While I may be sick and tired of rain the garden revels in it. My soil is light and can absorb any amount of water without becoming waterlogged. Bare soil is fast disappearing as the plants grow.

Borders filling out

I have tidied up the small rock garden – essential if it is not to become overgrown.

Rock garden

Behind it is a raised bed with some blocks of  Tufa in which are planted Sempervivums and tiny Ferns. I emptied the bed this year, added fresh soil and gravel and replanted. The bed had been rather neglected so now I have space for some small alpine plants.

Raised bed

My Amelanchier is flowering for the first time. I chose this variety because it has an upright habit and should not grow too big. It replaced a very old Pyracantha which I was sorry to lose. The foliage is supposed to have good autumn colour followed by black  berries that are attractive to birds.

Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk'

Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk'

Unfortunately we did have a frost early in the month which caught the buds on my Wisteria. Sadly we will only get few flowers this year. Here you can see one live bud surrounded by brown crispy ones!

Wisteria

Luckily no other plants were affected by the frost so if I turn my head away from the Wisteria I can see lots of colour other than brown. The first hardy Geraniums have started to flower – Geranium phaeum, reliable as always.

Geranium phaeum

More showy are the Bleeding hearts……

Dicentra spectabilis

though this one has bled out :-)

Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'

One advantage of all the rain is that the pond is full. We gardeners must always look for the silver lining.

The pond

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We have had wonderful sunny weather for the last three weeks and I have concentrated on giving the garden its yearly Spring clean. For me this is the time to tidy up, clear away weeds and dead foliage and trim or prune any plant that needs it. I can also see which plants have not made it through the winter.

I pruned the plants growing on the trellis behind the Cercis and Eucalyptus trees. The Clematis montana, Japanese Quinces and early Rose Canary Bird were in a complete tangle. For some reason the one of the visiting Squirrels takes delight in pulling off the Quince buds, taking a bite and dropping the remainder on the floor. The soil was covered with them.

Bottom of the garden

The Witch Hazel in this border is difficult to see but it has now survived two winters and has established itself well. Behind it is Magnolia stellata giving a beautiful display as usual.

Witch Hazel Border

Here is the wooden seat with the small wildlife area underneath.

Wooden seat

No frogspawn in the pond this year which is a disappointment.

The pond

Moving towards the house the large revamped borders divided by a new path are looking less “new”. The Solanum on the post survived the winter without protection much to my surprise as it is rather exposed to the elements.

New centre borders and path

The Libertia is creeping across this gravelled area. It is a beautiful orange colour. I will fill the old tin bath with some colourful annuals once there is no more chance of frost.

Gravel garden

The Ginko tree in the small raised bed is heavily pruned as it is near the house and I use it to hang the bird feeders that I leave out over the summer. Sadly I have still not learned to look which way my shadow is falling before taking a picture.

Ginko

Two things that did not survive the winter were an Olive tree and a large Grevillia shrub by the side of the garage. This has allowed the border to be revamped and an Acca and Pyracantha have been installed as replacements.

Garage border

All nice and tidy at the moment though I know that will not last for long.

In need of a trim and a tidy up

The Eucalyptus tree sheds its bark at the end of each year so this year I decided to bundle it up and stow it away in the corner – the beginnings of a small wildlife hotel. I’ll add other bits and pieces later so that there will be a selection of different sized “rooms”.

Eucalyptus bark

After the clean up the border looks neater and I can see where there might be planting spaces as I have a dozen plants in the greenhouse looking for a home. Unfortunately when I look closely most spaces have a plant just showing through or a plant marker indicating a sleeping occupant. Plants needing a space =12, Planting spaces found =1. Hmmmmm……

Tidy but showing a sad lack of planting spaces

But at least I can see the flowers now.

Crocuses

Snowdrops

I also tidy the narrow side border. It is not deep enough but we cannot be bothered to move the path at this late stage. Careful pruning and trimming keeps the plants in check.You can see the twisted branches of the Wisteria on the left.

Path to the bottom of the garden and out to the allotment

Last year I planted some Catmint (Nepeta cataria) in this narrow border only to watch my cats flatten every nearby plant as they rolled around in extacy. This year I moved the Catmint to a small border where the plants are very tough. I cover it with an old hanging basket securely fastened to the ground. Without this protection the plant would be destroyed by the constant nibbling. As it grows the cats can only eat the leaves that poke through the mesh. A win win situation for all!

Catmint under wraps

Lets hope the good weather continues so I can tidy the rest of the borders. Once that is done the garden suffers benign neglect as I concentrate on growing vegetables.

I lightly watered the plants in the greenhouse. It can get hot in there when the sun shines even when it is freezing outside. I left the door slightly open to provide ventilation. The trick is remembering to close it later on otherwise the fan heater which keeps temperatures just above freezing would be on all night.

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Here is what it looks like outside. Brrrrr…

Snow wonderful snow!

I am glad that this year I wrapped up some of my plants that had suffered damage last winter.

Protected plant

Yet there is still some colour in the garden even though snow blankets all the borders. Some plants take advantage of the extra warmth generated by a fence.

Ribes speciosum (species Currant)

Ribes speciosum (species Currant)

Some plants evolve with petals that shrivel up in the extreme cold and uncurl when the weather grows a little warmer.

Hamamelis 'Vesna' (Witchhazel)

And some plants refuse to accept that snow is even an issue. They look right at home.

Double Snowdrop and Cyclamen coum

Though I like the snow I would prefer winter to depart. I think it is time for Spring to arrive.

Up near the house I have pots of Narcissi and Tulips which should give a colourful show next spring. They are covered with protective mesh, mostly to keep Mr Squirrel away but also to prevent my laziest cat from using the pots as a handy toilet area. On the left you can see the ground feeder for the birds – again protected against Mr Squirrel and also  the local Pigeons. The mesh allows small birds to get through.

Top of the garden

Just out of view in the above picture is one of the few flowers still showing in the garden. This small 90cm (3′) evergreen shrub has been flowering since April and shows no sign of slowing down.

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'

Further down there are more hanging bird feeders and on the right against the fence two evergreen climbers wrapped in straw, fleece and bubble wrap, the far one much shorter than the nearest one. These are Trachelospermum jasminoides. Last year the nearest one was cut to the ground by the frost and snow. I thought I had lost it so this year I am taking no chances. I was so sure I had lost the original plant that I bought a new one which is why there are now two wrapped up bundles.

Middle of the garden

Below, the splash of orange in the centre is Erysimum ‘Apricot Delight’ and the wide curving silvery green branches behind it belong to Teucrium fruticans which has lovely small blue flowers in early summer. The greenhouse is now lined with bubble wrap and, along with an electric fan heater, helps keep temperatures above freezing for the tender plants stored inside.

Greenhouse and pond

Growing by the pond are some Schizostylis which are putting up flower stems, unaware it is no longer early September when they usually come into flower.

Schizostylis coccinea 'Major'

At least the sun was shining when I took these pictures but it is so low in the sky at this time of year that it is easily hidden by the surrounding trees. My thoughts are turning to Spring and Summer because I find the lack of sun so depressing. Where are those seed catalogues!

Bottom of the garden

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Top of the garden

But further down there are still Dahlias, Rudbekia, Nasturtiums and Salvias giving their all. Look at the ridiculous red Salvia elegans against the greenhouse on the left, over five feet tall. It was planted in my small herb border and has flattened every herb within reach.

Middle of garden

Middle of garden from another angle

Even a late  Centaureaflower  has appeared, despite the fact that it is surrounded by six seed heads from its companions who finished flowering over a month ago.

Centaurea macrocephala

Slightly to the right in the picture below you can see the foliage of my new Witch Hazel, planted earlier this year. I am looking forward to seeing the flowers appear next Spring but in the meanwhile I make do with the colourful autumn foliage.

Bottom of the garden

Hamamelis 'Vesna'

On a sunny October day if I want to imagine it is still Summer I look at this Rose. She is a beauty and she will continue to produce a late flush of flowers until the first heavy frosts send her into hibernation.

Rosa 'Ghislaine de Feligonde'

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Poppies popping up in the distance

This is the newly planted central border, completely redone earlier this year.

Filling the border

In May I noticed these Poppy seedlings which appeared either side of the new path running through the middle of the border. I did grow some double varieties at the bottom of the garden last year. How on earth these seedlings  all gravitated here from the other border is a mystery.

Poppy seedlings in May

I removed quite a lot but even so July has produced this display.

The disappearing path

They are Papaver somniferum, mostly pinky red….

Papaver somniferum

….but not all of them.

Papaver somniferum

As for my double varieties from 2010…….none seeded true. Typical!

Of course the garden does not care about my feelings and has welcomed the rain. Positively revelled in it which is why there is such an abundance of flowers blooming at the moment. The newly planted border across the middle of the garden is looking good.

The new border

This new planting gave me the opportunity to buy my first large Iris and she is a beauty. The colour is very intense.

Iris 'Stepping Out'

A contrast to the cool yellow heads of this Achillea with its lovely finely cut grey foliage.

Achillea 'Moonshine'

At the botton of the garden my wooden seat is nearly hidden by Geranium psilostemon.

The old wooden seat

I am also very pleased that these two native Orchids are growing well in my garden. Luckily I have found two  small areas that do not dry out in the summer so the plants seem happy. Moist soil is rare in my garden as my soil is very light and sandy.

Dactylorhiza praetermissa

Dactylorhiza foliosa

Finally, do admire the bronze coloured buds of my Centaurea which will eventually open into large, yellow, thistle like flowers. The buds open very slowly and I find them very attractive though rather odd….like a tightly curled wig of hair, very shiny and metallic against the pale green leaves..

Centaurea macrocephala

Last year nothing was done to the front garden and this year weeds and  Welsh Poppies had taken over. Lovely though they are, those Poppies are thugs. It was a mess.

Front garden before make over

I decided it was time for a re-vamp. Time to be ruthless. I wanted to go for a foliage effect via shrubs which should require less maintenance (Hmmm!). Tired perennial plants in the centre were removed….

Front garden half empty

….and replaced with new shrubs. The large evergreen at the back is my Daphne bhoula ‘Jacqueline Postill’. Wonderfully fragrant when in flower and lovely glossy leaves the rest of the year.

Front garden and new shrubs

Some of the perennials at the front were retained to soften the front edge . Hopefully the shrubs will merge together cutting down on maintainance. Wishful thinking I know.There are lots of spring bulbs in there somewhere so it will be interesting to see where they pop up.

Closeup

In case you might be interested the new shrubs were:

• Berberis thunbergii ‘Helmond Pillar’
• Cotinus ‘Dusky Maiden’
• Euonymus japonica ‘Green Rocket’
• Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’
• Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
• Physocarpus opufolius ‘Diablo’
• Pittosporum tenufolium ‘Tom Thumb’
• Rubus lineatus

Will they all survive? Probably not. Will they grow to the size and shape I am expecting? Who knows. Gardeners learn to wait and see for we  can take nothing for granted.

Any suggestions for ground cover between the shrubs? The garden faces north and the soil is very light.

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Top part of the garden

The new border in the middle of the garden is being replanted and I am looking for something decorative for the top of the posts which will support climbing plants. I thought of training my two black cats to sit up there but they are strangely unco-operative.

Revamped centre border

The canes are protecting a newly installed Viburnum juddii. The cats started using it as a rubbing post and had broken a small branch before I noticed. The orange flower is the perennial wallflower Erysimum ‘Apricot Delight’.

New planting

At the bottom of the garden one cat prefers to sleep on the seat instead.

The wooden seat

In the foreground the glory that is my Wisteria and in the background the pink blossom of Cercis siliquastrum. This is one of my most loved flowerings in the whole of the garden year.

The Wisteria and Cercis in flower

Here is my small raised bed containing plants that like dry conditions. A few things died over the winter so I need to find some new additions. The three Agaves are temporary fillers for the bare spots.

Raised bed

April also signals the beginning of the hardy Geranium flowers. They are a favourite of mine.

Geranium renardii

Everything is looking good. Now I must do some weeding!

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