People everywhere are becoming enthusiastic about growing vegetables. I have to say it is something I’ve tried but rarely with any great success. Brassicas take up too much room, root crops are susceptible to bugs like carrot root fly, the slugs eat more of the green salad than I do. However, we do grow herbs, tomatoes (in the greenhouse) and runner beans. They are the easiest to grow, take up little space and are easily stored by freezing. We also grow fruit which is also easy to store, either frozen or in jams (jellies, for my North American friends) and chutneys.
In the mini shrubbery outside the lounge window, white lilac begins to open its flowers whilst the wine coloured leaves of the smoke bush are also breaking out. Lower down, the yellow flowers of the Keria are fading.
On the Bramley apple tree (below) leaves and flowers are now starting to appear as the flowers on the James Grieve begin to fade and shed their petals.
Buddleia is a shrub that I always cut back hard in February. There is a lot of new growth now which will, in just a few weeks, reach 2 – 2.5 metres. This is a white flowering variety and extremely vigorous. I also have a pink one and a second white one grown from a piece that broke off from this one.The prostrate conifer behind the pond came as an infant grown from a cutting by my brother-in-law in Hereford, as did the Cotoneaster behind it. To its right is one of two Cistus, both full of buds which I expect will have opened out into ivory flowers by this time next week.Herbs are placed near the kitchen door. Seen here are Rosemary, Thyme and Sage. Sage is another plant that I cut back hard in February and which is now displaying good strong regrowth. Also in the image are Chives and strawberries.
The strawberries are in the foreground in this picture, which also shows currant bushes, rhubarb from which we have already had one meal, and gooseberry on a standard.
In the greenhouse bean plants look ready to plant out but I fear the possibility of frost in the next week.
Outside the greenhouse, the first of the Aquilegias to flower. Also in the image are marigolds and lupin – the latter showing flower spikes but being attacked by aphids. I fear the plant may not survive. I blast the blighters off with a hose every night, but every day they are back in greater numbers.
I always enjoy the walk through your garden, though I’ve missed a couple of weeks. You have quite a green thumb! We have only a postage-stamp size front yard, so we fill it with sunflowers and bee-friendly flowers. Granddaughter Natasha does the planting, and I am only allowed to water the flowers in the morning, for … mostly everything I touch in the plant kingdom, dies. My mother-in-law once gave me a plant and said, “Honey, this is one that you cannot possibly kill”. When she came to visit a few weeks later, it was dead.
You do realise that I am selective about what I picture on these walks! Not everything I plant performs well – and some things perform too well, taking over the garden if I am not brutal with them. I’m glad you enjoy these little tours and hope they provide some relief from the political scene over there – as do so many of your own posts – the Good People and the Jolly cartoons.
I’m enjoying the walk through your garden, Frank. We’ve just planted cabbages and potatoes – first ever try at growing vegetables. We’ll see how it goes.
Well done for that, Stevie. When you say ‘planted cabbages’, were they plants or seeds? I’m guessing the latter at this time of year. One thing my step-father, a keen and successful gardener, used to do was to plant cabbages and/or sprouts, broccoli etc. in the same ground after the first potatoes were hasrvested. Someting to consider for later in the year.
That is a beautiful garden. Am I correct in thinking that your “aquilegias” are what we call columbines here? Now how am I supposed to get the song going if everybody keeps forgetting the parsley???
You are correct, Sha, aquilegias are also known as columbines, here as well as over there. I understand they are the state flower of Colerado. As for parsley, I used to have it and it turned out to be one of those plants that keep popping up in odd places although I haven’t seen any for a while now. Thyme does that, too.
Simon and Garfunkel took an old English folk song and breathed new life into it. “As I was going to Scarborough Fayre . . .” I’ve been to Scarborough, where I made an idiot of myself, though not the fayre.
I once went for a job interview with McCain (a Canadian company) the potato products company who have a large factory in Scarborough. We also went there a few times for days out whilst living in Yorkshire. My embarrassment, however, concerns Scarborough. Back in the 1980s I was an aspiring politician. In order to apply to a constituency with a view to becoming their candidate for parliament you had to be approved by party officials at the regional level, the region being Yorkshire. I was asked had I been to Scarborough and responded in the affirmative. The questioner then said “You will have seen the cobbles on the beach?” I thought this rather strange and responded with: “I thought it was quite a sandy beach.” What the man had actually said was “cobles”, the small fishing vessels that ply out of North Yorkshire harbours. He was asking what I knew about that industry!
Mc Cain was a customer of mine in various types of ways
..once when I sold technology to them through IBM and later when I sold people to them HA! from my recruitment company. Never thought of them for years..
Got here in the end, Frank! It’s a lovely series that you’re running. Impressive, too. I am more of a garden labourer than anything, but I have been learning the value of cutting back. By way of reciprocation, here is a link to No 3 in the series over on ABAB – https://bitaboutbritain.com/somewhere-in-england-part-3/
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Your garden is lovely. I miss my large garden I had in the States. But, I am learning to grow things here in Germany on my little balcony.
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What sort of things do you grow on your balcony? Herbs? Cut and come again salads? Flowers?
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As many tomatoes as I can fit, herbs, string beans and a few flowers.
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Your garden is wonderful. I love the apple blossoms. I have rosemary, parsley, thyme . I love fresh herbs.
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Rosemary goes well with lamb, thyme and sage with chicken or turkey, chives with salads or cheese in a sandwhich.
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My favourite is lamb with garlic and rosemary…delicious 😍
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I always enjoy the walk through your garden, though I’ve missed a couple of weeks. You have quite a green thumb! We have only a postage-stamp size front yard, so we fill it with sunflowers and bee-friendly flowers. Granddaughter Natasha does the planting, and I am only allowed to water the flowers in the morning, for … mostly everything I touch in the plant kingdom, dies. My mother-in-law once gave me a plant and said, “Honey, this is one that you cannot possibly kill”. When she came to visit a few weeks later, it was dead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do realise that I am selective about what I picture on these walks! Not everything I plant performs well – and some things perform too well, taking over the garden if I am not brutal with them. I’m glad you enjoy these little tours and hope they provide some relief from the political scene over there – as do so many of your own posts – the Good People and the Jolly cartoons.
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I’m enjoying the walk through your garden, Frank. We’ve just planted cabbages and potatoes – first ever try at growing vegetables. We’ll see how it goes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done for that, Stevie. When you say ‘planted cabbages’, were they plants or seeds? I’m guessing the latter at this time of year. One thing my step-father, a keen and successful gardener, used to do was to plant cabbages and/or sprouts, broccoli etc. in the same ground after the first potatoes were hasrvested. Someting to consider for later in the year.
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That is a beautiful garden. Am I correct in thinking that your “aquilegias” are what we call columbines here? Now how am I supposed to get the song going if everybody keeps forgetting the parsley???
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are correct, Sha, aquilegias are also known as columbines, here as well as over there. I understand they are the state flower of Colerado. As for parsley, I used to have it and it turned out to be one of those plants that keep popping up in odd places although I haven’t seen any for a while now. Thyme does that, too.
Simon and Garfunkel took an old English folk song and breathed new life into it. “As I was going to Scarborough Fayre . . .” I’ve been to Scarborough, where I made an idiot of myself, though not the fayre.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I once went for a job interview with McCain (a Canadian company) the potato products company who have a large factory in Scarborough. We also went there a few times for days out whilst living in Yorkshire. My embarrassment, however, concerns Scarborough. Back in the 1980s I was an aspiring politician. In order to apply to a constituency with a view to becoming their candidate for parliament you had to be approved by party officials at the regional level, the region being Yorkshire. I was asked had I been to Scarborough and responded in the affirmative. The questioner then said “You will have seen the cobbles on the beach?” I thought this rather strange and responded with: “I thought it was quite a sandy beach.” What the man had actually said was “cobles”, the small fishing vessels that ply out of North Yorkshire harbours. He was asking what I knew about that industry!
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Mc Cain was a customer of mine in various types of ways
..once when I sold technology to them through IBM and later when I sold people to them HA! from my recruitment company. Never thought of them for years..
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Other than travel…gardening is my joy. In Canada it is a bit too soon to transplant my veggies…maybe in a week or so…love your garden
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Got here in the end, Frank! It’s a lovely series that you’re running. Impressive, too. I am more of a garden labourer than anything, but I have been learning the value of cutting back. By way of reciprocation, here is a link to No 3 in the series over on ABAB – https://bitaboutbritain.com/somewhere-in-england-part-3/
LikeLiked by 1 person