Hedge gone!

We had a local tree surgeon take outpart of our laylandii hedge that was is a right old state. He came while we were at work yesterday and did a marvellous job! I must say it is surprising how much space it took up. It is great to have it out though; there is quite a big gap now at the back where we will have to grow something, but I am thinking of putitng in an elder (after hearing Dad talk about how they make good hedging). That would give us greenery, keep the birds happy, and maybe a little elderberry wine too! Dan hates elderflower flavour, but I love it, so maybe some of that too.

The great thing is that there is a lot more sun coming in to that part of the garden (but it is noisier). We intend to grow vegetables there this year (as there are 12 people on the waiting list for our local allotments).

Chionodoxa Forbesii

These are my new favourate plants! I bought the bulbs last year from Eurobulbs UK, and they are so beautiful. I had thought that there weren't going to be any flowers this year as they were advertised as one of the earliest bloomers in the Spring. As it has been so hot this year I expected them early but they have only just come out. Apparently they will self seed and naturalise, but we shall see. They look quite big in the photos, but they are actually tiny, just about 3 or 4 inches tall.

Magnolia

At long last we have purchased a Magnolia for the front garden. We had wanted to get a tulip-shaped flower, but these are much more tree-like and in the front it will be much better to have a bush. So we went for a Magnolia stellata. So far I'm really pleased with it. Perhaps later we will have another in the back garden.

Seedlings seedlings

I've been meaning to write this blog for ages! I can happily report the newspaper pots have worked excellently. Successful germination has been achieved for sweet pea, snap dragon, marigold, busy lizzies, heliotrope, fox glove, phlox, delphinium, penstemon, aster, mesembryanthemum, silene, lobelia, cineraria, dianthus, amaranthus, tomatoes, chillis, onions, sweetcorn, squash, and pumpkin!!! They have all been moved to the greenhouse (hopefully not too early)...