Spring Time Again

 A little bit of spring sunshine brings out the best of the garden, and brings the beast into the garden. 

It is so rewarding to see the bulbs emerge and enjoy them with a little warmth on your back. The colours seem so vivid following the muted tones of the winter garden. Clearly I am not alone in these thoughts as Hecate and Mili have also been venturing out once again. For months they have been self confined to the hygge of the cosy indoors. The pleasure is multiplied by the presence of others, be it a pair of increasingly elderly cats or be it an increasingly wise missus. A shared plate of fruit at the top tier of the garden was a March treat with little compare. Hopefully the first of many this year.

Spring also awakens the rest of the animal kingdom and the birds, bees and amphibians have all been evident and active. There is comforting reassurance that blossoms and blooms are on their way. 

   

Silver Birch for 2022

Tree planting season lasts until early March, at least in the Pennines. This year I have gone for three bare rooted native silver birch. I have followed a tip given by Helen from Crocus, in order to try and create a multi stemmed effect. They are in the area that used to be occupied by the blackberries, but a combination of birds, deer and shade has meant that they have produced very few harvestable fruits in the past 5 years.

        

The saplings have since been given the protection of a fence, yet more chicken wire in the garden, but hopefully it will be worth it in the medium term. The cherry trees at the back are not likely to survive many more years so a new focal point will be needed and silver birch have always been a favourite of mine. However, I will have to wait at least six years until the beautiful silver white bark begins to show noticeably.

The Queen's Green Canopy is an initiative created to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Everyone across the UK is being invited to plant trees from October 2021, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. Let us hope it is a major success!

Mid Winter Fire

 There can be little doubt that mid January can be somewhat lacking in pizzazz. The little flashes of colour have to be appreciated where ever they can be found. The dogwood shrub is invaluable for its coloured bark which shines through with the absence of foliage. We have a few dogwoods at the top of the garden behind the grasses and a lovely, small specimen in a pot on the steps leading up to the front door (pictured below). 

Top Tip: In order to get the best from your dogwoods pruning each year is to be recommended, as the best coloured stems are those of the newest growth. 

 

The specimen at the front is "Sibirica" and the dogwoods at the back are "Midwinter Fire". However, the "real" midwinter fire was seen two days ago with this spectacular sunset.

Not to be out done, Hecate posing in front of the Jasmine, another little flash of md winter colour.

Dark Skies, Mists, Snow and Winter Structure.

The winter structure in any garden is such an underestimated element. My own theory is that because we venture outside less in the dark months we have lesser expectations of our outdoor spaces. Of course, it might be less appealing to use our gardens for sitting and relaxing in mid December but the occasional brew on a garden bench or a little gentle tidying up can be just the tonic for a gloomy day. The garden can also be viewed from indoors by many of us, even if it is just from the kitchen window. 

Therefore to add that all important interest and the psychologically important elements of green then structural plants are a bonus, if not essential. Heathers, brooms, ivy and our Scots  pine are just a few of the green items that can be found in our Pennine garden. While non of these might be enough to entice us go outdoors and wonder at their individual beauty, together they can paint a pleasing vista to gladden any heart.

My top tips to help with a winter garden include 

~ take heed of the shadows and light levels that the low winter sun gives. They present an opportunity to give the garden a very different seasonal ambience, particularly if you are lucky enough to have some low level backlighting through some of your plants or even fading stems. For us this is best in the morning when the sun is in the East

~ try to have some structural elements across the garden, it will encourage the eye to link different spaces together, reinforcing the underlying sense of movement and interest.

~ utilize contrasting textures in your planting as well as as your hard landscaping.

~ remember the views, with no leaves on the trees, new vistas are opened up and might be enjoyed even more if seating can be rearranged

Below, recent December conditions and a contemplative Hecate stares through the mists. By contrast a less than happy Mili, who likes to follow me outside come what may, even into the snow.... then I get the blame for wet paws!

 

Make Hay While the Sun Shines?

The garden might have been somewhat neglected over the past few weeks, storms, snow and soggy ground have certainly restricted access. But the critical jobs have been completed, such as digging up the agapanthus (all of them!) and bringing them under cover. 

But at the same time the meteorological conditions have presented us with some beautiful, if sometimes foreboding, winter vistas. Make the most of the weather, when the opportunity presents itself, even if it is just to look and stare.

 

Success and Failure

Autumn is a a good time to take stock of what has worked in your garden. I have posted about successes and failures before but never have I posted about a feature in the garden that qualifies as both a success and a failure. Hopefully the two photographs will illustrate my point.

The top picture, shows the upper pond looking suitably autumnal. However, the pot of grasses just behind appears a little on the "tatty" side. It resembles an unkempt pot of stray weeds. In fact, it is a pot of squirrel tail grass, which I thought I would try for the first time this year. I have grown them from seed and they were easy to germinate and prick out . But I have been less impressed with the end product which only really shows its particular beauty with close inspection. The seed heads, as seen in the photo below, are really quite attractive in an ethereal sort of fashion.

I will have to decide whether to keep this type of grass next year but I am pleased I decided to plant it in a test pot before committing to the main ornamental grass bed. Even Mili doesn't give the pot a second glance! 

 

Chelsea Take Note

It is now a few days since the close of the Chelsea Flower Show 2021 and I must say how much I have enjoyed the BBC coverage. I am also of the opinion that having the "most prestigious flower show in the world" at a completely different time of the year has been most refreshing. The palate of flowers and plants has been different and it has compelled the designers and exhibitors to move out of their comfort zones and think a little bit more about how to accommodate the challenges of an autumn palette. These are considerations which every "real" gardener has to contend with on an annual basis. It is part of the fun that keeps us on our toes. 

Consequently, I have little sympathy for the designers who have ducked the challenge of the autumn Chelsea. It was a pity that there were the fewer main show gardens than there has been for many years. However, the gardens that did make it were a triumph, well done to each and everyone. I have spoken with numerous other fellow gardeners and we are of the unanimous opinion that a Chelsea in autumn must be repeated, maybe once every ten years? I am aware that this may not fit in with the annual social calendar of the London set but visitor numbers did appear healthy all the same?

Late summer and autumn interest are not difficult to achieve. For instance our pastel beds are now a little faded but still with plenty of interest and structure, thanks in no small part to the different shades of cosmos and the sea holly.

Top Tip 1: planning for year round interest is a challenge but if selected beds are devoted to different seasons it does make the task easier. The alternative is going for a much more trickier succession of plants that will flower in the seasons all  in the same area. Our Pennine garden was always intended to peak in mid summer, to coincide with the school summer holiday. However, since retirement season round interest has been much more important.

Top Tip 2: when planning year round interest, think carefully which parts of the garden you are most likely to be using/ sitting in at the different times of the year.  

A simple use of grasses are an easy way to extend some seasonal interest and when backlight by the sun are delightful, while pots which can be shifted around (as we do on our patio) are a fool proof way of ensuring the most floriferous plants are in prime position.