Wet day

Today it was wet until late afternoon so it was mainly a day for other activities but I did have another seed sowing session as well as looking after the cuttings and seedlings that I have already. The first sunflowers are just coming through and I have just sown a new set of sunflowers in an ever optimistic approach

The sunflowers are both in tribute to the people of Ukraine and to remember my father. He never knew that the last sunflowers he sowed flowered spectacularly - the first time he had succeeded in Badachro. I similarly have always failed but am very determined this year.

The rudbeckia I pricked out are doing ok although they need more light. The swan river daisies are going to be the next needing pricking out.

At the end of the day it stopped raining so Ben & I went out to play.

Day Off

I took a day off today and have to confess that beyond going for a long walk by the sea I did very little else but I did sit in the sun in the Magic Garden although it was distinctly chilly owing to the wind. I love the way each day at the moment the garden is waking up.

The apples are nearly all coming into blossom. I found this almost white snakehead fritillary in amongst those next to the rhubarb.

The weeds are also up and running, quite literally in the case of the stinging nettles. These are in the back corner and to an extent I allow them to grow as I think they have a role in the Magic Garden and in being good for caterpillars. They are perennial and would be difficult to eradicate but I do try and stop the patch getting any bigger.

I’m less tolerant of sticky willy (goose grass) which is more prevalent than it used to be. I dislike Petty Spurge too as its a euphorbia and hence produces irritant.

Tuesday 5th April

It is supposedly mild today but its felt chilly to me all day with the wind coming off the sea. Ben wasn’t that keen on being outside either. I caught a glimpse of blue below the wee blackcurrant bush next to the arbour seat and hiding amongst yet more dusky cranesbill were little sweet violets (Viola odorata)

In the back corner there is already dusky cranesbill out & both the red & white valerian are showing signs of coming into flower too by the pond

Ben adding his editorial comments!

On the other side of the pond the spirea is beautiful & the broom is already yellow with potential.

Sweetpeas

I love sweetpeas with their delicate scent & pretty flowers - a love that my sister shared and so I always try to grow some in her memory. I tend not to be terribly successful with the annual ones but have go a couple of perennial ones in the back garden that always romp away. This year though I’m making a determined effort to have some annual ones and yesterday I planted out some of this year’s sowings. Monty Don put his out on Friday’s Gardeners’ World so I’ll blame him if this lot fails! I do have my fallback collection which I won’t put out for a couple of weeks yet.

I was pleased to find that they had survived their first night and first gusts of wind, rather better than the white daffodils have done. There are three sorts I have planted out half of my Spencers mixed, a new one to me ‘Breath of fresh Air’ and a single colour ‘Blue Velvet’.

Sunday 3rd April

Its been chilly here today although the sun was out this morning. I got on with more planting out and simple maintenance in the Magic Garden.

Meconopsis alba

Erysimum ‘Apricot Delight’

Meconopsis baileyi

I planted out the blue & white meconopsis plants into the back corner having filled up with some ericaceous compost to provide acidity & added in a gallardia to addd some bright yellow in later in the season. I’m pleased with how the ‘wild’ corner is coming on as a proper herbaceous border. I planted a second erysimum, that I had been tempted into buying when I went to get more seed compost, under the rowan tree.

I tidied up the Thyme zone planting in replacement thymes, cleaning the paving stones & putting down new white chippings. It rather emphasises the need for more gravel for the pathways and I need to find red chippings too.

Sunny Saturday

It has been a lovely sunny Saturday if somewhat cold. I am tired so have had a quiet day enjoying the Magic Garden with Ben. I emptied out the cold frame of the aquilegia I sowed last autumn, more foxgloves & red achillea (Cerise Queen). The latter are destined for the front garden as I have a large one in the Magic Garden already. I’m thinking of putting the foxgloves along the back fence. I’m hoping the aquilegia will bulk up quickly to match those already in the garden.

I sat in the Magic Garden to enjoy the sunshine in my garden rocking chair looking across the garden. Ben was quite keen to be around me while I was outside although I think some of that was optimism about when I might be persuaded to feed him.

The cold frame is currently stuck in the side passage & I was surprised that Ben thought it made for a good place to perch & relieved he is not any heavier. There is a tub of tulips round there & I was surprised that one was out, even more so as it was white rather than the red & yellow flowers.

April 1st 2022

I’ve had a bit of a bad day, starting with waking up to snow this morning. Fortunately this seemed to be a dusting in the garden and on the roads even if the car was rather well coated. For various reasons it was well gone 7 pm before I left work so I feel a bit cheated on fresh air. Ben is not overly impressed either. I’m hoping for a good sleep tonight and at least some sunshine tomorrow, or a bit of dry during the day tomorrow.

When I have been out and about recently I have been eyeing up other people’s gardens. My bird cherries have some way to go before they have enough blossom to match. After I told my mum about the flowering currant I’ve been jealous of for most of March she suggested I try striking a cutting. Its in an abandoned pub’s carpark so I might see if I can take some this weekend while I’ve the idea still fresh.

Ben is more interested in the treats than the Magic Garden tonight.

Thursday 31st March

Today has been bitterly cold with frequent sleet, snow & hail showers but with bright sunshine between. I took a photo from the top floor to try & give an arial view of the Magic Garden. I hadn’t realised how wide my intersecting paths have got but I am pleased how few areas are bare in my tapestry of plants.

I did some weeding and filled the bird feeders but that was the extent of the outside work today

Ben worked his way round from sitting on the hedgehog house in the sun via the arbour seat ending up sitting in his weeping willow pot willing me to be inside rather than outside. He does watch the birds while he’s in the Magic Garden but in reality is quite scared of many of them especially the blackbirds & not unreasonably the herring gulls that plague us from spring to autumn. One of our blackbirds has got quite friendly and allows me to be quite close in the garden.

Working Wednesday

I spent a long day at work having arrived in sleet and judging by my wildlife tracker camera it rained / sleeted for much of the day. However when I got back home at 7 it was to dry & relatively clear weather. I was pleased to find the solar lights are working even if its difficult to give a good impression of how it looks. The Magic Garden is lit from outside by the security light at the corner to my neighbouring supermarket.

My sweetness are somewhat erratic in their germination and I think that I may need to sow some more. I potted up some foxglove seedlings from the garden yesterday to add the collection of geraniums I have potted up. This evening I have sown some more catmint of Ben and nicotiana

Cold Tuesday

Today has been mainly grey and chilly with some dampness over night but despite this, the feeling of spring is still very much with me. In the Magic Garden there are changes everyday as the perennial plants start putting on growth. Today I was pleased to see that the native hedging bareroot plants are beginning to show signs of coming into leaf as are most of the fruit bushes and the apple trees. The wee hydrangea plant looks happy too. Last year’s osteospermums are beginning to come into bloom too.

Prunus avium Bird Cherry

Blackcurrant Ben More

Foggy Monday

Today was a very long day as I didn’t escape work until gone 7 pm. Even with the clock change it was pushing it a bit to be light when I got home. In fact it was foggy which was a bit surprising as it wasn’t in town - true sea haar. I was instantly cheered up by looking into the Magic Garden & seeing the white daffodils almost glowing in the foggy greyness & the solar lights were coming on.

Mothering Sunday

My Mum used to get upset if we sent her cards that said ‘Mother’s day’ as she insists on what she considers its proper name of Mothering Sunday, the middle Sunday in Lent when you get a day off ‘fasting’. I used face-time today to show her the Magic Garden & she was delighted to see it in the afternoon sunshine with its collection of daffodils and the cat.

I finished moving the fruit bush pots & apples to line down the side of the garden. This has created space on the patio. I have also moved the tiered troughs against the fence. Ben is not impressed as this had become a snoozing spot

I spent lots of time out in the Magic Garden today with some on going maintenance as well as new plantings. I tidied up the Thyme zone clearing the seven stones & checking the thymes. I have replaced two and suspect I will need to replace 2 of the others but time will show if the tidied up plants can come again. I need to put fresh stone chips down round the sundial. I weeded out around the sundial and as far out as the first pentagon of lights.

In the back corner I planted some bare-root perennials today - I’m really pleased with how this corner is coming together.

Spring Saturday

Today has been a beautiful sunny day, if not terribly warm. I spent a lot of the afternoon in the Magic Garden and Ben spent most of his day out with me. I sowed broad beans (dwarf Sutton) in front of the curly kale and covered them to hopefully stop them being dug out by Ben or others. I moved most of the fruit in pots along the side of the garden to start creating some space on the patio.

Ben has enjoyed the sunshine. I did go for a longish walk but otherwise it has been a day at home. I never seem to have enough time to do all I want though or get all the plants into the garden or the seeds sown. It was rather wonderful to have my washing dry on the line today - it will smell of fresh air and spring

The sun has made my pulsatilla open out and the bumble bees seemed to be particularly attracted to it. I think I will have to get more of these as it has really cheered up the little ‘rock’ garden for spring.

Friday 25th March

Being back at work meant that I left home in spring sunshine shortly before 6.30 am and came home as it was going down at 6.30 pm. I walk a mile & a half to the metro past some lovely gardens, some scruffy spaces and in amongst the local trees some lovely daffodils.

As I came in and Ben met me on the drive, a wren told us off very thoroughly. It took me a moment to find it but the silhouette is very distinctive. Ben was a little disconcerted that I was more interested in photographing the wren than immediately letting him into the house & getting his tea.

On the way home I was thinking about tasks for the weekend. I need to make a decision about painting the fence. So far I have not done much about securing the climbers except for this rose. I have forgotten what it is called but it is reasonably vigorous & produces lovely pink roses from June to December. I’ve pruned it harder than usual & tied in to produce horizontal stems which encourages flowering.

Last day of annual leave

Today is my last annual leave day and having met a friend for coffee and cake & catching up with tasks, I spent a couple of hours in the Magic Garden planting things out & weeding with some time spent just enjoying being out. Ben wasn’t impressed with my efforts and spent most of his day in the front garden.

I planted the alpine primula and the pulsatilla in the alpine bed between the summerhouse and the pond. This is the spoil from when I dug out the pond and is solid clay at its core but is covered in specialist alpine compost and grit. I’m pleased by the number of daffodils that have survived along the fence and the survival of the shrubs in front.

I planted out two distinct forms of lavender - augustifolia (English) & stoechas (French) along the five lines extending from the inner pentagonal planting. In this main planting area I also planted out the sea hollies and lupins that have been waiting in the cold frame. A further heuchera went into the catnip patch too.

I always water in new plants but today I was giving a soaking to other plants including the pots as it has been dry for the last week and more. Its odd to be thinking of using the hosepipe in March but I may well need to give the Magic Garden a soaking this weekend.

Wednesday in the Sun

I had today off & was blessed with sunshine. After months of ignoring it, I spent the morning tidying up the border that is the front garden & clearing the leaves from the footpath. In November 2020 I planted a large number of daffodils & other bulbs in both the front border and the Magic Garden & it always makes this time of year special with the sheer number of them in flower.

I saw my first ladybirds of the year today too

On the other side of the bamboo, in Ben’s catnip patch, I planted out the Epimedium grandifloras ‘Bandit’ - I’m not totally convinced that it is that but time will show especially if it flowers! I also planted the pulmonaria ‘blue ensign’ & to Ben’s delight, two Nepeta Persian Blue. I’ve not covered them completely (yet) but hope I will manage to stop him killing them with love!

I then planted out this year’s first curly kale (Reflex F1) plants. Last year’s are going to seed now but have provided greens throughout the winter. This wee bed has tended in the past to get completely overshadowed in the summer but I think will get more light this year. I then covered them with mesh mainly to protect them against the pigeons.

Back to the Magic Garden

I’m back in Newcastle tonight with Ben after a rather long day in the car. I was fortunate to have an easy drive down but it was still rather special to be able to come back to sit in the Magic Garden with Ben. It was a little chilly but the sun was out as are the majority of my daffodils now. The white ones are my favourite.

I was relieved to find that Ben hasn’t totally finished off the catnip plants although his favourite pair are looking a bit sad. I was also pleased to find my seedlings upstairs are looking healthy & I’m going to be able to prick out the rudbeckia this weekend. The seeds downstairs are just germinating but also look okay despite my absence. I need to do some gentle watering tonight but I have had less casualties than I expected.

I planted out a new erysimum bowles mauve as part of the continual regeneration of the Magic Garden and the heuchera joined the others at the back of the garden. I did quite a lot of pulling out of weeds while I was out there remembering that its our first garden waste collection this coming weekend

Rudbeckia Marmalade

I’m looking forward to a good sleep tonight and then I intend being in the garden for as much of tomorrow as possible & so far the weather forecast is good!

Home (3)

Today is my last day at home and again it has been sunny and bright although there had been a hard frost overnight and temperatures remained lower than yesterday. I have rather worn my mother out so we had a mainly quiet day so I took the opportunity to decide with her where to plant the alpines that she bought at the Garden Cottage Nursery on Saturday. She has a small rockery which is really just the natural stones built up into a bank away form the patio as the garden slopes upwards and away. It was a little challenging creating planting holes for these new plants and the lavender I brought from Newcastle for Mum. I will be particularly interested to see how the dwarf curry plant does as I quite like the idea of using these as edging plants.

Dwarf curry plant

Lemon thyme ‘Silver Queen’

Saxafrage Monarch

Dianthus fusilier

Saxifrage ardensii Alpino Early Picotee

Sedum spathulifolium Cape Blanco

Once I had planted these out for Mum and watered her seedlings and the cuttings in the greenhouse for her, I took the opportunity to take some cuttings from one of the buddleja globosa - the yellow ball tree. Mum had taken these as cuttings years ago and says they strike easily - we shall see!

Home (2)

I have been incredibly lucky with the weather staying up here in NW Scotland but of course that means I’m worrying a bit about my baby plants and seedlings back home - I hope my system of capillary matting has kept them alive. I’m missing Ben-cat too although I’ve spied on him on the video doorbell cam. This lovely weather has meant I’ve been out & about & even sat in the garden.

Down in front of the house is.a a large heather & juniper bed. My father deliberately chose heathers to try & give all year round colour. He had it divided up by prostrate juniper creating the impression of water flowing.

The heather provides important sustenance for the earliest of the bumblebees to appear although there were more on the native coltsfoot.

Round the side of the house & in front of the garage is the vegetable plot with its old plum tree and large blueberry bush. I’m always impressed how the large cold frames have survived the harshest of weather here.

My Birthday

Today’s my birthday and it has to be one of the most gloriously sunny & warm ones I can remember. I drove Mum up the coast to the Garden Cottage Nursery at Tournaig and selected some plants to mark the occasion. I have a love of meconopsis poppies and will put them in with the blueberries to enjoy the acid soil.

Meconopsis Baileyi Alba

Heuchera Solar Eclipse

Alpine aquilegia x 2

Meconopsis napulensis

Pulsatilla

Mum’s collection of alpines

Meconopsis Lingholm

an alpine primula

Today was the first bumblebee picture of the year too & it was enjoying the pussy willows. The sky really was that blue! I made my day entirely by visiting Red Point and going to my favourite beaches.