Sunday Safari – the shots you didn’t see

There’s just so much going on at the moment, some areas are doing very well, others still need a lot of work on them but I just don’t have the time to spare right now. I’m trying to tell myself to do a little at a time, rather than trying to spend hours on a blitz of jobs.

This post will have to also include some photos I didn’t put into the Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day post on Friday, some because I forgot, others because they weren’t blooms as such.

Astrantia leaves are nice and lush; I just love how vibrant everything is

Clover is growing in the grass, I look forward to the flowers and Bees it will attract

Muscari is almost finished now, those planted in the border have lasted much longer than those in pots

The ‘new’ border after I sowed some seeds, then added some top soil and a new layer of mulch.

Tomato seedlings are doing well, I have potted them on since this photo

As are the Cosmos… Will they actually bloom for me at a reasonable time this year?! I don’t want to wait until September/October again!

A Dogwood cutting off Cheryl survived the winter

Hosta leaves will likely be eaten by the slugs/snails. This plant was left by the previous owners only as some roots on top of the soil. Over the years it’s certainly getting larger… Maybe I ought to actually plant it at some point?? Call it an experiment if you will, the conditions plants will survive through are amazing. Now it’s proved itself I think I should probably plant it.

Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’

Goat’s beard planted in the Cherry border has the most gorgeous foliage, I think I love it purely for its leaves never mind its blooms.

Foxgloves are all over the slopes on the tier, I hope they are the white type as I didn’t sow any last year – a mistake I will not forget!

There are so many new shoots for the flat-topped Aster that I’m worried the border is going to be well over crowded, last year we had three plants with around 4/5 shoots each. This time I’ve counted 35 and expect more to emerge... I didn’t anticipate them to be quite so invasive. I’ll have a go at slitting some off and planting them elsewhere.

A cute little sedum clump, even if it is only small.

A cheeky little snail is enjoying the Asters, at least.

Nettles popped up in the new border last year… I’ve no idea where they came from, but I’m thinking I’ll have to get rid of them because they’re not the stinging nettles as favoured by a number of British Butterflies… These are common nettles, and I don’t think any flutters lay on them??
For now they will at least fix nitrate back into the soil.

This cheeky little fly was found on a pot sunbathing.

The Rhubarb is happy, I need to harvest it for people… Think I’ll take it to my parents when I go steal some forget-me-nots off them.

I was thrilled recently when viewing some photos I’d taken of the back border I spotted these babies! Naturally, I had to run out to catch some shots of them; just as I’d been getting a little upset that both my ferns were looking rather sad after the winter and thought they weren’t going to pull through.

This perennial Foxglove sure has kept me waiting, it was planted last year in the new border… It became swamped by the Asters and grasses, but is making the most of the sunlight before everything takes over. I’m just so pleased it survived the snow!

White Dicentra has begun to flower in the Cherry border, I do love the blooms… Hard to believe anything would evolve to be such a perfect heart shape.

Herb Robert is looking gorgeous by the side of the house, he sure has grown large this year! He’s right next to the compost bin and no doubt loving all the nutrients…

Primroses are flowering in the front garden, each year their clumps are growing larger and larger, I will split some for my parents. The photos never come out right, ever. They’re actually a much deeper reddish purple.

Astilbe has survived the snow, and should brighten the front garden in a few months.

Siberian Bugloss is having an excellent year, I really do think the garden has hit the stage where most of the plants have now been in for a number of years and so we’re seeing a number of nice, mature borders now…

Phew, that’s me caught up with the old photos now. However we’re not finished there… These are the most recent lot!
Seriously, get yourself a cup of tea/coffee, you’re going to need it.

The Fern fronds have been unfurling nicely, I just love how prehistoric they are!

These ones were spotted today just breaking the soil, I planted something not 5cm from them, hopefully I didn’t damage any others!

The Ajuga are doing well, the blooms are just beginning to finally open now.

There are three different types…

This tulip ‘little beauty’ has appeared from somewhere, I know I haven’t bought any new ones recently and I’m pretty certain I didn’t get any in a spring bulb mix… But I must’ve without realising it! They’re popping up in too many places for it to be a coincidence.

The new Aquilegia last year is growing well, this is one that had self-seeded in a pot from our previous house and finally flowered last year after making me wait three years. It’s growing very large this year – obviously very happy that I planted it at last. I just hope it looks the same, as so far the flowers aren’t dark enough.

Sweetrocket it enormous now, are they meant to be this large I have to wonder?!

And last but not least, my chives are beginning to flower… I should probably also mention the large number of Alliums I have… They’ve definitely multiplied since last year. I’m looking forward to the purple pom poms… Maybe the ‘right’ border ought to be called the pom pom border? Haha.

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.