The garden centre?

After an unexpectedly sunny day yesterday, we decided today we would go over to Beetham & its lovely garden centre, weather permitting of course. Sure enough it was grey, though dry, when I got up. By now some rain has fallen, though again the sun is trying to appear.

We felt the time has come for a day out, a change of scene. Having given our gardener a large water butt, we now have a large, very empty, space in our walled garden. We’re thinking of getting a large pot, into which we will transplant a pretty pink fuchsia we bought earlier in the year. It is already outgrowing the pot we put it in then. This would give it plenty of space, perhaps with a few smaller, possibly trailing, plants around to give it extra interest.

We will also need some compost to fill the large pot. One of the advantages of the Beetham nursery is that they will deliver free of charge to here so it is worth going the extra distance for such large bulky items,

We still have a couple of pots of plants that didn’t survive the winter. We just need to see something that will cheer us to plant in them instead – preferably something perennial so we don’t have to keep looking every year.

Now the garden is gaining a change of colour. The lavender is really turning into a deep purple low hedge along the paths. The deep winey red penstemon is bursting out of the central lozenge across the path. The soft fluffy astilbe contrasts prettily against the fresh greenness of the lawn & the mauve campanulas. The apples are getting bigger. The tree’s red-cheeked globes are visible from the kitchen windows.

When next our gardener comes, she’s bringing her husband to put some netting across the second pergola. One of the plants growing up the posts is not far from the top now. We’re looking forward to the green roof that should give us some dappled shade if we ever have a sunny day to eat out on.

Really all we need is that glorious sunshine to sit out in & enjoy the garden in all its splendour.