It’s Saturday and I’ve six things to share from my garden. Come along for a stroll, there have been developments.

I’ve been working to upgrade the pergola, adding some panels to screen the greenhouse and shelves for flower pots. Ikea delivered the new garden furniture and today a nice chap called Reza from Taskrabbit bolted it all together in under 30 minutes. A masterclass in flat-pack construction. It’s a shame he only got 60% of the £33 I paid Ikea; I thought that was one of the few companies with an active social conscience.

Here’s the wide shot

I want somewhere I can fully recline. In summer, at the end of a hot day in the office, being able to lay down in a shady spot feels like first prize. This is the view above. Wisteria Prolific is in bud!

Screening from the planting in the pergola bed in a work in progress. Gertrude Jekyll agree to be trained across the espalier frame when the apple tree that isn’t Pitmaston Pineapple decided to be assymetrical. The sanguisorba is putting on lots of growth and the delphinium tried but the mollusc hordes descended for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’ve temporarily lifted and potted for some respite in the greenhouse. I’ve invested in a bag of strulch and spent this afternoon strategically deploying it around the tastiest plants. The terracotta pot has lillium regale bulbs and the black glazed pots is full of agapathus.

As you look through from the pergola you can see the north border extension has been planted. I’ve been very restrained (for me) and attempted a repeated planting pattern every 6ft to match the fence panels. There is a combination of hostas, ferns, hydrangeas, and geranium. Foxgloves and anthriscus sylvestris for height I’d like to add something climbing but two of those panels need to be replaced first. You can see in the foreground one of the polystichum ferns is still considering its options.

The north border is a story of two halves. The area closest to the extension is in full growth, however the stumpery area is not growing to plan. The persicaria is spreading but there is no sign of life in the ferns, but I will practice patience as well as ponder other planting options. Pat Butcher the rhododendron is full of bud.

Finally, there’s time for a quick peek in the polytunnel. Half pint peas, The sutton broad bean and a tub of spinach and rocket as well as a few overwintered pots. I plan to pot up the stored dahlia bulbs tomorrow, they will go into the polytunnel until the end of April.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. There are more gardens and plots to visit over at Jim’s