One of the things I wanted to check on Sunday is exactly where the sun shines at the top of the garden. I've always known that predominantly the left side of the path is shady but I also assumed that the right patch remained in the shade for the majority of the day as well but my photos proved me wrong!
11am
2.15pm
5.30pm
As you can see from the photographs, the right side receives a good amount of sunshine about which I am really pleased; shade can be quite tough to deal with although this year the patch is looking more lovely than ever!
The hellebores have bloomed marvellously and continue to do so, incidentally on my lunchtime walk yesterday I spotted a stunning variety which was double, if not triple flowered - beautiful!! In the shady patch I have planted a few primroses which are thriving - more so than the ones in the sunnier opposite side. Additionally I planted five Athyrium or fern on Sunday including Ursula's Red, Burgundy Lace, Lady in Red and Ghost, I do hope they thrive like the existing ones in there already. The Euphorbia is also do so well and spreading quite happily, which I don't mind about as they produce huge lime-green bracts which lighten up that patch throughout spring and early summer.
The sunnier right side is this year's potato patch but it cheers me that we could happily use it for a flower garden without many problems although it is more moist than further down; in a hot dry year though that would be a bonus rather than an issue. We just need that hot dry year!
Here are my potato trenches; the three varieties are in: Red Duke of York, Maris Peer and Pink Fir Apple. No signs of them yet but I do keep looking...
I'm interested to see how they deal with growing there; they get the water from rains although the trench closest to the hedge only 'just' so I think I will need to water that one more.
I was going to plant some early dwarf beans once the daffs have gone but they are only just flowering (I planted them late). I think Rocquencourt will look nice there and perhaps some Borlotti.
The pond which is also up in this top section is perfectly placed for shade as it doesn't seem to get much sun at all except for perhaps a small amount late in the day. Stan's work on making it look quite natural has paid off and certain flowers are thriving at their own pace. He spotted a
common newt last weekend so I do hope we have as much wildlife as usual - no tadpoles though, I wonder if they are in the neighbour's pond?
On Sunday I erected the new greenhouse - one of those plastic, lightweight ones but all the same another greenhouse. I was in desparate need for it as the main one serves as storage and a potting shed so this one is invaluable for seedlings and hardening off. It was simple to put up and was completed by me within ten minutes, seed trays were in two minutes later and it was half full by the end of the day!!!
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