TULIPS AND ROSES

We've had the most glorious weather this week.  Warm spring sunshine and blue skies.  It makes for a happy gardener.  There's been time to finish off a few overdue jobs.  Meanwhile, the tulips and daffodils continue to shine.

1. The Front Garden in the sunshine

I was walking around the garden with the camera yesterday afternoon and the front garden was bathed in sunshine.  So I took a snap, and here you have it.

2. Tulip Burgundy

I planted a selection of tulips last autumn, in the knot garden, which were chosen because they are supposed to be reasonably perennial.  The photograph above is of tulip Burgundy, a lily flowered variety.  We'll see how well it returns next year.

Further along are Recreado and Apricot Pride. 

The bamboo canes you see in the photo are at 1 metre intervals, to help with social distancing.  They are there to aid me in planting up the border.   A job that I'd hoped I would have finished by now.

3.  Feathered and Flamed

I'm sure I didn't order these Rhubarb and Custard tulips.  They were supposed to be white and purple or white and  dark red.  I have 7 pots full.  I'm trying to like them, but I'm rather disappointed.  I'm sure someone will be along in a moment to tell me that they aren't that bad, but I will know they are just trying to be kind.

But for every disappointment there is something that gladdens the heart though.  This tulip has 'broken'.  It was part of a Wilko's purple and white mix that was planted last year.  This year one of them has come up with these feathered markings.  If I were a Dutch speculator of the 17th Century I would have just made a fortune.  I'm really rather happy.

4. Madame Alfred Carriere 

Overdue job of the week was tying in Rosa Madame Alfred Carriere.  I. have to confess that this job has been going on for quite a while.  The whole rose was taken off the wall, one of the main stems removed altogether and then all the retained growth tied in.  I saw an article in Country Life earlier this year which showed this approach where the shoots are tied in to cover as much of the wall as possible.  I usually tie in the main branch framework and shorten all the side shoots, so this is a different approach for me.  It's been time consuming, so I hope the results will be worth while.  

5. Rhododendron

The first of the Rhododendron's has flowered.  I don't know the name of this variety.  Some of the lower branches have variegated leaves, but these upper ones are plain green.  After a couple of very dry years, and significant die back as a result, I'm just pleased to see this one happily flowering away.

6. Potatoes

I planted the first early potatoes last weekend - Charlotte and Pentland Javlin.  I made some slate signs.  I'm slightly concerned that it looks like a pets graveyard.

That's all from my garden this week.  We can't go out and visit gardens at present, but you can visit them virtually by following  The Propagator, who kindly hosts Six on Saturday.