A few jobs done and dusted...

Hi guys,

I've been busy this week in the garden, dodging the showers. As I write this the wind is blowing from the West and is bitter cold and the forecast is for snow either tonight or tomorrow.

In Monty's garden I've removed the glass coldframes which are now at the allotments. This has given me more space to play with which is never a bad thing! I've planted a Betula jacqumontii and helleborus Harvington Pewter there. WHen spring comes I can stock this bed further which is something to look forward to.

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On a trip to Burford House gardens last week I picked up some bags of garden compost, ideal for mulching, for only £2.49 a bag! So I have been mulching the borders in the circle garden and Monty's garden. I always think a layer of mulch sets off the emerging shoots and gives an overall 'tidier appearance' at this time of year.

The pond needed a little tidy up so to that end I set out cutting back some of the flag iris and cyperus. I've taken out the waterfall and replaced it with the fountain function. Where the waterfall was is now dug over and another place ready to be planted up. I'm thinking candelabra primulas, ferns, astilbes and hostas.

The sarcococcas are looking good now. Below is S.hookeriana. Its the more upright of the sarcoccoca clan. It has lovely reddish stems and, as is common in all sarcoccoca, has wonderfully scented flowers.

A quick close up of the flowers below shows their beauty. I wish you could smell them from here...

 

By our back door we have S.confusa. This is a dwarfer species but will spread further than hookeriana. It spreads by underground runners but, in a container it controls its slightly 'adventurous' nature. Where this is positioned, it is in a shady position and because of this it flowers a little later.

As you can see below the flowers aren't yet open but, with the bush covered in buds, there will be a plethora of perfumed blooms in a week or two.

A project I've got lined up sometime in the next few weeks is a planted alpine sink. I've got a couple of Belfast sinks which I've had hanging about doing little or nothing. I've  been looking into creating a hypertufa mix and coated the sink in it as I find the glazed exterior a bit garish. It takes about a week to harden properly. Once i'm ready to start i'll line the base with broken crocks and shingle. Onto this i'll add a mixture made up of loam, leafmould and grit/sand. I intend to plant it up with some specialist species which will appreciate the sharp drainage so a trip to Ashwood nurseries will be called for...