Getting away

The trouble with going away from the garden even for a week in late April is to miss the progression of the Spring bulbs. Having been inert though the winter months, these then appear to rush through their flowering as if all that pent-up waiting propels them from birth to death in a fit of impatience. Hence, I made sure to take some photos before leaving!

Since this is the potted cottage garden I am limited as to what to grow and given that the swathes of mass plantings are impossible, I favour the miniature and demure, including Scillas, Ipeheions but especially the ‘waterlily’ style tulips like Lady Jane. Evidently missing from this collection are the narcissi, so that is something I will amend for next year.

And talking of next year, this will mean splitting up the potted plant collection and re-locating the Japanese plants to the back garden. I will especially miss close inspection of the foliage changes of the tall Acer ‘Sei-ryu which butts up against the living room window (though it will appreciate having its roots in the ground after 20 years!)

Already I am mulling over what to replace the potted acers with, as not many trees tolerate such confinement. I’m probably going to opt for tallish shrubs especially ones that offer some seasonal colour changes or are evergreen. Any ideas appreciated in the comments below.

Climbers are another important addition since height will be lost when the trees go and to that end I already purchased two clematis for here including a white Spring flowering one from New Zealand: ‘early sensation‘. It is only frost hardy so I’ll have to remember to offer it adequate winter protection. More scrambler than climber over Acer ‘Trompenburg‘. It would look just as good growing through lacy black-crimson leaves of one of the smaller Sambucus nigras.

For the last couple of weeks I’ve hardly had time to look at the plants, having been busy doing more landscaping jobs in the back garden. Evidently it’s not just the flowers that are getting away from me but also the foliage plants – hostas have gone from just nosing above ground to unfurled leaves, particularly the gigantic and impressive ‘Empress Wu‘. I’ve also finally rescued two hostas that were squeezed in with two youngish Sarcococcas -‘H patriot‘ and H.’ventricosa‘ (another large variety and one I bought as a tiny plantlet without knowings its name or destiny!). This then meant that the Sarcococcas needed planting and so they, along with others I had potted, have been the first to put down roots in the back garden – but that is for another post!