Tuesday

The lure of the Magic Garden was too great for both Ben and me even though the sunshine was patchy and it failed to warm up today. I have been planting dahlia tubers today so hoping for success later in the year. Meantime there is promise of edibles as the rhubarb in the main trough is growing away freely, the succession of apple blossom is moving its way round the garden and the gooseberries are already looking promising.

Easter Sunday

After an unpromisingly grey morning, the sun came out to make for a glorious afternoon. I had decided to do some major maintenance and changes this weekend in the Magic Garden and today I moved the cold frame to next to the arbour seat and so free up space on the patio. I also moved the hotbin into the unused space between the summer house and shed. This followed on from planting out three new lavender plants - two white flowering and one with unusual leaf markings. I am pleased with the rearranged space even if Ben looked a bit doubtful. He seemed reassured once he found one of the catnips had been moved back into the space. Meantime the sun had brought out the insects to enjoy the feast of blossom from the flowers on the rosemary to the dandelions in the wild patch and the golden marigolds in the pond.

Before

After.

Bonus Sunshine

I was expecting rain to be spoiling play when I got home from work but instead the sun was still in the Magic Garden and I took the opportunity to enjoy the start of the apple blossom season and to check in on the first of the aquilegia blooming this spring as well as the lungworts & snakehead frittilaris

Sunday

Today has been lovely and sunny but with a chilly bite to the air with winds off the North Sea. The insect life is becoming more apparent again with a mix of bumblebees, hoverflies and flies enjoying the mix of blooms and habitats in the Magic Garden. The sun attracted Ben out too to keep an eye on me even if a rather sleepy one.

Thursday

Just a few minutes in the Magic Garden today to enjoy the sunshine & to do a bit of planting out of the last of some bare root asters. The tulips are coming out now to join the forest of narcissi. It has been worth every extra bulb planted. Ben seemed happy just to be out with me in the sunshine.

Sunday

The clocks have gone forward and we were treated to an extra hour in the Magic Garden. Today was about enjoying the garden and a bit of tidying & putting supports in. Ben enjoyed the sunshine & the nip.

Thursday

I’ve been blessed this week with sunshine allowing me to be out in the Magic Garden with Ben. The bulb planting last autumn has really boosted the spring display and it’s good to see old favourites returning too. Ben clearly got a bit bored of my efforts!

Sunny Tuesday

It has been a really lovely day today. I got the washing dry today which is a first for this spring. I planted out some wildflower plugs today around the pond while the solar fountain worked its magic. Ben kept me company and enjoyed a snooze in the sun while I had a cuppa.

Milk thistle

Selfheal

Forget-me-not

Saturday

It’s been distinctly damp here for most of the day but I got quite a bit done from weeding paths to filling in the gaps with new perennials. Ben was not sure about spending time in the rain but nevertheless joined me for some of the time

Friday

Having had a sunny Solstice yesterday, March came back today with a cool 9C and no sun - very North Sea coast. It was however dry allowing me to plant up four pots in memory of a dear friend who died at the start of this month. I have planted into pots on the basis that I will wish these to travel with me should I move. They are Philadelphus coronarius; philadelphus virginal; purple cystisus & Weigela Florida Red Prince in 2 new and 2 old blue pots. There is a bit of a blue theme to the blooms around the Magic Garden at the moment contrasting with the daffodils.

Cold but dry with some sun

Ben and I sat out in the Magic Garden today and enjoyed the sunshine. The first of the snakes head fritillary are making their presence known amongst the daffodils. The catnip plants are all looking promising and Ben is carefully checking them out.

False spring?

We had a day full of sunshine yesterday and after the fog lifted today we had more, if a little chillier, sunshine. I had a couple of purchases from the supermarket yesterday to add into the mix. I also did some simple tidying and a tiny bit of belated pruning.

More signs of spring

I was in need of fresh air and needed the healing of the Magic Garden today. I did some significant planting out & clearing with a plan in my head & photo from above to guide me. The Magic Garden is rapidly growing with the bulbs coming up thick and fast now we are in to March. The Winter border continues to give joy too with the hellebores blooming and the Christmas Boxes still providing interest.

Sunny Saturday

Definite feel of spring in the air and the crocuses have started to really come out now with a lovely mass of them under the black elder. The pigeons are very much in evidence and unfortunately having ignored the kale all winter have attacked them.

Saturday

A lovely day spent in the Magic Garden mainly tidying up and enjoying the signs of spring. Ben was pleased to find some nip sprouting.

And at last some rhubarb on the way!

At last signs of spring

It has suddenly gone much milder. We’ve had some heavy showers and the wind has risen with the temperature but Ben & I ventured out to check on the progress of the Magic Garden. It was a joy to see the first iris blooming, some crocuses & even a daffodil thinking of opening.

Sunday

It’s still bitterly cold here and so grey that it never seems to get light. There are definite signs of spring and in the meantime I’m pleased with how the winter border has shaped up. I planted out a couple of foxgloves into the back under the jasmine.

Feeling spring in the air

It was a feeling cold out today and the air was damp. I had a final hellebore to plant into the winter border - a lovely rose coloured one to fill in the gap at the back. I removed a self seed & have potted it up to offer out to friends along with a few other stray plants. Ben checked out the new shoots of the catnip in the winter border under the beady eyes of the dunnocks. The evidence of my bulb planting is becoming more evident & the rhubarb is sprouting. The cowslips are just coming into bloom.

Another week gone

It’s still cold here although above freezing and now we are into February it is gradually becoming more obvious that spring is on its way. This week’s supermarket buy was a wee campanula that has added a little brightness to the magic. More snowdrops are showing - some are very little! Meantime my hellebores are still providing flowers to admire.