Busy days in the garden

Since last I posted on Flutterby Patch our garden has sprung into life and everywhere is a blaze of colour

Rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom and there has been (and still is) much work to do.

These old stone steps wind their way down from the lawn to the very bottom of the garden and are always in need of a sweep. This can be a long job as there are 35 steps in total and plenty of moss to remove and weeds to pull out after sweeping.

Meanwhile my partner in the garden (husband) has been laying a new path. If you think this looks like a tarmac path you'd be right! Hubby had a word with the workmen laying a new road surface near here and asked if he could have the old tarmac when they'd removed it.

So last week several waggons of the stuff were dumped at our gate and the black stuff has been getting lifted and shifted ever since. It might sound nasty but in fact it makes an excellent (free) surface and after being compressed will last for years.

Another urgent job has involved digging over the garden beds that have become infested with bind weed. This is an absolute menace and is very difficult to eradicate.

We couldn't immediately identify these young plants and they were very nearly removed with the other weeds but then we remembered what they were.

Two or three years ago we scattered some eryngium seeds. The common name is 'Sea Holly' which is so much nicer.

I think the seeds were eryngium giganteum, otherwise known as 'Miss Wilmott's Ghost'. Isn't that a splendid name? Miss Ellen Wilmott was a nineteenth century gardener and would secretly scatter seeds of this plant in the gardens of her friends. Two or three years later large prickly plants would appear that shone a ghostly silver in the sunlight. When Ellen Wilmott was found to be responsible for their arrival they became known as Miss Wilmott's Ghosts........I'll let you know if these apparitions appear from the rather boring leafy clump later in the season.

These sunny garden days aren't set to last much longer so I'd better get back to work....now where did I leave my broom?

Until next time

Eli

Comments

[Julie]

What a lovely pretty garden. I do like the Sea Thistles.
Julie xxxxx

[sabine]

I definitely want Miss Wilmott's Ghosts in my garden!

[Helen]

What a gorgeous garden! And what a clever pathway! Lots of work and well worth the effort.

The Sea Thistles are truly lovely and must indeed appear ghostly at night.

[Paula]

Dear Eli,
It is so nice to see a post from you! I think of you often and hope all is well. I see you and your husband have been busy in your beautiful garden! I love the stone steps and all of your pretty blooming shrubs. The pathway looks wonderful! I hope you were able to get rid of the bindweed. How wonderful to find the seeds have sprouted that you scattered about. I enjoyed the story behind the 'Sea Holly.' I hope they bloom for you soon! Enjoy your beautiful garden dear Eli! Love, Paula

[Marqueta]

Dear Eli,

My, everything is indeed quite beautiful this time of year! What a blessing to have a husband for a gardening partner; that's the best kind, I think :) .

How very interesting about the Sea Holly~ I hope you post pictures when yours blooms!

Love,

Marqueta

[Selia Renzetti]

Dear Eli,

Oh my!!!! What a beautiful garden you have! I love the stone walls and steps. The story behind the
Sea Holly is very interesting. Thank you for sharing!

Blessings,
Selia