It was wonderful to get outside and into the garden yesterday after all the weekend's rain. Everything was very brown and soggy and the lawns were squelching as I walked over them. I had a wander around just looking at things before I started on a general clearing up.
I think I spent a couple of hours pottering around and cutting off all the dead foliage from last year to let the new growth underneath see some light.
I soon had piles of stuff around the garden ready for the garden bin. Can you see the fox track to the right of the photo above? They come down here every night and through to next door where they are fed.
There are still loads of leaves to rake up but some areas are difficult to get to especially where heather plants have broken under the weight of snow and fallen across paths. There is a lot more work to do before the garden begins to look like it is back in shape.
You can see how wet it still is in certain areas, especially around the raised beds. Some of the dead leaves are still standing in an inch or two of water.
Max always comes out to supervise the gardening; he wasn't keen on the evidence of badger that I found - neither was I come to that! I unearthed droppings as I was clearing dead leaves but we also found a hole had been dug in one of the raised beds.
There are signs of new life in the garden; buds on the rhododendron bush, signs of growth in the rhubarb patch and on the climbing hydrangea.
I'm a bit worried about the ceanothus tree, this year it has gone a strange brown colour, it normally has acid green variegated leaves. I do hope we haven't lost it. I expect it has been affected by the severe weather we've had over the last couple of months. Last year we lost the willow tree you can see in the first photo. We have left it for a year to see if it would recover but unfortunately it hasn't so it will have to go.
I really enjoyed being able to get out into the garden again after what seems like such a long time of bad winter weather. I'm sure there will be more to come before Spring is finally here but yesterday felt like an encouraging start to the garden year.
Rosie, you're such a brave lady to venture out in the garden at this time fo the year!
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I too spent some time in the garden yesterday and this morning. I cut back our sedums too and started the annual battle with couch grass! Got some pretty pale pink primulas today from Morrisons - planted them in a border just outside the French doors, so I can see a bit of colour!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking quite verdant Rosie considering what the weather has been like! I must get out in mine and start tidying up. I wonder if you will see the badger in your garden? We have loads of foxes around here again and I just hope they don't have cubs in my garden like last year. ALthough lovely too look at, they do turn the garden into a smelly rubbish tip if they set up home!!
ReplyDeleteMy lawn has turned into almost totally moss with all this cold wet weather we have had!!!!
ReplyDeleteI need to get out into the garden to trim back the plants too but haven't got around to it yet.
We lost an azalea last year but I left it to see if it would come back and it didn't so it has to go a journey too. I do hope we haven't lost anything else with the bad weather.
We used to have foxes coming to the bottom of our garden to be fed but they haven't been around for a couple of years now which is a shame. We have had a badger on the bank behind our garden too.
That looks a super garden.I ,too, went out and did a bit of clipping yesterday at the front.The back is so wet.
ReplyDeleteYouve got a lovely big garden - I am so envious. Mine is the size of a big hanky! Even so, there is a lot of dead stuff to cut back. When I look at the garden in the state it is in now, its hard to believe it will burst into colour in a few months. xxx
ReplyDeleteI desperately need to spend a full day out in the garden, but other things keep eating up my time. I'll be pleased when I've made a start.
ReplyDeletei have enjoyed this little tour of your garden. it's really lovely and i hope you'll continue to show us it's progress though the seasons.
ReplyDeletewarmest wishes
millie
I had a walk around our weeny patch yesterday and it looked so bleak I went back inside! Hope your ceanothus survives. We lost ours last winter and it's left a huge gap.
ReplyDeletehow brilliant....I really like the idea of gardening just haven't found my green fingers....yet!!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely just as it is now...I can imagine it in the spring and summer when there is color blooming!
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had a garden the size of yours. It looks very respectable for the time of year too. I'll wait a few more weeks until I venture into the garden to do some tidying...what a wuss.
ReplyDeletetracey
what a super garden. We really enjoyed the visit. Our Ceanothus didn't make it either and did what yours is doing - two years in a row of cold winters was just too much. I can't wait to get gardening - maybe a little bit this weekend. Love Darcy, Bingley and Helen
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see early signs of spring in the garden. Ours is under a thick blanket of snow, so it will be some time yet before I find evidence of its awakening.
ReplyDeleteI've been outside on a couple of occasions having a winter clear up too. It's amazing what a difference it makes. My garden is still so wet, and almost stagnant where I cleared leaves. Fancy having a badger in your garden, and the fox track is interesting. A fox has been asleep on one of our banks all morning, and it is still there now. I'd love a supervisor cat. I remember once a neighbour's cat jumped onto my back while I was picking redcurrants, and it just wouldn't get down! I may have lost my rhubarb? x
ReplyDeleteWonderful pics - I can tell that when in full bloom, your grounds are gorgeous.
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