I'm pleased to say I am now fully vaccinated, I had my second covid jab a couple of weeks ago and am even more pleased to say I didn't feel as bad afterwards as I did with my first one. I took a paracetamol before bedtime, slept well but had a thumping headache when I woke, and felt a little tired up until about midday. Small potatoes.
oOo
When the garden wakes up from winter sleep I walk around looking at what needs to be done,
what's showing signs of life, what can be resuscitated and what looks dead.
The geraniums were covered over winter so I was hoping to see some semblance of survival.
This was a beautiful deep pink/crimson colour.
The other 11 look just the same!
Winter 2019 I didn't cover any and most of them survived!!
The other 11 look just the same!
Winter 2019 I didn't cover any and most of them survived!!
Fickle thy name is clematis.
I have tried (with only a modicum of success), to grow them for years.
Last year this clematis above was thriving, it took off, it had lots of buds on it,
it was looking good ...........
then one day it started to wilt, and the rest is history.
This one, newly planted last year didn't do much at all, well actually it didn't do anything,
it looked dead, but now it's looking promising.
I have a theory - when they're in pots I think I overwater them
so I'm going to neglect them and see how that works out!
This lovely winter clematis (can't remember its name) is the star of my garden.
It's on a north facing wall and has bloomed for the past 4 years covering two fence panels.
I didn't do anything, not quite neglected it, just let it get on with it,
It's on a north facing wall and has bloomed for the past 4 years covering two fence panels.
I didn't do anything, not quite neglected it, just let it get on with it,
which is why I'm going to apply the same method to the summer ones.
A first for me last year was this passion flower.
It was lovely with healthy flowers, I was very pleased with it.
It was growing round a climbing rose, through some trellis attached to a fence panel that had to be replaced. I did my best to remove it but had to cut some of the stems. There's no sign of life after a few weeks, it's not looking good.
A neighbour left this pot outside her house for anyone who wanted it so I snapped it up
and painted it. It was ok through the summer but didn't fare well over winter.
I'm going to give it a good sand down and re-paint it.
The biggest job I have been busy with is painting the fence panels. Three were damaged and had been battered around for months in all the bad winter weather, so when we finally replaced them I started painting. I enjoy it, I find it slightly theraputic, but I've reached the side pathway now and I'm getting bored! Also one panel is completely covered in ivy and another still has clumps of dead ivy that I removed years ago, clinging to it. It might take a while for those to get painted.
What a state the small patio was in. I didn't really notice how bad the fence panels were last year with the tree in full greenery and my bike and flowers covering some of it.
It already looks better with the fence panels painted and when I have cleaned the slabs and planted the tubs with pretty flowers it will be transformed back into my little corner of sunshine and relaxation.
The cherry tree is starting to bloom, seen here with a lovely little visitor.
No doubt the birds will get more cherries than me!
This one at the bottom of the street is glorious.
∼ Be safe and well ∼
Polly x
Wow, that gorgeous cherry tree! The only thing I know about clematis is that they like their roots to be shaded.
ReplyDeleteThe cherry tree doesn't seem to have as many blooms on it as last year, bit dissapointing.
DeleteYes, I love the crabapples and dogwoods, but their blooms are short-lived. I pull out my geraniums every fall, put them in a paper bag and then replant them in March, indoors. They are blooming now and look great. Will transplant outdoors in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteI will be buying some new geraniums soon, I might try the paper bags next witner.
DeleteIt's a mystery to me why certain bushes thrive and others just gradually die - even after they've been thriving for several years. I try less watering, more watering, pruning, nothing seems to make any difference. Either they survive or they don't.
ReplyDeleteA shame about the ailing passion flower, it's beautiful.
Ever the optimist I checked the passion flower again today - not good. Even though something looks dead on the surface I leave them for a while just in case the roots are ok.
DeleteGlad you are fully vaccinated now. It’s great you can get some gardening done. We haven’t done any yet. When we finally get a nice day, we go on our bikes. We will have to sacrifice a day soon.
ReplyDeleteI miss cycling. I lost my nerve on either small country lanes with cars racing round blind bends, or busy main roads.
DeleteI just saw this Passion Flower on a friend's blog, Welcome to Lavender Dreams. It's such an unusual and beautiful flower. The cherry blossom tree is so pretty. I used to see them every Spring grace the streets of my old town.
ReplyDeleteHappy month of May, Polly.
~Sheri
Thank you Sheri.
DeleteGood that you have taken both the jabs of vaccine. The photographs are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ramana.
DeleteHow wonderful that you are fully vaccinated. Everyone is, around here, we are ahead of the game for once and life is pretty much back to normal. I was ill for three whole days after the second shot, glad you had it easy.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Sorry to hear how ill you were Amalia. It affects us in different ways, my daughter and son-in-law were both ill for 2 days after their first ones.
DeleteYou have your work cut out for you, but we all do. Thanks for mentioning your geraniums. For the first year I've tried to winter two of them downstairs and have yet to bring them up! I would have forgotten!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Jeanie :-)
DeleteIt's too bad that Tom Sawyer and his friends were not around to help with that fence-painting project.
ReplyDeleteI'm all painted out now Beatrice. I'm round to the side of the house which isn't on view much, so I've lost enthusiasm for it!
DeleteAlso meant to add my congrats on receiving your second and final vaccination (except for possible boosters in future). Nice to be able to get back to things you enjoy outdoors.
ReplyDeleteI find clematis tricky too. I finally have one in bud this year. We'll see how it goes! A bit of a battle with ivy here as well. I took a fruit saw to it at one point.
ReplyDeleteI've got 4 clematis looking good at the moment, one is flowering. So far so good.
DeleteNice pictures. Painting the fence reminded me of Tom Sawyer
ReplyDeleteThank you. I think my daughter would have done it but I have more time, and I quite enjoyed it.
DeleteP!ants are fickle Polly, why some thrive while others did is a mystery to all. Painting the fence is a tedious job, been there 😊 Still, will look fab when done and you'll be rightly chuffed with yourself !
ReplyDelete