.....is Herb Robert. never having had it in the garden before, this year we have it everywhere for some reason. it is quite pretty but one can have too much of a good thing...............spring is now definitely here, although it's still been quite chilly, but that seems to have stopped the weeds from completely taking over as they've usually done by now............Carrie's clearing-up operation of last year has left the clematis somewhat shocked so i'm not sure that we'll get many flowers this year, as it hasn't really got much left to flower with...........we've re-erected the arch, with reinforcement, and moved it forward so that it kind of marks the entrance to the veggie garden, with the jasmine on the same side as the weeping birch and the rose on the other. the rose did actually survive being toasted by the fire bin and even produced on or two flowers, but we hope it will feel safer and more at home in its new location..............
.........in the beds, mostly weeds, so i've done some hoeing. no sign of the Pasque flowers.........i suspect they may have gone in the autumn clear-up as well, but it's possible that they're just not up yet because it's been too cold. however the tree peony is poking its wee head up, we only put it in last year so it didn't get much of a chance to do anything, i've cleared the weeds round it and given it some compost for encouragement. Passion flower not dead either i'm pleased to see, and a couple of fennel plants beside it. poppies, dicentra and rue back in their usual place, mum's spirea looking lovely now that the leaves are out..............dragon plant quite slow to start but on its way, and the purple Lysimachia and lemon balm back for another season..........and lo and behold, one godetia. it must be feeling a bit lonely and wondering where all its mates are, we still have some of last year's seeds so we can grow some friends for it..........
.........in the greenhouse, salads sprouting away though not yet big enough to eat; Thai basil and lemon basil planted today along with cumin which did absolutely nothing last year so we'll try keeping it in the greenhouse and see how it fares. lettuce "misticanza" and chinese cabbage already sprouting. bird of paradise plant re-potted after something of a struggle, the roots had grown right through the bottom of the pot.............calathea also re-potted. paeonies racing away and of course all the daffs and spring bulbs in bloom.................just waiting for the seed order to arrive and then the spring frenzy really starts...........