After such a long and cold winter, the warmth and sunshine of spring took us by surprise and we’ve been rushing to catch up in the garden. Our garden is very much a work in progress, and we always seem to have a mix of short and long term plans on the go at once, but over the last few weeks we’ve been focusing our efforts on improving the front garden.
We inherited four roses planted by a previous owner in the front garden: a yellow with pink edges, a sultry red, and two different pinks, one pale and modest, the other bold and slightly disheveled. At some point, I’d like to add another red and a peach coloured rose too.
It’s fair to say that the front garden has been fairly neglected since we moved in and probably for some time before judging by the weeds that have flourished with only the roses as competition, by far the worst of the weeds is horsetail. I’m loathe to use weedkillers, and I’ve heard mixed reviews about their effectiveness against horsetail anyway, but I’m hoping that I can weaken it by vigorous weeding and planting a selection of other plants that will hopefully be tough enough to compete with the horsetail.
A few weeks ago, we took my grandmother to a garden center near where she lives and spent a lovely afternoon catching up over lunch, helping her choose birthday cards for relatives and friends, and buying a few new plants for our front garden, including a hardy fuschia, a thistle and a tiny Kilmarnock willow. We’ve also added a perennial cornflower (Amethyst in the Snow), Rudbeckia Goldstrum, Geranium Ann Folkard and two Japanese anemones (September Charm and Honorine Jobert). It doesn’t look like much yet, but I look forward to seeing this part of the garden develop and hopefully thrive in the years to come. Have a lovely week. X
Lovely selection of plants. Gardening is a lesson in patience, isn’t it, but it’s always worth it in the end 🙂
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Definitely, and I find gardening so rewarding and therapeutic but I’m also an impatient and lazy gardener – which is an unfortunate combination! ☺
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So beautiful! The yellow rose is particularly gorgeous. Such a wonderful day spent with your grandmother, too. Bonding over plants is always a blessing. 🌞
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Thank you, I’ve always wanted a rose garden so I was very grateful to inherit them. Yes, gardening is a family hobby – we’re always swapping plants and home grown veggies with each other. 😊
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Those are lovely plants you have chosen.
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Thank you, I get a lot of inspiration from other people’s gardens – including yours! ☺
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Love your roses especially the crimson one 🙂 I’ve only got two new climbers in the back garden. And a glorious orange one in the front which was there when I bought my house. We plan to add more.
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Sounds lovely! I’d always wanted roses so I was very happy to inherit them, and I’m planning to underplant with chamomile and lavender.
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Sounds great – looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. We’re leaving our front garden to next year to worry about!
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I know the feeling, at times it seems like there’s so much to do and not enough time to do it all. ☺
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Plants given and recieved are always the most special! Great photos!
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Thank you. I often find gardeners to be the most generous sort of people, always happy to share seeds, cuttings, as well as wisdom and experience with each other. 😊
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I looked at your Amethyst in the Snow and thought “what a WONDERFUL name”, and then I thought “that’s Centaurea montana” which a quick web search confirmed. I’ve grown the plain purple one and its such an easy plant that puts up with anything! I think Amethyst in the Snow is beautiful, and the name is so special!
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I just couldn’t resist those colours and the name, and the bees love it too.
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