Fingers crossed, my inability to grow aubretia may be at an end. Slugs are a menace in our garden and although we treat the raised vegetable beds with biological warfare (nematodes), it is too expensive to treat the rest of the garden. However, I had an idea how to keep them off our vulnerable ornamentals and my method is free! With great dexterity I picked some holly leaves and arranged them around the base of an aubretia plant and despite heavy rain for several days, not a single slug enjoyed a nibble. I am wondering if the prickles really do put them off and that my as yet unpatented method keeps the slugs saying 'ouch'. I will have to be careful myself when weeding.
Two lilac aliums have sprouted up with some yellow poppies in the border at the front of the house, underneath the kitchen window. We planted some bulbs years ago but it was the wrong situation for them - not enough sun and the soil is not very good. Anyway, years later two have come up to greet us, right underneath the bird table! Perhaps they will seed and eventually we will have a decent stand of them.
The box balls that were at the front door have been moved to near the garage to make way for the fuschias and some summer colour to welcome the postman. However, they are in need of a trim and I was never very good at cutting the children's hair, so I am unlikely to do a good job in re-shaping them. I could always ask my hairdresser to have a go with them........
The oak tree that had been partially felled a few doors up from us, was finally cut down today. It used to tower above the gardens on our side of the road. Impressive though the operation to remove it has been, it is sad to see the tree go. But it was sick and now there is an opportunity to replace it and look to the future.
Some gardeners believe that no colour combination clashes in nature. We have masses of different coloured rhododendrons and this pink one was planted probably a hundred or more years ago when the house was built. I don't know if the yellow azalea was planted at the same time but here they are, living side by side in perfect harmony. The azalea has a wonderful scent and we don't mind the yellow and pink together.
The orchard has been mown and the spent daffodil foliage cut down. However, we like to pretend there is a meadow theme going on down there so Doc has mown paths and left nature to itself. We are not sure whether this is a good idea or not because there are signs that Orange Hawkweed could take over. We do have cow parsley and some unknown wild flowers, though it depends which website you browse as to whether a plant is a beautiful, native wild flower or a pernicious weed.
I could do with a sit down but there is work to do. Time for tea and then its back to the plot to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse. I am struggling with my painful, post-fractured foot (see previous posts!) but I am determined not to give up. It is amazing how much I can do in an hour before I need a sit down and I have learned the art of prioritisation. Doc has also learned a thing or two such as how to take orders!
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