As I say, I've started weeding and have now done around two thirds of the beds. I decided to document each bed and what (if anything) is showing some promise of things to come.
You are forgiven for not seeing this through to the bitter end.
The spring bulbs bed at the 'front' of the plot. Now has tiny narcissi in flower. Lots of tulip foliage showing (from years past, so many probably won't flower), there are allium foliage too. Approximately ten thousand honesty seeds have germinated. Might need to thin these.
The next bed has scabious in mostly which will need some thinning soon.
You can see what a state this one is in, tufts of grass and all... Rudbeckias and bergamot grow here. The perennial of both are looking intact. I have several annual rudbeckias sown in the greenhouse. Again, sadly no marmalade but I couldn't get hold of it.
Lots to see although the clumps of sweet williams generally look a terrible state in early spring until more foliage and flower stems are produced.
Into the double size monster bed. In the middle I planted 5 thalictrum which are supposed to get to approx 2m tall each year. I have 2 that grew last year to just over a foot tall (others perished). Conditions are in line with their preferences so I'm disappointed that they haven't performed. There are the old verbena bonariensis stems which should re-shoot alongside all the seed that should have been dropped from last years' flowers, I usually tuck sunflowers in here too. The delphinums are now shooting. Annual cosmos are planted in to the front of the bed.
This bed is a puzzle. For the last 2 years it has been home to cornflowers and ammi. The ammi self seeded everywhere after it's first season. The bed, paths and surrounding beds were sown with seeds and it look a lot of weeding to ensure they didn't take over. Last year, I removed stems a little earlier but it seems there is not one seed growing. Nada. I'm almost certain that seeds would have been dropped. I had assumed I would never need to sow ammi seeds again! But here I am, sowing ammi seeds in an attempt to replenish my supply. I sowed cornflower too as only a handful are growing. I hope they grow or I'll have to fill it with something else. As the flowers were due to be mostly finished by mid to late summer I've added some lilies for additional interest.
The poppy bed is also looking distinctly sparse. You can't move poppies easily as any root disturbance and they just give up. At the end I'm trying to establish some lupins. Last year pests destroyed most of them so I'm very pleased to see the return of one plant.
The last bed, back to the front of the plot. This one has been a dumping ground for oddments in truth. I have anemone in flower, only a few at a time. The clumps of greenery are (I hope) nigella. The ought to appear later along with the lilies.
Take care,
Sophie
