It is cold enough for rain to coagulate and fall in heavy drops. ~ Joyce Peseroff: “April to May”
By April every gardener is a hopeful weather watcher but this year it has mostly continued in a wintry vein of many wet days and cool temperatures. Last week there was overnight air frost and even as the month begins to close, temperatures are due to fall back to single figures. As a consequence the emerging blossom on the miniature Conference pear blackened off and the vegetable garden is still mostly bare and broody.
And since I’m looking at the bleaker side there have been one or two shrubs that have died off over winter. Most surprisingly is the small, willow boundary hedge on the west side of the garden and as this holds some rather friable, downhill soil in place, I’ve left the roots in place and will re-shrub here again either with willow or a privet.
Sadly both hydrangea ‘Miss Saori‘ and Daphne ‘Marianni‘ have not resurrected though I’m not certain that this winter is the culprit. In March last year I’d brought them up from Cornwall and planted them out. This was too hasty a decision really as not only is there a temperature difference between there and here in Derbyshire but snow soon followed [see post Back and Forth]. Chances are they did not have time to make enough root.
Last year’s toad and his mate have not returned to the pond this April but since builder buddy and I have just been working on putting all the complex electronics in place for a cascade it’s not all that surprising (though such activity would not normally deter an amorous toad). All that’s needed now is a 12V battery to power the pump as well as sun for the solar panels to keep it charged. Meanwhile the pond plants are thriving and should eventually disguise the pipe work, whilst the overflow is not wasted but now runs through a French drain into the marsh garden.
With some extra muscle help, I’ve moved the Blush Noisette rose urn to the Japanesque garden midway trellis as it needs more sun than the Potted Cottage front garden can muster. Moreover, the understated clusters of small, fragrant blooms, suit the aesthetic of the garden.
And as can be seen in the photo above, despite the mostly dire weather there have been the occasional sunny days which have brought out the Spring foliage on the Japanese hostas, acers, pieris and spireas.
I am fortunate to have a small woodland garden at the far end and Spring is the best time to enjoy the native plants and trees. There are several clumps of lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) just starting to flower which I inherited with the garden and had quite a job digging out and transplanting to the woodland. These are rather thuggish little plants and are really best suited to wilder areas.
I’ve been enjoying the shelter of the greenhouse this month and as a consequence have been sowing more seeds than usual, just for something to do in inclement weather. So the seed diary is filling up and already I have given away 10 young Pompom dahlia plants that I first sowed back in January on a windowsill. And what better way to end this April’s blog post than on a positive note!
My Japanesque Garden 
Despite the losses your garden is looking good. I love that tea-room. The weather has improved here this past week with several sunny days, and even warm in the sun, though still chilly in the wind. I have losses too and a lot of young plants (and narcissi) badly assaulted by the slimy assassins. But it is astonishing how plants react to a bit of warmth and how quickly the garden changes. And I have learned that losses lead to old plants being replaced by new and so life begins anew.
thanks for your feedback Jude which accords with this bright side of bleak post too – its warming up next week too and I’ll be able to enjoy the teahouse more (which by the end of July will be completed with its 3rd coat of paint and other bits that need attending to)