Mike's Evolving Garden

Yesterday I went down the garden for the first time since before Christmas, and I sneaked through the front door and down the side entrance, because I didn't want Dewi to know.
There's a lot to do, the winter storms have blown things over ... but lots of Hellebores Snowdrops and Crocuses were flowering.
Everything in the greenhouse was fine, including two Plumbagos, Jasmin, Abutilon, and Loropetalum, as well as all the cacti and succulents, and a few Chorophytums.
In the two shelters at the sides of the old garage the only things that had died were a few Begonia semperflorens (but not all of them) and two Calibrachoas. Everything else was fine. I watered one or two things that were dry but most pots were still quite damp.
I've got a lot of repotting to do !

I went through the door and out to the road, to look at the little flower bed I've made there, and saw lots of winter flowering plants - Hellebores Snowdrops etc and a nice Viburnum tinus in a pot. But as in the main garden it felt sad without Bella, and I couldn't stay there more than a few minutes, so I came back into the house ... the sadness was getting to me, and it was also cold.

 

It sounds like you have fared well over the winter so far Michael. I imagine in the Spring/Summer Sweet little Dewi will be allowed to venture into Bella's territory?

I did not know you had one ... is it blooming now? They are stunning.

 

Thanks @Victoria, yes I will let Dewi out soon, it might calm him down a bit !
I was looking at all three cat graves in the garden yesterday and felt so sad, but with all the pottering etc and also Dewi with me in the spring it will help.

Yes I've got a Loropetalum, but it isn't flowering this winter. It usually starts about this time of year in the greenhouse but I think it needs fresh compost. It's quite big, over 4 feet with the pot.

 

I have just caught up with this thread, there are so many like this that I come across by accident on here .

I love the small growhouse. I have dropped so many hints to my OH over the years about building "stands" for my 2 coldframes to no avail.
Trying to kneel on a cushion and hold the lid open * whilst lifting plants in and out ain't getting any easier !
*I can't slide the lid open due to space constraints. You should hear the language !

Did you have any luck with obtaining the fuschia @Songbird ?

Spring is on the way @Michael Hewett. Hold on to that thought .

 

I haven’t yet @AnniD it’s we haven’t been to a garden centre for ages. Will try there first before thinking about looking on line. it could end up meaning far more than first envisaged.

 

Sending you a pm @Songbird

 

We are lucky @Michael Hewett that we can bury our cats in our own garden. This makes the way shorter if we want to talk to them.
What looks currently lifeless will get soon a new "smell".
Dewi will be a good garden explorer. It's always fun seeing them exploring for the first time.