The flag flies again as the garden reopens. The oerlikon and the lyre shapeshifting in the wind.

 

Planting out has at last been just about completed in the Kailyard and Allotment with hopefully a strong chance of success, having waited for these things to come on in the greenhouse. A good head start and put out in milder weather, the earth well warmed up.

 

The big task of weeding out the Lochan is completed, though only a few weeks later there are ominous signs of the lily-pad leaves of potamorgeton breaking the surface of the water with new growth. The yellow flag irises are in full bloom now around its edge so it all looks very much as intended, a composed view. The other ponds are given attention too – the Middle pond choked with elodea, while the Top pond water surface is cleared of debris where it gets clogged up around the little islets.

 

Overhanging growth along all of the connecting narrow waterways through the woodland is thinned out or cleared so that they can be seen again. This also helps keep water running freely as much as possible – though we are already seeing signs of an erratic supply, 

 

Weeding is dominated by Galium – robin-run-the-hedge – its annoying sticky creeping tendrils knit themselves through everything, and nettles, it is just a steady round to keep them from getting a stranglehold.

 

Work continues in the Hortus – feeding and treating the box hedging and keeping the beds tidy. The greenhouses continue to get tended – successional sowings, potting on and planting out.

 

In Julie’s garden sweet Cicely gets the chop where it tends to dominate, so that there is still a clear invitation to wander around the little pathways here.

 

There is a first round of light hedge trimming just to maintain shapes, the informal perimeter hedges, Huff Lane, as well as the yew around the Roman garden and all of the box topiary forms.

 

Paths and passageways are cleared of overhanging growth, and things which are about to go over or getting a bit sprawly are clipped back into shape, so maybe we will get a second flush of flowering. The beds are well filled out and established now so it is a process of regular maintenance to keep all in balance.

 

In the Little wood as the weeds are taken out a few shrub fillers are put in – Pyracantha ‘Orange glow’ and Photinia ‘Red robin’ – reliable old favourites to bulk out gaps and provide windbreak and shade. 

 

As usual at this time of year, the exotic heady scent of philadelphus ‘Mock orange’ hangs in the air by the entrance gate There is Happiness. Hydrangea petiolaris also covers the walls of the temples and outbuildings in lacy mounds of creamy white blossom.

 

A trail camera is set up as an experiment to see if we can record any hidden wildlife movements within the garden. It will be positioned in various sites over the summer and then hopefully we will have something to show at the end of the season.

 

The Mare Nostrum stone is relocated to its original position in the corner of the Front garden, where the old solitary ash tree was blown down many years ago. The replacement tree which was planted within the cambium layer of its remains is now mature enough to hold the stone, bringing a sense of of both continuity and change.