I am in pretty fine fettle today, having slept for almost 12 hours last night and woken at 830 to bright sunshine. I went to be really early last night which was my fortnightly weeknight off and I feel like the deep-seated fatigue has finally left me. And 2 hours of sunshine and garden time have cemented my positive state of mind. I think the hardest part of living in Scotland is the weather, and while this year it has been particularly crazy (hailstone rainbow last night anyone?) in general it isn't inspiring. Personally I need to be outside regularly with my hands in the soil to feel centred and positive, and this spring simply hasn't allowed me that luxury. Anyway, at least I live on the east coast because largely that is much dried than the rest of the country.
Today I tackled the front garden, and am trialling hiding the necessary recycling boxes around the corner where before I was hiding a heinous and unloved Hebe. I am definitely happy with the move but it has revealed a requirement for spending! I have placed the Azalea in front of the bin right no, but I need a nice pot with a tall screening shrub to sit in front of the bin, and maybe another for the coal bin. I don't think those crocosmias are ever coming up and in retrospect they maybe weren't tall enough anyway.
The Azalea was always destined to move to the front because it's shocking pink and the Acer has now taken the shadier position by the back door where I hope he thrives (pernickety Acers are clearly male).Looking rather nice just now with the 2 bluebells poking through and a froth of tumbling foliage. I can see why people get obsessive over Acers but personally I'd rather have a Eucalyptus, and the latter are not so delicate.
Loving the Aquilegia also which is coming into its prime and wasn't as buffeted by the hailstones as my darling Anenome (how fickle I am).
Speaking of my fickle nature, isn't this Hebe looking lovely with the delicate flowers? I had warmed to her because of the lovely small and distinct leaves but these snowflakes of flowers are pretty damn lovely as well. Apparently this will grow and spread, but not more than a metre. I am looking for more height in the bed generally, because it's all recent planting a lot of things are low down, and I also don't really have the eye for placement so the whole composition is higgledy-piggledy. Could never be a garden designer and David Hicks would choke! Also he hates Delphiniums which I love. I potted on the 3 plants that grew from the Delphinium seeds from last year and hope that they are indeed Delphiniums. That bed is looking really sparse because neither the Delphiniums or Salvia Patens have come back. See.
This will also need some work and spendage. The main bed will look amazing once the bigger gaps are plugged (spendage!) and I planted the Cosmos out today as they have been hardened off outside for 2 weeks. Hopefully they will survive and there's no frost forecast this week so it's worth a try. They look a bit sad though, dotted throughout the beds.
Anyway, off to work now in a better mental place, long live gardening.
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