HERE COMES THE SUN

Sunday, February 23, 2014

HERE COMES THE SUN

Finally, a spot of gardening! Making the most of the sunshine to tidy up the flower beds and clear away dead bits ready for spring.

In spite of the downpours, there are signs all around that Mother Nature’s circle of renewal has begun again. Under our bay tree, I re-discovered a small clump of snowdrops beneath the spent fronds of the red valerian.

Delicate snowdrops under the bay tree

And just look at the wonderful foliage of the Italian arum (also known as variegated Cuckoopint or Lords and Ladies), the beautiful arrow shapes leaves with their artistic criss-crossed patterns provide a lovely backdrop to the snowdrops. These arums are great floor fillers for shady spots and the clumps seem to get larger as time passes.

Wonderful leafy patterns of the variegated Italium arum

Other plants that appear to have relished the long, rainy spell are the cardoon and melianthus major (or Melly as I call it). Both have put out a lot of new leaves in the last few weeks, surviving the deluge and thriving in the spring sunshine.

Cardoon has taken over the flower bed

Melly's taken over the patio

Things are not looking as rosy for fatsia. In fact, fatsia has definitely seen better days. Before the rain I had a nice healthy looking shrub with lots of large, glossy leaves. Moving the tub temporarily to accommodate next doors roofing work and getting a good soaking, fatsia has now shed most of its leaves and there’s been little re-growth. I only hope that with a bit of TLC and some more sunshine, it will recover its former splendour.

Fatsia - oh dear

Whilst primping and snipping, I spotted someone else making the most of the sunshine. Seeing this beautiful butterfly daintily dancing across the daphne blooms put a big smile on my face. At last, we’re turning the corner to spring.