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A sunny May morning - with Pimm's :))

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Just went for a wander with the camera to record that I have TWO bracts on my Eddie’s White Wonder . . . I suppose it’s a ‘wonder’ that I have any! Last year there was ONE, which made my friend jealous . . . we both bought one of these on a trip to Bressingham gardens, about eight years ago, and neither of us had seen any flowers (or bracts) until last year. We hadn’t known that these flowering dogwoods, (Cornus) actually prefer acid soil, so we’ve learnt the hard way. They look absolutely wonderful when planted in the right conditions :)
My Cornus Eddie’s White Wonder with bracts (magnifying glass, anyone?!)

Blurred close-up of one bract, not fully open

Rhododendron, a gift from the birds(?) so no idea of the name

Hanging basket put out today (fingers crossed that there won’t be more severe frosts)

Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’

At the ready . . these young plants will be planted out this week: my favourite Verbena ‘Lipstick’ (brighter pink than in the pic!); Penstemon, Veronica, Primula denticulata, Cornflower, Dianthus. Eleagnus ‘Quicksilver’ in background.

Eleagnus number 2, grown from a runner from no.1.

Plenty of work still to do, but what a delightful time of year . . . I put out my comfortable Granny chair to sit in the sun after taking the photos, and OH brought me a mini Pimm’s. Cheers!

More blog posts by sheilabub

Previous post: A very short blog on an April evening . . .

Next post: I feel a 'pruning fest' coming on!



Comments

 

Lovely sheila it is a delightful time as you say, eager to get out doing stuff :))

4 May, 2014

 

All looking lovely Sheila, have you pruned your viburnum at all?:-)

4 May, 2014

 

Yes plenty to do Sheila but so much better than being indoors, its been really warm here today, your garden is looking lovely and will be even more so with the new plants, I too have some outside, was popping them back indoors at night but now they have to take their chances in the big wide world, lol...I like your present from the birds, wish mine would leave ones as pretty as that...
Lovely photo's Sheila....

4 May, 2014

 

Hello Sheila, I enjoyed that.
Wow, look at your Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’, mine is still quite small and flat, lol. Was yours wide to start with and then gained height? Its a beautiful shrub.
I've been looking at buying another Cornus and considering Eddie's Wonder, would you recommend it or do you think its slow. I have Cornus Kousa 'Stella Pink' in flower, its an OK shrub but not as spectacular as I had hoped.

5 May, 2014

 

Many thanks everyone.

Ba - no, I've hardly pruned the Viburnum, just taken a few bits off the top when they were hiding our view of the bird feeder!

Dawnsaunt - the V. was half this height when I bought it about eight years ago, and almost dead! I know it could get much bigger, but as we're in clay soil, it may not. Lovely that your Cornus is in flower. Probably my 'Eddie's' is slow because of the conditions, but I wouldn't know which one to recommend. There are masses of these flowering dogwoods at the Batsford Arboretum . . . maybe they would be able to help?

5 May, 2014

 

Viburnum plicatum is one of my favourite shrubs, but it needs a lot of space...yours looks perfect! Mini Pimms? What's wrong with a maxi? I've actually finished my first bottle....ridiculous. But I do have to share it with two other people! That's my excuse!

5 May, 2014

 

P.s. Why not try feeding the Cornus with Rhododendron feed oce a year...might help to fool it into thinking it's in acid soil!

5 May, 2014

 

Thanks Karen . . . the mini Pimm's was because it was LUNCH time, and I was playing in a croquet tournament in the afternoon! I have tried Sequestrine on the Cornus (is that what you mean?) - maybe that prompted it into life - and also gave it some leaf mould because I learnt that is what it likes. I have another in a pot in ericaceous compost . . . that hasn't flowered yet either :))

5 May, 2014

 

Thanks Sheila, yes there are some many Cornus trees. I have an aboretum near here (Bluebell) I should go a ride up. I didnt realise they liked acid soil, hmmmm, good to know, thanks. My Virburnum M should get going soon then, I've had it about 3 years and a quarter of the size of yours, its growing in clay too.

5 May, 2014

 

Fair enough Sheila....can't have you staggering around the croquet lawn! ;)). Yes Sequestrine, or one of the granulated slow release fertilisers...you get them at the GC sold as rhododendron and azalea feed.

5 May, 2014

 

Thanks Karen, and good luck Dawnsaunt with your Viburnum!

5 May, 2014

 

I can understand the excitement over the cornus, Sheila. Those bracts look lovely. You've some great plants waiting to be planted this week too - hope you get the weather for it. The mention of the croquet tournament made me come over all 1920s, especially with the Pimms!

5 May, 2014

 

Super! So exciting at this time of year!

6 May, 2014

 

Thanks very much Tuesdaybear - the weather this week seems to be perfect (e.g. sun today, rain tomorrow), and my GH (garden helper) is planting for me this minute!

Yes, isn't it exciting Susanne - thanks :))

7 May, 2014

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