Today is the first day I've woken up to a blue sky - bliss. Don't get me wrong, I like the rain...enjoy it even. And it certainly saves me from having to keep traipsing around the veg patch with heavy watering cans. But I also like the way it changes the garden. As you're watching the rain start to fall, the colours change - become deeper almost. And it gives everything a sheen.
I swear that everything in the garden is four times as green as it was yesterday. The box hedge at the front of our house is positively lime green, and the back border has exploded into life. In particular the alliums seem to be doing well. I am trying out a new variety this year: Nectaroscordum siculum (Mediterranean bells) and so far they are looking good. The fat flower pods are bursting at the seams waiting to open, although I'm sure it's a bit too early for them yet. I've also had a second flush of tulips...the ones I planted in the ground last autumn. They have flowered beautifully underneath the cherry tree and are looking elegant, colourful and poised - just the way they should be. The tulips I planted in pots (pictured above) were not so elegant and apparently many people have had poor tulip displays this year. If you've encountered the same problem and would like to know more, there has been some discussion on the The Guardian's gardening blog on 18th April 2012 where it has been suggested that it could have been lack of watering earlier in the spring - certainly a possibility for mine, as I failed to keep up any kind of regular watering regime throughout February and March.
If you haven't already bought it, this month's Gardener's World magazine is now out on sale and it has a rather handy 2-for-1 garden entry card and a booklet of many open gardens around the UK. I've already circled half a dozen that I want to go and see...now all I have to do is convince Cem to go.
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