Some more hours...

...in the days in May - please...

Even though the May days are light longer there is still not enough hours in them to get everything done in the garden.  

Tellima grandiflora, one of my favourites at
this time of year. (click on photo to enlarge)

We have had high winds on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.   Miserable for trying to do anything much in the garden.   The trees which are in full leaf bent alarmingly.   However, no damage that I can see.   Maybe the apple tree lost some of the blossom but there is still plenty there.

I eventually completed the vegetable patch and got it planted up.

Taken from the bottom of the garden.

Taken from the 'house end' of the garden.

In the left photo you can see the bamboo  supports for the Mange Tout peas  - seeds planted and hope they grow.

In the photo below you can see the strawberry beds - about 27 plants.   Nine I bought new and the rest were salvaged from suckers and runners that rooted all over the garden last autumn.  Hopefully we will have strawberries and cream later this year.

I have also planted some Radiccio and and some Spinach Beet for salads.  While I was weeding I noticed loads of Yellow Rattle had eventually colonised this area.   Damn...I wish it had been further forward in the grass - it is a semi-parasitic plant and lives off domestic grass thus helping the meadow to maintain meadow species and not lawn grass species.  I have left it to get stronger.   You may have noticed that the meadow thus far this year is cut short?  This is to accommodate a bouncy young dog, Seren.   Maybe next year I will allow it to grow unhindered by mower again.   It would be a waste of time this year as young Seren needs space to bounce and play.   As it is she gets in a lot of mischief running off with garden implements, seedlings in pots, anything that can move and some that can't.

Meadow cut short this year.

The meadow is for bees but I hope that now the garden is more established there will be plenty of other plants to feed them.  If the lavender goes on the way it has started this year that will be lovely later.   It runs down each side of the path interspersed with two types of sage and a Rosemary which is covered in blue flowers and bees at the moment.   The Sage is in bud.   It is spectacular when it flowers and the bees love it.

Garden path.
Edged with lavenders, sage, rosemary,
bluebells, cerinthe, euphorbia and poppies.

Only this afternoon did I mention to my neighbour that I would be looking for someone to water the garden later on in the summer when I am away ...and he offered!  Problem solved!   I wasn't hinting.   I simply asked him if he knew of a teenager or someone who would be willing to do it for a little bonus of a few £ and whatever produce was ripe at the time.

The tulips are over so everything is very green at the moment.  Not so many bright splashes of colour but it won't be long before the big poppies and peonies are out.

Peony bud, just waiting for a couple of sunny days to open.

The Dogwood is in bloom, it is white and has a lovely evening scent.  In fact the most notable thing about the garden at the moment is the evening perfume in it.  Another  attractive white plant is the whitebells - I think they are a white version of bluebells - they are just lovely this year.

This started as a lone little plant by the kitchen door
four years ago.   I moved it to a more sympathetic
part of the garden...now look at it!

Aquilegia

Acer

The Aquilegia are just beginning to look very pretty....there are loads of little things growing if you look, even though the general impression of the garden is primarily all different greens.  Look carefully and you will see the blue of bluebells and cerinthes, also the periwinkles.

I have repotted the hostas and put them by the front door.  The little Acer doesn't like it there so it is just squatting under the bamboo for them time being.    S and R gave me this plant last year.   So dainty and pretty with seasonal changes of colour too.

Potatoes and tomatoes are growing like crazy.   All my varieties of potato are 'up' now.   The tomatoes I have moved to the tomato house.   Seren knocked the cheese board down from the counter in the kitchen and broke it so it has been recycled as a sign .

Recycled cheese board  and note the
bamboo support structure.

The Tomato House is my old tiny greenhouse.  The situation of it against that concrete wall seems to suit the warmth loving tomato plants...so long as blight doesn't get them.  Last year they were very successful.   I had 2 Gardener's Delights.   This year I  have Gardeners Delight, Aperitif, Black Opal (looking a bit sick where a slug got it...but recovering) Green Tiger - I think that is all.   The bamboo supports this year came from my own bamboo patch!  At about £1.00 per 9 foot canes in the garden centre that is a real saving.  And that is what gardening is about.   Recycling, producing, propagating, sharing...especially sharing I think.

The greenhouse is full to overflowing with hanging basket plants - most I've overwintered in the greenhouse - one giant fuchsia is in bloom already and the begonias are all sprouting...oh - far too early!  I'll have to deal with them this week - I need more compost.  I'll be giving fuchsias away this year.

Grape vine, it is actually bearing little tiny grapes
(not visible in the pic - take my word for it)

Yes, May is busy, busy, busy in the garden.  

Also May is the month when the Chelsea Garden Show is on...I went once.   It was busy  and lovely but I did prefer Hampton Court Garden Show.   Chelsea is best viewed on the telly or internet!  Much cheaper that way too.

So busy as it is I am going to love you and leave you here for another week.   Meantime happy gardening and let's hope the slugs leave some for us to enjoy.

The lilac in the garden,
bloomed for first time this year.

The wind is tossing the lilacs,

The new leaves laugh in the sun,

And the petals fall on the orchard wall,

But for me the spring is done.

(Anon)