Green Girl Gardener

I thought I should definitely include the date in the title, just in case anyone thought it was actually March! Seriously, how is there this much rain in the clouds? There’s no rain falling at the moment but everything’s soaking from a week of almost constant wet stuff so I won’t be getting any gardening done this weekend. Apparently it should be cheering up as we move into June so hopefully I’ll be able to get out there and start making some progress.

Speaking of progress, there is some going on out there and there are some splashes of colour appearing here and there.

Much as I don’t appreciate constant rain, the plants needed it, and it does seem to make their colours more vibrant. This beautiful sale table erysimum caught my eye this morning. Such a happy colour.

Also starting to bloom is my rhododendron that I snapped up in the post-lockdown sale last year from our local garden centre.

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I was starting to worry that the buds would never open and reveal the gorgeousness inside, but finally I have my first pop of shocking pink. Although I always think I don’t like pink, it’s actually baby pink I don’t like. Who wouldn’t like vibrant colour like this?

In the front garden we have an azalea that completely looks after itself.

This one is dangerously close to the baby pink that I don’t like, and I probably wouldn’t have chosen it but we inherited it and, actually, I think it’s rather pretty. Very delicate petals which seem to lend themselves well to their subtle colouring. I’d quite like to move it because it’s hidden under a hedge but I don’t want to upset its independence.

Also giving the garden some subtle colour is this ajuga.

This was a gift from my Dad and C when we moved in. It took a couple of years to settle in and I think last year was the first time it flowered. It’s created a good bit of ground cover and this year lots of flowers are springing up. I’ve got a second one now in a pot hanging from our catio which is also flowering.

Back in the front garden and the peonies have really appreciated the rainy spell. I’m sure they’ve more than doubled in height in about a week and they’ve all got buds just biding their time before they burst out.

Every year I think to myself, must get some supports for the peonies but yet I still haven’t. The flowers are so huge when they emerge that it only takes one downpour for them to collapse.

I’m going to finish with a photo of a sedum which I think really illustrates why these are called succulents.

Just look how lush and, well, succulent, this lovely specimen is! As succulents don’t like to have wet feet I was concerned that all this rain might be detrimental but I think it likes being in the pot because it drains well. This is hanging off the catio and I just love it. It’s trailing out of the container beautifully which was exactly my intention. Ooh I do love it when a plan comes together!

There we are, that was a quick Six today. What to do with the rest of my day? I’m not used to having choices! We’ve been asked to ‘stay home to save lives’ for so long and now I’m actually allowed out I don’t know what to do! I found out yesterday that I have antibodies from when I had covid, so I feel somewhat protected with that and having had my first jab (although I will, obviously, still follow the rules) but I don’t know where to take me and my antibodies! If you’re also at a loose end, why not check out the Propagator for more Sixes whilst you ponder your next moves.