May 2005
So ... a quick stroll around the garden starting on our (very scruffy) patio and looking diagonally across the lawn. The robinia is just coming into leaf after its sever pruning this Winter.
As we wander down the path on the right hand side of the garden, the tamarisk is showing off in the distance. The irises did well round the big fir tree but the squirrels/foxes have since dug most of them out and it's been so dry the soil under the tree is completely parched.
The Judas tree is adding its pink to the general overall colour scheme and the bluebells are one of my favourite flowers at this time of year.
The photinia trees always add a good splash of red to the left hand side of the garden - there is a bush and a tree and the birds love to hide in there and sing their hearts out.
A bit futher on and we turn left through the pampas and rosemary. The tamarisk is on the left, just past the rosemary.
The aubretia and the cotinus add lots of colour to this corner of the garden along with the red acer (just on the right).
A quick glance to the right and you can see the pond. Not sure where the fish were at the time the photo was taken but they're usually pretty keen to come and say hello at feeding time.
Further along the path, the bed on the left had hyacinths in it that but they were dying back when the picture was taken. The yarrow is just starting to send up its frondy leaves.
A better picture of the yarrow leaves just behind the yellow privet. I can't take too much credit for the planting as a lot of it was done before we moved in but I like to think I've added to the general overall effect.
Turning around and on our way back now. I never understand people who only walk one way round a garden - you might miss something!
Here you can see both the green and red acers with a few bluebells as well. The strawberries were in pots this year as we got some ground elder in their new bed so they had to be dug out and planted somewhere else. Pots had to do in the meantime.
Back past the beautiful tamarisk, you can just see the dark blue of the ceanothus in the background but its hidden a bit in the shadows.
Up the left hand path, past the Judas tree and the eucalyptus tree that makes lovely rustling sounds in the breeze ....
... and with a final glance across the purple and silver bed that's it for today!