all the fencing.  No, I am not blowing my own trumpet - budget restraints meant that I'd rather not hire someone in to do it.  Money wasted on labour is less money to be spent on plants, right?  I'm more than capable and it's the kind of work I love doing!  My neighbours in adjoining properties are either local authority tenants who have no interest in maintaining their boundary fencing or in the case of Dave (to the left)  and Nick (over the back) - completely and utterly useless at DIY.  Their share of the work was disposable of the old wood - which, even now, lies in heaps at the rear of Dave's garden.  Not that I worry about that - I can't see it anymore!

As most of my shrubs are barely waist high, they have yet fill out and reach a maturity that shows them at their best,  I find that because of this I tend to appreciate the beauty of the 'little things' around at this time of the year and I suspect for a good while yet.

Lets take a look around.......              

Yellow daffodils are all new to the garden, planted last autumn or bought in bud recently.  I have always been hesitant of planting yellow daffodils in the garden.  Personally, I am not a big fan but my increased garden blogging and on line gardening time has seen me appreciate their spring colour more.  The ones I chose are all smaller varieties and have quite grown on me (excuse the pun)!  Narcissus Jet Fire, Rip van Winkle and Tete a Tete.

Narcissus 'Thalia' however, is a different matter - I just adore these.  They tick all the boxes. Scented, multi-headed, pure white and have in previous years blooms for in excess of 2 months - what's not to like.  I grow these in containers and this year - they are destined for the borders, where I hope they will be very happy! Another white daffodil 'Tresambles' is full of buds but not quite there yet.

Tulipa humilis Persian Pearl are the only Tulips that don't grow in containers.  Generally my soil is not as light and free draining as tulips require.  These, however, have coped well and come through last year's wash out!
They grow in a gravelled area and add a bit of punch in the gravel bed now that the Iris retics have gone over.

Primulas are now coming into their own, I do have a bit of a thing for Primula - luckily they grow well in my garden, which always helps, doesn't it?  Over the forth coming months, there will always be a Primula of some sort flowering - a topic for a future blog, me thinks!  In a normal year, our native 'primula vulgaris' will generally throw up the odd flower throughout the year but won't really put on a show until March but this year being so far behind it has taken until April.  I apologise for so many pictures but I didn't want to miss any out.

Primula denticulata (drumstick) Cashmeriana always first to flower

     

Primula veris (cowslip) grows under a golden Physocarpus

Primula Don Keefe

Primula (unknown)

Primula vulgaris Innisfree

Primula vulgaris Drumcliffe

My newest addition - yet to find a home in the garden
Primula maximowiczii

I have found this spring that the Dicentra spectabalis is very slow - both white and red are miles behind the normally later Formosa and Eximia, some are barely above the surface of the soil, yet King of Hearts and Luxuriant are almost ready to flower!  Dicentra cucullaria, awaits a permanent home.  A couple of losses Persicaria Red Dragon, Kirengeshoma and Rhododendron Taurus.  The later has now been removed completely.  It has suffered Cushoin Scale for the last couple of years and it's becoming a chore to keep on top of.  Opportunities for new planting in the border it came from though!   Persicaria and Kirengeshoma are presumed dead!  The Kirengeshoma I was kind of expecting but the Persicaria should have had no problems with winter at all!  My large Cordyline australis has come through winter having been wrapped like an Egyptian mummy for the last 6 months.  The foliage leaves a lot to be desired but I'm glad it's alive!

Other April blooms

I end with a bit of optimism for May - someone forgot to tell this Peony that everything else in the garden is at least 1 month behind.

Thank you for joining me as I record my April garden, these monthly look backs will provide a useful reference tool for me.  If you want any further information on any of the plants I have growing, please, where I have provided a link - is a more detailed profile and my findings on growing here in Scotland.  

Helen over at The Patient Gardener hosts an end of month review meme.  If you are interested on what's been going on around the world this April, please pop over and join in!

Scottish Rock Garden Club

I had the pleasure of attending my first ever plant show at the weekend.  What a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon I had.

The Edinburgh and Lothians branch of the SRGC hold a show here in Edinburgh annually.  Being that it is very local for me, a ten minute drive round the city bypass, made it an ideal candidate in which I could dip my toe into the water so too speak.  Alpine plants have always fascinated me and have admired them more often than not, from afar!  As my confidence in gardening is growing - I am hoping that I can turn my hand to growing some of these special little plants.  The main purpose was to get some inspiration and talk to the people who grow them.

I met some lovely people on the day.  They were very willing to discuss their plants and more importantly answer some of the questions I put their way.  I did feel like a bit of a duck out of water - the show format was sort of baffling for a first timer!  I've since found that the show rules are available on their website - now that I've read them, I can look back with a bit more understanding.

As I walked into the hall - I was taken aback by the riot of colour that greeted me.  Members, visitors et al formed an orderly queue - I stood patiently in line until it was my turn.  There was plenty of oohing and aahing.  Heads were nodding, grins were beaming and appreciation was apparent.  The dedication and commitment could not be ignored.

The most coveted award in the show is the George Forrest Memorial Medal.  Named after George Forrest the Scottish plant collector and explorer.

   

"the winner is........Hepatica Transylvanica - exhibitied by David Boyd"

A few more shots of these fascinating little woodlanders

Hepatica auctiloba

Hepatica Ashwood strain

On the opposite side of the hall - pans of Primulas were lined up - their exhibitors, no doubt, waiting with anxiety just a few minutes before the doors were opened and results revealed.  Here are a few,    

Left to Right
Primula Gold Lace, Primula Jackie Richards and Primula Blindsee

Various prize winning Primula

Perfect white blooms

Another group of plants which were exhibited in their droves were Saxifraga.  Saxifraga are a fascinating group of plants - such a diverse group that have really taken my fancy.  There were many beautiful specimens on display - here is a group of prize winners.

By far the largest exhibitor on the day was the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh their display was astounding and had I more room and a proper camera (not my phone) with me - I could have show cased this panoramic scene better.  Here are a couple of shots from the display

Various bulbs inc. Muscari, Narcissus and Fritillaria

Fritillaria towering above

More spring bulbs

Erythronium 

The vast amount of spring bulbs on display was to say the least, impressive - I wondered if the extended winter that we have seen this year has anything to do with the selection displayed at the show.  Having looked back at previous show reports it seems so!  Not that it hampered my enjoyment of the show, far from it!

My favourites of the day.....

Crocus 'Prins Claus'

Techophilaea cyanocrocus

Saxifraga Georgei

I had agreed to meet up with a friend at the show and as she is a member of the SRGC - she needs to take her turn at manning the entrance table - collecting money and selling tombola tickets.  Her stint was to last 1 hour - this gave me the perfect opportunity to go have a look through at the Plant Sales room before we had lunch!

There was a few nurseries displaying their wares along with an SRGC members plant sales table.  I was speaking to the owner of the local nursery I frequently use - he told me that despite the hall only being open for a short time - sales were good and plants were just flying off the tables!  I cheekily told him that I would not be buying from him, I could do that any time and if I'm being completely honest - I already had most of the plants he was selling that interests me!  He just laughed and with a little wink said 'See you next weekend!' - he knows me well!

As I wandered from seller to seller - I felt it only fair that I should not show favouritism and purchased a little something from each of them.  That will be a topic for another blog of course but as I already had a little project in my mind before going - I'm going to have an attempt at something like this

or this

or this

  

These miniature gardens are fascinating - I'm hoping that I can recreate something similar.  Now that I've bought the plants - I'm excited to get started.  I have finally managed to find a local source of Tufa rock so will try to get there at the weekend.          
        
I hope you have enjoyed my novice look around the Scottish Rock Garden show but if you would like to learn or read more, the 2013 report has just been published and you can read it here.