New Beginnings

Today has been my first real day gardening - there have been some days spent clearing the huge mass of brambles that descended into the garden when our neighbours cropped their tree. Also some deck washing and weeding but today was the day it feels like we are moving again.
Also a first trip to the garden centre which was exciting and always full of promise. In the back we now have a silvery Euphorbia that I hope deals well with the trick back corner. In pots we have a Nepeta Walkers's Low and a white Hydrangea. Also in beds we have another Geranium (Gravetye) and a silvery tall grass.
So on the way in the back and I also threw away a horrible pot that had a whippy grass that always cut your ankles (it was there when we moved in 8 years ago).

My to do list and resolutions for May are as follows:
1) Calm down on the pots and start to get rid of the ugly ones
2) Wash the upper decking and the trough there
3) Finally paint the fence on the upper deck.
4) Get a taller plant for the top of the garden for better height
5) Plan what herbs I will fill in the gaps with in June

And then of course we have the front garden to entirely re-plan.

Peak of Perfection

My garden is currently at its peak. I've had to adjust the expectations I have from my Devonian Childhood, where in May and June the verges, hedges and woods billow with verdant, fresh growth and flowers abound. This richness comes to Scotland later, but come it does. Now in July, my garden shows everything I hope for - movement, airy foliage and white flowers.

Here we have the Gilenia Trifoliate, the steely green Hebe and the white Achillea behind. This combination works well and I would love to have more umbellifers (one for the future).

Here we have a white Foxglove which is a new obsession following last years' Sutton's Pride and the pink Foxgloves my neighbour has. This is surrounded by a fluffy white flowered Hebe, my thuggish but fragrant Jasmine and the sensible Pittospormum.

This year the Ferns and Campanula growing through the fence have been joyous - stolen, unplanned and making my urban jungle even more lush.

This white Hydrangea has filled a barren corner and lit the whole border up. When I was young we had bright pink and blue Hydrangeas in the front garden and I haven't always been a fan. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's because they are fashionable and maybe it's because they are beautiful - I want more. So I may get another white one and when my front garden is re-done I am looking for some hot and garish additions.

And just to finish, the Foxglove again with those foxy, freckled flowers.

Spring Display

Like the white tulips, the red ones and the white and yellow daft have been really excellent. It's starting to wane now but I think I like the blousy openness we're seeing here just as much. With gardening you have to love the fade and the decay as much as the lush newness, although it's not always easy.

My new screen-saver

I googled cat ninja and found an obscenely large number of potential images to use. I chose this and am very attached already!

Tulipa Glory

They may only be present for a short period but these white tulips are cool perfection. My tulips have been excellent this year, probably because I did it properly - brand new bulbs planted in pots just for this year. I'll need to remind myself of that later this year when the time comes to do it again.