My Little Garden 20th April 2024
Have I mentioned recently how wet it’s been this year. It seems to be the default weather this spring, following on from a mild, rainy winter when the slug population multiplied several times over. I can just imagine how much havoc they will cause with summer plants after already slimily munching their way through crocus, daffs and alliums leaves.
On one of the two dry mornings this week, I headed into Manchester to the new RHS Urban Show. The venue itself was fascinating: a piece of Manchester history inside an old railway building. The show itself didn’t disappoint either, with gardens for tiny spaces, lots of houseplants, and a great lineup of talks. I hope it becomes a permanent fixture in the RHS calendar.
On the other dry morning, I thought I’d better take the opportunity to find six somethings for Six on Saturday, so here they are.
- Tulipa ‘Double Shirley’
A very pretty tulip that looks great combined with plain purple varieties like ‘Negrita’.
2. Tulipa ‘Queen of the Night’
Standing tall in pots by the front door.
3. A red tulip mistake
Never again will I buy parrot tulips, but if I do, they won’t be going in a pot, and they won’t be bright red. For some reason, I thought these were going to be orange.
4. A happy accident
For some years I’ve had an unknown variety of white ornamental quince growing in a super shady corner. To my surprise last week, it seems to have produced a peach coloured offspring with similar colouring to Chaenomeles ‘Geisha Girl’. Happy days.
5. Bluebells
It’s that time of year again.
6. Blossom
Last weekend the blossom buds on my crab apple tree turned pink.
They fade as the flowers open, but the blossom is such a beautiful sight while it lasts.
So that’s it for another week. I’m off to pick up some plants from Bluebell Cottage Gardens this morning and take a wander through the bluebell wood.
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading.
