MAGNOLIAS AND TULIPS

 Our Black Tulip Magnolia is having its best year ever, luckily all the buds managed to survive the frost we had last week and are now out and enjoying the sunshine.

When we first bought it as a very small plant probably about 18 inches tall, it didn't like where we placed it, so it was moved a couple of times until it was finally placed here.
The trellis and shrubs behind gave it some shelter in the colder months until it established it's self.

Unfortunately the shrub behind and to the left of it has filled out and is forcing the magnolia to grow forward to get some light, so we'll have to trim that shrub to give the magnolia some more room.

 I also need to remove the metal fencing that stops the dogs from going onto this bed.

Magnolia Susan is also flowering very well this year with plenty of blooms.

 a closer look at the flower.

 Now this Magnolia we moved from the front garden late last year to just behind the dicksonians.

It's a yellow one called I believe Yellow Canary but it was surrounded by large rose bushes at the front and only one or two flowers would appear and so small you would miss them. So we have moved it into the back garden near the studio and just along from the Black Tulip Magnolia and although it's hard to see in this photo it does appear to have quite a few buds on it! So we'll be hoping it likes it's new home and will go from strength to strength like the BT.

Plantning all the pots of tulips last year are paying off bigtime now. This pot we planted with a spring bulb mix whihc is starting to flower.

Some lovely colours in there.

These pots are also beginning to flower.

These beside the fig tree are growing and budding up also.

 And the pots in the box garden are growing strongly. We just need to make sure they get plenty of water as it's been very dry here and that is why the ones by the house are on the small side.

And we must remember to trim the box this year in May!

So planting those pots up with spring bulbs is now paying dividends, something to remeber this autumn.
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A SUNNY FRIDAY

In April! That month as arrived quick! It's been quite cold with a chilly wind recently, so it was nice when today dawned warmer and sunny.

One of our cat's passed away this week and while looking for a nice spot to bury her in the garden, I noticed that this nosiette rose and the jasmine at the side was taking over that corner of the flower garden.

The branches were so full and heavy they were dropping over the border and grass.

 

So this afternoon, I went out and cut a big chunk of it off . I always then cut the waste into small pieces to compose, the smaller it is the quicker it will rot down. It still needs more work, some reduction in the height and the border beneath digging over and a few plants put in.

I just have a few of the bigger stems to cut up.

The Black Tulip Magnolia is full of gorgeous buds that are starting to flower , hopefully they won't get destroyed by any frosts that are occuring due to the nights being so clear.

The Magnolia Susan is also in flower.

 We also need to find a home for this lovely Wisteria which we bought in a clearence sale last year.It's already budding up !


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