News flash: The first swallows arrived on April 3rd
Tulip Mania
Tulips have really come out this week. For many years we have planted Tulip Red Impression all along the left hand border to our garden. It is hard to get the effect in one photograph but standing looking at the display with the sunlight shining across the flowers is just magical. Most of them come up each year but we look for any gaps and replenish them. Probably we plant around 100 extra Red impression each year plus many other tulips and bulbs. See blog with bulb list.
Looking along the same border. There is a small cobble path running through this part of the border although it is covered in twigs from the tree above (another job waiting to be done).
The same border with Anemone Blanda Atrocoerulea and Leucojum Aestivum 
Leucojum Aestivum which resembles a snowdrop but is much larger. Worth a space in any garden.
Looking from the back of the same border.
Another part of the same border.
Tulip Turkestanica a species of tulip native to central Asia. It was first described by Eduard August von Regel in 1873 as a variety of T. sylvestris, then elevated to full species status two years later.
Tulip Turkestanica on the edge of the “Dingly Dell” border which is actually at the back of the Japanese border.
Another tulip species, Tulip Humilis
Tulip Ballerina lining the path to the pergola with Tulip Apricot Impression in the background.
Tulip Ballerina
Close up of the lovely Tulip Ballerina 
Sitting under the pergola looking towards the corner bed. Tulip Gavota in the foreground.
Tulip Gavota
From the pergola across the main lawn with Tulip Ballerina in the foreground.
Tulip Ad Rem at the back of the corner bed. When the sun comes out Tulip Ad Rem really fluoresces.
Tulip Ad Ram
Tulip Apricot Impression together with many alliums.
Tulip Apricot Impression
Tulip Apricot Impression
Tulip Purissima (white) and Tulip Beauty Queen (pink) both plant in 2007
Tulip Indian Summer and Tulip Annie Schilder
Tulip Annie Schilder with Tulip Indian Summer in the background
Tulip Indian Summer and it has a wonderful perfume a bit like wallflowers.
A final view across to the border full of Tulip Red Impression with the evening shadows across the lawn.
News flash: First rose in bloom!
As I walked back to the house I noticed that Rosa Old Blush China had started flowering
| Gardening Hours | ||
| This week | Total since June 19th | Average per week |
| 30 | 679 | 16 |
Here is my classic End of the Month View (
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 
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.
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.
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.
Glebe House Garden 