There is progress in the garden, even some flowers to show you. Step this way, it’s six themes from the back garden this week. With thanks to our host Jim for always having something to share on a Saturday.

  1. Climbers – The trachelospermum jasminoides is putting on growth, hopefully now I’ve worked out the optimum watering (a can every other day if it doesn’t rain) she will keep her leaves and work on covering more of the fence with scented loveliness. The clematis is really putting effort into growing up and through the pittisporum. Finally, the rambling rose is reaching for the sky, it provides a bouncy perch for the parakeets

2. Wisteria – I know it’s a climber but deserves its own heading. I built the pergola so it has something to climb over. This is its second year and I’m happy for it to put energy into twining along the wires and up and over the pergola ‘roof’. This first photo reminds me of birds perching – you may need to squint to see that! The second photo shows the bedroom and bathroom windows I want to obscure.

3. Tree Peony (lost label cohort) – This was a rescue from the Homebase pity bench several years ago. It has spent most of that time in a pot at the allotment. I plan to plant it out in the garden later this year where she can reach her full potential. I’ll be happy with more than one bloom per year!

4. Strulch – In a bid a keep the slimy hordes at bay, I’ve invested in a bag of strulch and spread it strategically around the garden to give plants a chance to get going. The salvia at the bottom of the shot is constantly ‘grazed’ and is a third of the size of the other salvias who seem to be out of range. I’ll report back on effectiveness in a few weeks. I can tell you it has a rather pleasant fruity odour.

5. Flower power – my garden tends to be summer flowering, something I’m working on changing. In the meantime, I’m excited to see several flower spikes emerging from this foxglove. Given how much it’s been ravaged by the molussc army, I’m surprised at its size. The seeds were sown Autumn 22, planted out Spring 23 and now there are spikes. I’ve more seeds on the go in the greenhouse; maybe I do have this succession planning thing sorted! The camassia is a new arrival this year. I planted three bulbs in 2022 but none appeared the following Spring. Following Adam Frost’s example on GW last week, I’ll pot up some bulbs later in the year, overwinter in the greenhouse and if they appear I’ll plant them out in the garden in 2025.

6. Leaf colour – The garden is mostly green at present but the colour palette, along with shape, sheen and texture has plenty to keep me interested, while I’m waiting for the flowers. The phystocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ is living up to its name, while the rose Chandos Beauty looks in the best of health

That’s my six for this week. Enjoy your weekend whether inside or out. A friend has volunteered some ‘hard labour’ time on Saturday, so I’ll be taking full advantage of that with fence repairs and tip runs – it’s all rock ‘n roll here 🙂