In my garden this February.

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Winter renovations are still very much underway – I’ve been extremely lucky that it’s been relatively dry and I haven’t done too much damage to the lawn with my size 6 wellies! It will pick up with a bit of tlc soon enough – well apart from the huge patch of bird seed weeds from the No Mess Bird Seed – a bit of contradiction in terms there!

A little preview of what’s going on Chez Moi – the arch and half the trellis are up already. I’m limited to how quickly the trellis can go up, for 2 reasons – I can only fit 2 panels in the car at the one time and being a Scot, far too tight to pay for delivery! The other is the wind – it’s very windy and I’m being cautious about setting the cement, as knowing my luck, I’d wake in the morning and they’d be at 45°.

The start of Project Privacy. The trellis will be covered with Clematis, Honeysuckle and a climbing rose over the pergola arch. I am hoping that if I plant them on the other side – they will grow up and ‘flop’ over so we can enjoy the flowers sitting in what will be the new patio. Deciduous shrubs will be used for height in the border – deciduous because they will let in the most light in winter/early spring before the sun is high enough in the sky.

There still lots to be done, lift the stone edging to reshape the borders, lift more plants, in particular the Cardoon and form a path. Rome wasn’t build in a day was it? I’m feeling my age recently!

I’ve taken a bit of a chance by moving two good sized plants recently. Clematis Ville de Lyon – has been in the ground for at least 5 years, possibly 6. The root ball was humungous and it took me almost 1 hour to hawl it from one side of the garden to the other. Time will tell if it’s been worth the effort. I was in too much shade now the shed is in it’s new home. The other is the Kilmarnock Willow – moved 2 weeks ago, just as it was beginning to break bud. That wasn’t nearly as difficult because, the big strong boy (my son) was at home at the time. He took the brunt of the weight. It’s been well watered and will continue to get a good soaking every week. It hasn’t hampered the Catkins – these things are tough as old boots, so I hope it doesn’t bat an eye! The Prunus (Cherry Laurel) to the rear is going to be taken off my hands by a neighbour, if not, I’ll offer them on freecycle. The were supposed to form a lovely evergreen backdrop to the seated arch – they’re redundant now. The seated arch still needs to find a new position in the garden. That too is a work in progress!

It’s not all mounds of earth and bags of cement though – the garden really hasn’t gone to sleep this winter. I don’t even think we’ve had 5 frosty mornings. The shrubs are budding up, most of the perennials are now on their way. The daylilies and alliums amongst other things are racing ahead. I do feel for them should we get a bad one, which can happen! I saw the first butterfly of the year but have yet to set eyes on a bee. Which is a real shame as there’s lots for them. Let’s see what’s in flower this February.

Pots of pansies and violas have been tremendous this winter. There are many similar pots dotted around near the back door so we can admire them.

The Iris reticulata Harmony are just about to go over, they’ve been in flower for a good 3 weeks and will be followed by Chionodoxa forbesii Pink Giant in a few weeks time. Their buds are already obvious.

I’ve added some new Iris reticulata Pauline to the garden this spring – most of them are planted under the Cotinus Golden Spirit – they are paired with Crocus chrysanthus Romance.

Crocus are out all around the garden – they’ve been tight in bud for a long while. They are dotted around the garden and each year increase in their numbers.

Meanwhile, the Hellebores are looking great. They are now mature enough to make a real impact in the garden.

Whilst the snowdrops on the sunny side of the garden are just about to go over – those on the shadier side are now coming into their own. Primula denticulata crowns are now emerging. Again, those on the shady side are a good couple of weeks behind. I find this extends their interest for a few weeks.

Two clumps of double snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis Flore Pleno, in the side garden. As many of you know, all my snowdrops were rescues last year and it was just sheer luck that the doubles got separated and planted together.

They are divided by a clump of singles. I’ll lift those so I can keep the doubles together in same bed.

The early flowering Corydalis planted below the Pagoda Dogwood are out. C. solida Beth Evans and C. Malkensis. C. Malkensis just needs a little more sun to lift it’s head. Iris reticulata Gordon to the right is also just going over.

It’s not all going on down at ground level – the spring flowering shrubs are almost there.

Camellia japonica Brushfield’s Yellow is full of buds and Skimmia japonica Snow White won’t be too far away. This has recovered well from the drowning it suffered a couple of years back.

I’m not particularly fond of yellow daffs (sorry, we all can’t be the same) but those I do grow are dwarf varieties, N. Tete a Tete, Jet Fire and Rip Van Winkle. There are some N. Minnow planted somewhere but I can’t for the life of me remember where I put them last autumn and I forgot to make a note. They are all on the verge of flowering. N. Tete a Tete seen here with Primula vulgaris Drumcliffe. I’ve learned to appreciate yellow daffs in the garden. I much prefer white flowering ones, which are later to flower and are only just appearing from beneath the soil.

Speaking of Primula – the early flowering Primula are not far away from adding a few punches of colour here and there. First out of the stalls are:

Primula bracteosa

Primula Mrs Marjory Banks – if ever you are looking for a ground cover Primula, Marjory is your woman! This huge clump was a teeny 7cm pot last April. It’s leaves are rather scruffy and well in need of dividing less than 1 year later.

The first of the Pulmonaria to flower. This is an unnamed variety and is finally settling in to make a good sized clump. I’ve a few of these dotted around the garden – they don’t really do anything for me, I need to get creative and find them some nice companions.

If wee pop open the cold frame lid, let’s see what’s flowering in there….

Primula Elizabeth Killelay – a double form of the more familiar Gold Lace. As you can see full of buds.

A couple of momentos from last month’s trip the the Early Bulb show in Dunblane. They will be planted out eventually!

Primula garryarde Guinevere – her beautiful purple foliage gives a wee bit of extra interest.

A petiolarid Primula – the colour caught my attention. Primula calderiana subsp. calderiana – flowers are just slightly going over but the plant has another crown emerging from the base. This pretty is a native of Bhutan is reported to stink of fish! Thank goodness I can’t smell it.

Best things come in small packages don’t you think? The miniature garden I planted up last spring has really benefitted from the mild weather. I have a cover (to protect from wet) all rigged up to be used as and when – so far it’s not been needed. The trough has been left out to the elements this winter. This tiny little plant is little more than 2 inches across and just full to bursting with buds. Those flowers will soon rise on tall stems. I love it!

Saxifraga burseriana Gloria

How is your garden growing this spring? I hope you are as pleased with your spring garden as I am. Thank you all for reading.

• 6 Mar, 2014
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