Tags
apple blossom, Betula albosinensis Fascination, Epimedium rubrum, euphorbia griffithii Dixter, Geum Totally Tangerine, Lily flowered tulips, Tuesday View, Tulip Apricot Beauty, Tulip Ballerina
Look up to the sky and see
This beautiful Spring day, I am joining Cathy with her meme to share a view on Tuesday. I did do this last year and found it a good way to record just how my new garden is developing. The apple tree is one of the few trees that survived living in a paddock full of goats. Despite the abuse and notwitstanding having had chicken wire nailed into its trunk, the tree survived. Following three careful prunings in as many Winters, it is now in pretty good shape and rewarding me with masses of blossom this year. I had a pretty good crop of apples last year and this one tree generated enough juice for 27 bottles. I just hope we do not get a sharp frost to knock back the blossom, a possibility as it is still only mid April.
Apple tree with early blush of blossom
Against the backdrop of Horse chestnut trees, the apple tree is coming into its own and follows the earlier blossom of the Victoria Plum. This year I will look at a view on the opposite side of the garden to that which I shared last year. We have not had much rain and the clay flinty ground is looking grey and hard. I have resisted watering but the wind is drying and if we do not have a heavy shower this week I will have to give it all a good soaking.
Ground cover in the form of Tiarella and Epimediums
The border includes a multi stemmed birch, Euphorbia griffithii Dixter, and daylilies. As the birch has an orange bark, I have used variations on this colour
Euphorbia grffithii Dixter
throughout the season. A poor photo thanks to the strong sunshine, no grumbling please.
the first flower of Geum Totally Tangerine
The geums seem to do well on the heavy soil and Mrs Bradshaw is in bud having flowered from about April to October last year.
The Tuesday view 2017
So much is happening in the garden at this time of year as the ground has warmed a little and the light is stronger so the weeds are on the march. The grass had its first early trim in March and cutting is now in full flow. The daffodils are beginning to fade whilst snowdrops and crocus are long gone. They tulips however are having their moment. I purchased some half price bulbs from Sarah Raven including Apricot beauty below and Ballerina.
Do you have a view to share? If you do be sure to add your link to Cathy
digwithdorris.com 
Your new view is going to be interesting to follow this year Dorris. And with a bench to sit on to admire it too! The Euphorbia immediately caught my eye – a lovely colour. The tulip in your last photo is exquisite! I hope you get some rain soon. We have had lots over the last few days, but it was badly needed until then here as well.
The Euphorbia is aptly named as I imagine it was a colour to catch Cristos eye. I do really like it and it seems reasonably happy with the heavy soil. I have just seen the forecast and we may get rain tomorrow afternoon.certainly needed. I imagine your garden smelled lovely after the rain.
Lovely post and pictures. xx
Thanks Flighty 😊
The bench is begging to be sat on. The garden changes so quckly from now on. Lovely pictures.
Thank you, that bench is a favourite spot in the morning for the dog as it catches the sun and allows her to observe. The rest of us rarely have time to sit for long.
I’m looking forward to seeing your new view develop. Lucky you to have such an abundant apple tree, their blossom is so lovely. You might be surprised at how much water clay soil locks in. A friend’s garden that is clay can survive much, much longer than mine without water.
Thanks Christina and I do appreciate how lovely it is to have trees as a backdrop. Interesting what you say about the clay soil it certainly holds water for longer but when it bakes it becomes brick like and poor roots have a tough time. I have a section of so called blue clay running through the ground. It was used to build the Grand Union canal I believe
Watching a new garden develop is such a pleasure, but the lack of April showers must be even harder to bear – have you excavated an exploratory hole, maybe just with a bulb planter, to see how the subsoil is fairing? Your garden with its framework of new and old trees is looking lovely and, enviably, not a weed in sight!
Thank you Kate any garden can be a pleasure but as for weeds, well I think clever camera work helps 😉
Lovely idea to see the view month by month. It is looking good right now.
Thank you Chloris
I remember your empty drawings of these borders, Dorris! Doesn’t take long, does it?
Oh thank you Cathy for reminding me. No it really doesn’t. Gardening is so rewarding.
Sometimes it’s good to look back at past photos to remind yourself just what you have achieved – it’s a far cry from an empty field now, certainly!