It’s been a hot sunny day here in Yorkshire with clear blue skies. I spent a bit of time pottering in the garden, trying to keep in the shade to keep cool! This is my view from the shade of the arbour, my favourite spot for a morning cup of coffee.
My main problem at the moment is watering all the plants I’ve planted over the last couple of weeks; there’s rather a lot of them! Usually I’m pretty tough with plants, they get watered for the first couple of days and then they have to fend for themselves, but having spent rather a lot of money recently and with it being so dry, I’m pampering this lot! We had a little rain over night on Saturday which did help, but otherwise it’s a watering can job! Our hosepipe has that many holes in it really isn’t worth trying – we really need to buy a decent one!
One of the irises I bought at the Harrogate show has just flowered, it’s beautiful, white edged with lavender.
I’ve cleared and rotavated the border by the big fence this week, the rain helped enormously here, one day the soil was like concrete, the next day after a night of gentle rain (perfect!!) it was much easier to work. I’ve planted four different clematis along the fence and a pink rhodedendron too. I still want a colomnular cherry tree and a climbing rose to help cover the fence but that will have to wait until next pay day!! The cotinus coggyrhia which is just in front of the fence is coming into leaf. It looks stunning with the sun behind it. I’ve got one of these in the front garden too. I’ve also got a lime green version in the front which I love, so much so that I’ve planted another in my Autumn border.
The hostas by the pond have really shot up this week, in the past these have stayed pretty much undamaged by slugs which I’m hoping is down to toads and frogs in the pond, rather than the chickens roaming over winter. We haven’t got the chucks any more so time will tell!
The trees have really greened up this week and bluebells are out on the back lane. I never realised how strong their scent is until we started doing long distance walks, we usually walk at this time of year and the scent as you walk through a bluebell wood is amazing.
I’m gradually starting to weed the rose border, I was planning to leave it for a big overhaul next year, but I can’t look at those weeds all that time! I’ll take out what I can and then get the weed killer out for the more persistant ones.
Our new Amber & Amethyst garden is proving a success, I planned a seating area up there as I noticed that is where the evening sun went, it’s lovely sitting up there with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio!
thecraftycreek 
Hi there, I just love your Monday walk around the garden, that iris with the purple edges is so gorgeous, it’s my favourite flower. Regards Mandy xx
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Thanks Mandy, I love irises too, I’ve got quite a few different ones now which will hopefully flower over the next couple of months.
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I love irises too, they are such undemanding plants. Yours is very pretty. The hosta is doing so well, and is that Solomon’s Seal I see behind it? You deserve the Pinot Grigio, because all your hard work is paying off!
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Thanks Anne, it is Solomon’s Seal behind, spreading year on year!
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Having seen your garden in pictures on the blog in the depths of winter, I love watching it unfold. It seems as if it’s on speed! Perhaps making up for a terrible spring. It looks wonderful and I especially like the hostas with the Solomon’s seal. If you have a foolproof way to keep the snails away from your hostas can you let me know? I don’t have a pond with frogs, so it’s immensely difficult.
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Thanks Prue, I think because everything stopped in March because the weather was so bad, everything has suddenly shot up! I don’t think there’s a fool proof way with hostas and slugs – adopt a hedgehog?
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Your garden is looking lavish! Have you thought about a small duck or two for pest control? They don’t scratch like chooks, they love slugs and snails and can be very pretty…
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Thanks Kate but I think I’ll give the ducks a miss, they may not scratch but they make a lot of mess – I’ve friends with ducks đŸ™‚
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This is true: mud and, erm, poop!
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It is unfolding so beautifully this spring, Margaret, and you are getting to enjoy some of your hard work from last year!
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Thanks Kathy, it is coming together đŸ™‚
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thanks for taking us on your meander round the garden. Everywhere is looking lush ^^
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Thanks Claire, spring has definitely sprung đŸ™‚
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Gorgeous but, oh, what a lot of work! The payoff is spectacular!
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Thanks Kerry, it has been a lot of work for the last few months, but I feel I’ve finally turned the corner, just got to beat the weeds now!!
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A stunning spot.
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I want to come and sip on a glass of wine in your garden with you….just spectacular!
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Pretty garden – esp love the lily with the dipped purple edges.
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I meant iris not lily!
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So much beauty!
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Thank you đŸ™‚
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