It was cold last Saturday, 4C, but calm with occasional spells of sunshine that made the garden more enjoyable to work in. The garden is undergoing a bit of a change, through necessity, and at the moment it’s not the prettiest of places. However, the winter gloom has given way to signs of spring as the borders turn green with emerging perennials and a few little splashes of cheerful colour here and there courtesy of spring bulbs and hellebores.

I’m longing for the day when the sun streams in my bedroom window early in the morning and I can hear the birds chirping outside. It’s always motivation to get up and get started with whatever happens to be on the agenda.

But back to the jobs that husband & I managed to tick off the list last Saturday. Two hydrangeas were lifted and replanted elsewhere. Six Hellebores were also dug up and moved to a shadier bed. Various perennials were replanted or moved from one area to another, and a new Exochorda ‘Niagara’ was planted. I’d love to think it would be covered in masses of flowers this spring, but I think it’s too young for that, so I’ll appreciate whatever flowers it offers up.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ was growing in a border that is now in deep shade and it’s looking thin and in need of some TLC. It had to be moved. Growing alongside it was Hydrangea ‘Blackberry Pie’ and it was suffering the same fate. They were both dug up and replanted in a sunnier spot. Time will tell whether they’re going to survive or not. I hope they do, as I like them both.

Peony ‘Shirley Temple’ was lifted in autumn and potted up to make way for the main garden path being widened. She was replanted in almost the same spot, and I noticed that there’s an abundance of buds peeking through, although that’s no guarantee, or indication, that there will be flowers this year. It would be a pity if she didn’t flower as it is the most prolific bloomer of all the peonies in the garden.

Last autumn we had to lose two small borders that sat at the foot of the patio to make way for the path to be widened. Some of the plants were moved there and then into other borders, but others, such as Geranium psilostemon, had to be potted up and left over winter. Two of them were replanted yesterday. There’s nothing to see as they’re still sleeping beneath the soil, but they seem to have coped with the winter (I peeked under the top layer of soil). This is the way they previously looked.

I’ll miss that mass of colour at the foot of the patio, but I think one or two pots might do the trick…or maybe three? We still have a number of plants to move around, including another two hydrangeas in a large planter (I doubt if we’ll get those out with roots intact), a Rhododendron, heucheras, some roses, and a number of perennials.

In case you think I’ve gone mad (though I think my husband might tell you I have as he’s the one who’s been landed with all the heavy digging and lifting) this is part of the plan to simplify the garden and make it easier to tend – and much safer to walk through. I’ll try to post images in due course, when it’s looking less frightful.

But I’ll leave you for the moment with another sign of what’s to come later in Spring. In parks and gardens up and down the country it will soon be time for spring blossoms of many different varieties to make their spectacular appearance and fill us all with awe.

Happy gardening everyone! I hope the sun shines for you and that the icy chill we’re experiencing right now will soon move away. x