Still Sunny

Yes, it’s true. The sun is still shining and it’s making people happy – strangers are smiling and commenting on what wonderful spring weather we’re having. Today will be the 20th day with no rain, and if the forecast is correct, the first day of light rainfall will be another 10 days from now.

Yesterday the topic was raised in the Scottish Parliament and the First Minister was equally surprised that this is only early May and they were talking about possible water shortages. He would check the SEPA report later. Well, I checked it later too, and the water scarcity report stated that my home area has been raised to ‘Alert’. Hosepipe ban ahead? I hope not. That’s something alien to us here on the west coast. I need to check the water butt and I now wonder if we should get second one. But today I’ll be outside making the most of this spring sunshine!

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Just another Gardening Week

It was a rainy start to the week, and now it’s a rainy finish. This morning there is a thick mist rolling across the fields behind the garden and soft rain has fallen all night. That’s the type of rain I love – one that waters the plants gently, without crushing the little ones. The garden right now its looking lush and green with pops of colour appearing here and there, and bare areas are filled with a sea of blue by the ever reliable Forget-me-nots, while their summer replacements wait and grow in the wings.

The in-between days were cool and sunny, perfect for working in. New plants were added with the highlight being Rosa ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’, a short rambler that will hopefully cover a tall obelisk, then right on cue, stop. I’m always optimistic that a plant will grow as instructed!

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Five in a Row

Five what? Five dry days without rain! The perfect cause for excitement, don’t you think? With heaps of sunshine adding to the joy, it’s definitely a reason for celebration. We’ve managed to accomplish a remarkable amount of work in the garden this week. Despite the chilly air, by afternoon, the garden’s been a ‘jackets off’ workplace. This weekend is shaping up to be more of the same! I hope your week has been as good as mine. Let’s take a look at my six subjects for today.

Six on Saturday

Exochorda x macrantha ’Niagara’ This was planted last year, so it’s still not quite large enough to create the beautiful waterfall of flowers shown in the marketing blurb. One day…

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Glorious Spring

Perhaps it’s too early to label the Spring of 2023 as glorious. It’s been a miserable, cold winter, and spring got off to a poor start, but this week has seen a huge change in my little part of the world. The sun has finally returned (not every day – that would be asking for too much!) and temperatures have moved upwards rapidly! It’s great to have some real spring weather. Perhaps I should reserve that title until spring 2023 is almost over, for knowing my country as I do, we will have wild stormy days ahead, probably frost and possibly a dusting of snow, along with rain, sleet & hail! But today the sun is shining – and it’s glorious!

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