End of the Month View – March 2017

It is now the end of March and we are half way through Spring. Th snowdrops have faded but other spring delights are following.Here is my classic End of the Month View (January, October, September, August) Last January the beds looked empty. Now they are full of leaves with lots of tulips and alliums pushing up. Mostly it looks very green but on the right we can see some early tulips adding some colour. Looking across the centre bed we can see more tulips putting on a great display. (Before you ask, these have been in for over 10 years and I have lost the reference to there name). At the back you can see a blue carpet under the rose bushes.The Anemone Blanda Atrocoerulea were planted last spring with the idea that they would provide interest under the roses at a time when rose bushes are very boring. This is proving very successful. The leaves die back very quickly after flowering and can then be tidied up if required. Over time these will eventually grow to form a complete carpet of blue.The bed to the left of the lawn is full to bursting with tulips and alliums and should look fantastic in a few weeks time. (Actually a gardening group will be visiting then) However, looking at it I think we need to give some more thought to structure and colour at this time of year.To the right of the pond there is a similar mass of tulips and alliums. At the back the Delphinium Black Knight, Clematis Jackmanii, and Clematis Viola are all making good growth.To the right of the pond Tulip Apricot Impression is opening up. Tulip Apricot Impression in all its glory. A very nice reasonable priced tulip.

At the back left of the bed you can see some plastic which covers Peach Terrace Amber Dwarf. This is to protect the peach from peach leaf curl.Under the plastic the peach is already in flower.Further round the bed on the right the Crown imperial fritillary is also flowering.

Elsewhere in the garden the plum Prunus Jubilee is flowering so far avoiding any frost damage.

Just how nice can spring get!

Gardening Hours
This week	Total since June 19th	Average per week
28	649	16

This week we spent considerable time in the garden. What were we doing?For example here is our strawberry bed which is down wind from a big sycamore tree. You can see that this is covered with small seedlings from the tree.  It takes time to remove them by hand. Just one of the jobs to be done.

Do have a look at Helen The Patient Gardener’s blog where you fill find links to other gardens at the end of March. Thank you to Helen for hosting this meme.

also Sarah at Down By The Sea for Through The Garden Gate (here).