Winter into Spring part 1

It seems like I write a little piece about the snowdrops every year. I will not be making an exception this year. This is because it was so interesting to see the pollinators at work this afternoon, flitting between the dazzling white blooms, which are still going strong in late February. They are caught on video below, the additional background track is supplied by Mili who was, as usual, by my shoulder when filming.

Despite the prolonged period of snow these tough little flowers have done their stuff again this year.

        

Frugal Gardening part 2

Growing from seed is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening. Irrespective of the size of the area that you have to work with there is always likely to be some space for a seed tray, or recycled butter carton or tinfoil tray on a sunny window sill. While most seeds will already have been sown there are still quite a few annuals that can be bought and sown even in mid May. While most of these will be veg and salad crops, you can still sow many varieties of tomatoes and of course, one of my favourites some ornamental grasses. Collecting your own seed then sowing at the appropriate time must be the most rewarding and the most cost efficient method of gardening that there can possible be.

Consequently, my top tip is keep sowing and get yourself prepared for collecting seeds and carefully storing them in a cool, dry tin. I know that some of the Elijah Blue grass is not far from setting seed already.

The other money saving job that will be worth doing in the next few weeks will be digging up the spent daffodils and, a little later, the tulip bubs. Wait until the foliage dies down completely,then any that are not left in the soil can be carefully dug up and stored in a paper bag. I plant new fresh bulbs each year but also save the previous years bulbs and even though they will be somewhat less reliable plant them out in less visited parts of the garden.

A less visited corner can be made much brighter with last years bulbs

The clematis that covers the front of the house has done very well again this year. It is a pity is doesn't last a few weeks longer but when in flower it certainly attracts some admiring glances.

Front Garden Succession

  

The garden at the front of the house has always played second fiddle to the garden at the back and the patio. I suppose this is because we do not sit out and relax at the front and neither to we encourage Mili and Hecate to go out onto the front.

In addition, I have always thought this space to be at its best in winter and into spring. The snow drops are at their abundant best before anything else has dared to show its first shoots. The front of the house is where the only naturalized daffodils are found and, of course there is the clematis and the bluebells, all of which are early season beauties.

However, it struck me this week that the front garden has held its own well into the summer this year. The steps up to the front door are currently flanked with the colourful flowers of the hardy fuchsia and the orange crocosmia. The latter is a new addition and I have been really pleased with the way it combines with the burnished colours of the weeping copper beech. 

The whole area is densely packed with shrubs and flowers. The only lawn is on the other side of the drive. This makes it probably the least labour intensive area of the entire property.

The Magic of Snowdrops

The mid winter months are undeniably a little less exciting for the gardener and resident felines than the warmer months of the year. However, there is always an excuse to get outside, even if like Mili it is simply a case of hiding in the grasses and avoiding the indoor chores. It might be chilly but wrap up warm and embrace the season.

Even when much of the soil is bare and the majority of the trees without leaf there are still some sunny spots of colour to be found. So I decided it would be nice to nominate a plant of the month.

My first thought would be to nominate a new Jasmine we have by the upper seating area, only planted last summer it already has produced some vibrant delicate little blooms. I was also tempted to choose an indoor plant, the daffodil "Erlicheer" on the windowsill does look rather stately, with its modest size flower heads atop of the upright stems. But I have just had to go back to an old favourite the snowdrops we have on the mossy bank at the front of the house.

 The snowdrops are unmissable every time somebody should use the front door. As surprising as it may seem I am particularly fond of them when it has passed sunset. They have an iridescent, glow in the dark quality, which means they stand out even under the gentle light of the stars and moon

 
The fallen snow or solid frozen ground seems no obstacle to this remarkable little plant, so tough yet so seemingly fragile. Close inspection gives a different perspective to the mass swathes (or modest mottled carpet in our case) and the brilliance of the white is just pure joy.

Lone flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they

But hardier far, once more I see thee bend

Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,

Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,

Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay

The rising sun, and on the plains descend;

Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend

Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May

Shall soon behold this border thickly set

With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing

On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;

Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,

Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,

And pensive monitor of fleeting years!

To a Snowdrop, William Wordsworth

Clematis About to Flower

The clematis at the front is about to flower. It is a real jewel of the garden. It is reliable and flowers profusely. To be precise there are two plants but both are pinky purple and flower more or less simultaneously. Being a spring flower variety it is also easy to maintain, just give it a chop once the show is over. The regime for summer flowering types is of course different.

I think every garden can benefit from a clematis or two and even the novice gardener can get a lovely display, possibly hiding a drab wall or just making best use of the vertical spaces available.

The rhododendron also looks pretty at this time of year cheering up the front aspect of the house.