Pottering About!

What a great week I chose to take off work - nothing new there. Ever since my son was born 24 years ago, the first week in June has become a regular week off from work. Weather is generally great and this year was no exception. Temperatures were regularly high teens or early twenties - sweltering even, for Scotland, that is!

I had been trying to think of a word or phrase that could best describe how I spent my long sunny days when the phone rang - it was mum to tell me she was on her way and did I need anything brought in. After a quick discussion around what we were to have for dinner etc - she asked me.....

"What have you been doing today? - Are you still pottering about in the garden?"

That was it......Pottering About! For the first time in as many months - my garden had reached the stage that all I had to do (for now) was to Potter About!

Those two words 'Pottering About' describe my week to a T! Sitting down, reading a newspaper or book, listening to the radio or just relaxing on a chair with my eyes closed - listening to the birds chirupping around me, the distant sounds of lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, municipal vehicles coming and going and the occassional dog walkers making their way along the pathway to the local park and river walk. Mental notes for autumn planting were taken. Plant wish lists were added to.

The odd half hour, here and there, was spent dead heading. Secatuers snipped away at a few over hanging stems or branches. Lawns were edged at a more leisurely pace. A few badly placed plants were moved or removed. Climbers were tied in before they reached a tangled and unmanageable state. A bit of random weeding. The only 'major' job doing the whole week - not that you could consider it 'major' - but it did take me more than a mere 30 minutes, self seeded Snowberry (Symphoricarpos) was beginning to take hold, growing amongst my back hedge.  I spent a whole afternoon ripping and tearing it out - they tend to pull out easily provided they have not been able to take hold!  Since clearing it out - my hedge has been loosing it's leaves at an alarming rate - I don't know what has happened but it  now needs further investigation.  I can't see any obvious infestation or damage but it is concerning me.         

I've been Pottering about today too, taking some shots of what's blooming in the garden for GBBD this June. Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a meme very kindly hosted by Carol over at May Dream Gardens. Pop over to see what's happening in gardens around the world.

Please join me for a stroll around my little plot

Weigela Kosteriana variegata 

Polemonium caeruleum

Let's start in the front garden.  I should add at this point, my front garden will feature very little in my blogs.  I have yet to be inspired on what I'd like to do with this area.  I tend to heal in plants that have no permanent home or aren't doing too well else where.  A variegated Weigela and the Jacob's ladder is now large enough to be divided into quite a few plants this might make a rather nice 'drift' elsewhere in the garden.




Magnolia stellate mid June 2013

Through the side gate - The Rhododendrons are almost over.  Amazingly the Magnolia stellata is still producing buds - I declared in an earlier post back in May that it was only ever going to produce one flower - it has been producing a single flower every week since!!  Don't you just love getting proved wrong! Pinks and whites are the predominant summer colours in this border at the moment - the towering steely blues of the Aconitums will join in soon enough. 

left to right: Dicentra spectabalis, Dicentra eximia King of Hearts, Meconopsis betonicifolia Alba, Primula japonica Apple Blossom, Cortusa mattholli Alba and Geranium Sylvaticum Album

  





Pond Border mid June 2013

Still on the shadier side, in the back garden proper, is the area I call - the Pond Border.  In terms of ponds - it is probably best described as a 'puddle'. I did read somewhere once that even the smallest of ponds can have a beneficial effect on the garden, then again, I also read that whatever size pond you choose, go the next size up as they always look much bigger than they actually are.  How I wish I hadn't ignored that bit!!  I really would like a larger pond.
Let's take closer look at what's flowering this June - the Astrantia and Tellima have taken on huge proportions this year and are currently out doing the slow growing shrubs planted to their rear.  One day those fences will green up!

Tellima grandiflora, Heuchera, Astrantia, Polemonium, Polygonatum, Ajuga and Hardy Geraniums flowering in the border
In containers: Chiastophyllum oppossitifolium, Saxifraga cunefolia Variegata and Picea glauca J W Daisy's White 

Rhododendron Goldflimmer - not as floriforous as previous years is the last of the Rhododendrons to flower
     

Rhododendron Goldflimmer

  
Up onto the deck - a dwarf Azalea I've had for well over 15 years and long since lost it's label.  Clematis Nelly Moser usually compliments it but is very slow this year.

It's at this point in my blog I should have had pictures of some Oriental Poppies to show you - the wind today was making it impossible to get a decent shot.

A full 180 degree turn onto the sunnier side of the garden - my mid/late summer border is still very green

Summer border mid June 2013

    
Like the Astrantia on the shadier side - the Aconitums and Cardoon (top right of picture) are massive!  No need to guess which plants really benefitted from last year's rain.  Incidentally, most of us associate Aconitums with being shade lovers, if you have reasonably moist soil (not waterlogged) they will be just as happy in full sun as they are in shade.  

Clematis 'The Vagabond' has just started to add impact in the border, it will flower for most of the summer - Clematis 'Peppermint' will appear later in the year.  A disappointing Allium display - around 20 bulbs were rescued from flooding last year but only 2 survived and produced blooms.  A pretty little dwarf Geum 'Dingle Apricot' will be moved in autumn over to the pond.  I've tried some over there and it copes with a wee bit shade.  This will look nice planted beneath the Cotinus, I think.  Again, hardy geraniums on the sunny side are just starting to flower too, more on them in a later blog I suspect.

Flowering at the top end of the garden (where it flooded last year) a few plants that can and did cope with the weeks of excess water - the first of those flowering are some Trollius - these were planted new in the garden spring 2012 and the first time they have flowered.  Astilbes and Persicaria will follow later.

Trollius acaulis

This pretty little dwarf Trollius is native of China, despite being very small its sunny yellow flowers are very welcome. It's also popular with the pollinators.    




Trollius x cultorum Cheddar

Trollius Cheddar is a very soft creamy yellow and extremely difficult to capture a shot of, no matter what time of day!!  I'm hoping that one day this will make a lovely sized clump.  It's one of those plants that I was never quite so sure off but now I've seen it flower, I rather like it.  It's scented too an added bonus!

My new Primula bed is beginning to come to life - alongside a couple of slow growing Acers I've planted numerous Primula that will flower at varying times of the year.  I'm really pleased with this - considering I only finished planting it up a few weeks ago.



Primula beesiana, P. japonica Millers Crimson and P. bulleesiana

  
Also planted in this border is Geranium endressii Wargrave Pink it is a perfect little companion for purple leaved Heucheras - seen here with Heuchera Obsidian

That's it for a stroll around my garden and I'd like to end with a caption competition.  Please meet Titch - the smallest of my 3 cats, introducing himself to a new Nepeta (Blue Danube)  I've planted in the gravel bed.  I've no prize to offer but it will be fun to read his mind!




Guess what I'm thinking!

   

I should add that no cat was harmed during this shot - only his pride because he couldn't get at it!

Thank you for visiting - I'm off now to see what's been blooming in your garden!   
   
    

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.