Geum in Spring

I’ve been doing a lot of pruning, feeding and general tidying up of plants this week while dodging heavy showers. I have two Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ that I love, but at this time of the year, they definitely don’t look their best. I gave them a little haircut and suddenly they looked ready to face the world.

Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ flowers March to September, though it can sometimes be a bit later in getting started in this area. However, the plants are showing promise, there’s new growth, and quite a few buds appearing.

You can perhaps just make out in the photo below, two bricks (there’s actually three) that sit behind one Geum, and in front of another. After the last frosts, I place a light terracotta pot (it’s an indoor pot) on the bricks between both plants and then let the flowers grow behind and across the front. I think it creates quite an arty look. There should also be a salvia directly in front of the bricks, but I think it has died – another plant to add to the list.

Lewisia

There is one solitary Lewisia in the garden, and I should have lifted it before winter…but I didn’t. I came across it this week and was rather pleased to see that it had managed to survive all the rain that our winter had thrown at it. It’s showing a little bit of fresh growth, so I lifted it and potted it up…I promise I’ll look after it better from now on. I think it deserves to have a few friends, and they will be added to the neverending list (you all know what plant lists are like, don’t you!)

The Bird Table

I cautiously asked husband if he would make a bird table – he’s recently finished making the big planter for the patio – and I thought he might just be a tad fed up being asked to make things. I was wrong…before I knew it, a bird table was planted in the garden.

I had asked only for a flat top, but this one has two little planting boxes, two sides and a roof. You will have to use some imagination here because I can’t make up my mind what to plant in the boxes, once that is done and there’s planting growing up from the little bed it’s sitting in, I’m hoping it will look quite good. I would have liked a roof covered with small scalloped felt tiles, but I’ll make do with what I have…for the moment.

Our little grandson will enjoy watching the ‘birdies’ from the patio doors, but the problem we now have is how to direct the birds to it! It’s been there since Wednesday – with no visitors yet.

Tea Anyone?

I bought this old kettle at a garden show many, many years ago. It gets lifted from one area to another, from time to time. But it’s been sitting here at the edge of this border for over a year (maybe two) and I don’t mind it there when everything’s in bloom. There’s Lavender, Aquilegia and Lamium hugging it and it looks better in summer than it does right now.

If you like texture, rustic, even rust, then this kettle will suit you. If not, then your garden is probably a lot more pristine than mine. 😁

Chinese Forget-me-not

I’m always a bit sorry to see the Forget-me-nots die off towards the end of spring. The sea of blue that they create is an absolute feast for the eyes, especially on a very dull day.

I’ve shown remarkable self-discipline by not starting seed sowing until a bit later this year, but the time has finally arrived (yeah!).

I’ve started with Chinese Forget-me-nots, which are completely new to me. Unlike the biennial Forget-me-nots that we’re used to seeing in our gardens, this one is a hardy annual. Described as “flowering from spring to summer, this azure-blue and white mixture is like a showier, more glamorous form of Forget-me-not.”

The seeds are a good size which made them easy to space in the seed tray. There are 300 seeds in the packet, so if I have any problems with germination there will be plenty left over to make a second attempt. Providing I’m successful with them, I think they will look good both in the garden and in the vase and as a bonus, just like the more traditional Forget-me-not, they set seed in subsequent years.

Heuchera

In some regions Heuchera can retain its leaves through winter, but sadly not in this garden. I have a few Heucheras, or Coral Bells as they are sometimes known,  planted in various areas of the garden.

However, winter is never kind to them here, so the foliage in late winter and early spring always leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve just started working my way around the borders, removing ugly dying leaves, and applying mulch. Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ is just beginning to show its vivid colours with new growth now pushing through. It’s always a star.

That’s my contribution for this week’s Six, I hope you found something of interest! 😊

ABOUT SIX ON SATURDAY

Six on Saturday is like a weekly journal. Take six photographs and post them to Twitter and/or your blog. You can get all the details from The Propagator who kindly set it all up. If you want to join in and see what everyone else is doing in the garden, just follow the link!

All photographs copyright of Catherine Wood unless otherwise stated.