Oh yeah, like we American don't lead the world in gardening.

... My Yellow Aconites are well established and my Purple Primulas are just starting to open up too...

Should be a good crop of Daffodils this year judging by the young plants already through and the Tulips, although not so advanced, are doing well also. Last Autumn's heavy mulching was a good idea.

... But it is the progress of the crocuses which always interests me most at this time of year. Always such an uncertain flower in my garden. At the moment they are half-in-half-out, showing promise, but not yet living up to it.

A couple of years back I introduced Wild Violets into the garden as good ground cover - They grow like wild-fire and, although their flowers are short-lived, the combination of their fresh green heart-shaped leaves & their deep Violet-Purple flowers under the shadow of various shrubs and bushes is wonderful. So far they are showing a profusion of new leaves & I look forward to the flowers in the late Spring/early Summer.

... Pick them and they wilt within the hour. But the fragrance of them lasts on.

I like them best in a small engraved Silver Christening mug (my own from 1965) on the polished wood of the dining room table. A very simple centre-piece... Which is often the best kind.

j.

Thank you borace, how does your garden grow?

I wonder if a Beech hedge would be an option for mpscb rather than a Yew one?

Faster growing so he would live to see it and lovely all year round. Yew would just stay the same dull green whatever the season, but Beech as Autumn and Winter comes turns a lovely Coppery hue blending in so well with the planting of that time of year.

They require miminal clipping and, to me, act as the barometer of the garden. I always know what's coming next from it's strong fresh young green buds in Spring or it's burnished Copper-coloured leaves in Autumn.

Why not give Beech a go?

Last edited by David (2008-01-29 09:27:22)

Some lovely American and English Cottage Garden photos to feed the soul:

http://www.classicgardendesign.com/images/portfolio/pages/PerennialGardens.htm

http://www.baybutts.co.uk/cottage_gardens1.htm

http://www.greenviewdesign.com/English_Cottage.htm

http://www.eastgrove.co.uk/gallery.html

http://www.invectis.co.uk/sissing/sscott.htm

http://www.designyourowngarden.co.uk/page75.html

Lovely - http://www.designyourowngarden.co.uk/page77.html

My wife does the garden -- the grass is mine. Neither is doing much of anything at this date and latitude ...

Last edited by eg (2008-01-29 10:02:53)