What strange times! My photo exhibition happened in the nick of time and now that we are asked to avoid social contact there will be plenty of time for gardening, and other projects. So this is a quick update on The City Garden in mid-March with my Six on Saturday.
Looking back a few years I realise the foxes did a lot of damage two years ago, and as a result I have changed quite a bit of the planting. The garden seems to change every year.
1.Pink and Blue
I like this little plant, Corydalis, because it is so persistent. It will grow anywhere and it needs no attention at all. I have the yellow variety in crevices, walls, and odd corners and it is just starting off. And in a tub I have a rather more precious pink version whose name I have forgotten! (Could this be Corydalis Solida?)
The corydalis is sharing its tub with cyclamens and Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’. In the tub the plant is a little slow to develop, but a near neighbour seems very happy underneath the birch tree, growing in very shallow soil.
2.Euphorbia
I love these! I know I posted in February but here they are again – Euphorbia ‘Lambrook Gold‘ and Euphorbia amygdaloides. Lambrook Gold is in a sunny spot and establishing very nicely now after a slow start. The smaller amygdaloides variety grows in shallow soil under a tree and it is starting to spread which is exactly what I want. I think I also planted a purple specimen and wait to see if it appears. I look forward to this part of the City Garden in mid-March ablaze with lime-green and purple!
3.Violas
Little violas peeping out from amongst the daffodils are quite cheeky! But as you can see the snails are nibbling away already.
4.Ferns
The fernery of the City Garden in mid-March is still very quiet. There is sign of life emerging, although it looks rather slow. I wonder if the pots have exhausted whatever goodness they had and perhaps I should repot. That will be a big job.
5.Clematis
Growing over the back wall is this extraordinary clematis whose name I can’t remember. I have a vague memory of an Himalayan Clematis but I can’t find anything on the internet. Perhaps someone in the Six on Saturday club can help? The flowers hang in long racemes and stupidly I have not taken a photograph which shows this. The clematis dies down over the summer and perks up with colder weather. It is also quite vigorous!
6.Amelanchier
Amelanchier is flowering away and very cheerful in the middle of the libertia grandiflora and some holly leaf ferns. I have planted variegated grasses and persicaria amongst the ferns and libertia and I hope the bed will escape the foxes this year.
So there we are – the City Garden in mid-March and my ‘Six on Saturday’.