What are we doing in the garden 2024

Managed to get out and do some weeding in the back garden for a hour, then had to come in then it started raining.

 

Went out and removed old flower stems that the birds had finished taking seeds from. It rained. So came in and had a pause cafe. No rain. Then went back out to continue and it rained. So the clouds are watching me and if I go out they let the rain fall, if I go in then it is dry!!!

 

Brilliant sunshine so I went out and shredded all the Mahonia and Eucalyptus that I cut back a few weeks ago, Helps to top up the mulch in my mini woodland area.

 

@CarolineL I wish I had a bog garden, but my garden although currently far too wet drains well, being on a hillside, and gets plenty dry enoughin summer.
Part of the reason for not having a pond or bog garden is that; in many parts of the garden the rock lies about a foot or less below the surface and so it becomes more of an engineering exercise than gardening.
My ideal garden would have a stream running through or along a boundary then I could give Darlingtonia a go as they prefer running water.
My Sarracenias have spent the past few winters outside in their washing up bowls and are currently coming into flower.

 

I know what you mean@flounder. I’m very behind in the garden but I’m blaming the weather!! I’m afraid I’m a fair weather gardener!!

 

Oh dear @On the Levels. Let me know when you are going to be indoors again and I will get out and do some gardening!!

 

I'm really going for it now, just been out and filled two large bags with weeds, old stems and random breakoffs....I think the neighbours will wonder whats going on!

 

Ah @NigelJ I'd love a stream too - the sound of the water and birds singing would make life pretty perfect in the garden.

 

I love having a stream, but there is a drawback, it floods, washing away top soil and leaving behind weed seeds.

 

With my parents due on Wednesday, I have attempted to create clear access via the concrete path down the garden. Somewhat overgrown above ankle height, and not much better below, this had to be tackled.

At least the rain has held off. It's been a beautiful day.

 

@NigelJ @CarolineL We sited a boggy area next to our pond. Lined the area and allowed it to slope down towards the pond. Then we planted out Darlingtonias. This was in 2010. That winter we had -15 but they survived. They are still there are continue to produce offsets. We did try Sarracenias but they couldn't cope at all. So we keep them in our garden room all year which is unheated in the winter and they also continue to do well. Amazing watching the flowers of these coming before the pitchers and then the pitchers developing.

 

Beautiful day here as well and managed to get more jobs crossed of my endless list. I’ve divided a geranium JS Matu Vu which was planted in the wrong place to begin with (the front of the border). Suffice to say that this is not ‘a small, very compact geranium’ as Claire Austin suggests. Some thick roots were left in the ground, so it’s probably going to come back with a vengeance. Anyone want some?

 

It's been cold and quite dull today, but I did clip a bit of one of the bamboos - took too much out of one side though so it looks silly, I'll have to balance it tomorrow.

 

When ever I'm in the garden, I look at the beds and remove the tiniest weed. While doing this, I observed one plant in particular in the recent days, and checked the internet about its habits.
Last year, I had bought a Campanula Takion Blue from our garden centre amongst a few other plants. I notices this year a worrying spreading behaviour, and took out the entire plant.
I mention this just in case someone has the same plant. It looks like it's one of those that take over a garden inside a short time.

 

Yesterday, in a brief break in the rain I planted a Morello Cherry in a 20 ltr. pot and I removed last years top growth from over my ginger lilies. The new shoots are just appearing and I thought the sodden dead foliage might start rotting the tubers and shoots. Fingers crossed we have no late frosts.