Tuesday view: 18 April 2017

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

Making a Majestic start

Tags

Betula albosinensis Fascination, coppery pink bark, Majestic Trees Ltd

Today has been a bright crisp Winters day, perfect for the arrival of my new tree.

I visited Majestic trees in Flamstead, http://www.majestictrees.co.uk a couple of weeks ago with the intention of choosing a pair of small native trees for my garden.  Once there, I was spoiled for choice and had my heart stolen by a multi-stemmed Birch. Budget busting I settled for the one tree and as the tree was in a 200L pot I needed the tree delivered and planted for me.

Anyway today’s the day it arrived.  Here is picture progress of its planting.

 

 

 

The tree is Betula albosinensis “Fascination” in multi stem form.  I chose it for a number of reasons mainly because of the colour of its bark, a coppery, pink grey peeling bark which will shine out in the dark Winter months.   It gets catkins in the Spring before fresh small birch leaves arrive for the Summer.  The leaves will turn to a rich golden yellow for an  Autumn show.  I also really like the outline shape of the canopy which is broadly conical.  Eventual height is 6 to 10 meters.

Now planted, I am really happy with it and can begin planning the next phase.

I hope you all have a good weekend and that the sunshine stays.

Me?  I will be found gazing at my tree.  Perhaps I shall have to give a name?!