Happy Easter from Skinners Cottage

The weather has been fabulous with the most amazing amount of sunshine;  the temperatures have been such that on some days it has been too hot in the middle of the day to be gardening in the direct sun, which must be unusual for this time of year.     However, I concede that this morning has been very cold and the wind has definitely been blowing unrelentingly from the north!!

The daffodils in the paddock are largely finished now, with the exception of some late flower narcissi, but the views from the top over Rackham are still lovely. 

The magnolias are out and the pale yellow one in the back garden is particularly dramatic.  The ground is covered with petals, although you would not think it was going over;   it appears to be at its peak. 

As Jacqui Middleton pointed out a few days ago, another of the best trees/shrub at this of time is the Exochorda.  There certainly is a version called the Bride.  It is a wonderful addition to any garden and seems to perform every year. 

I did not plant that many tulips this year, and have found, as is a common problem here, that many of what I did plant were dug up either by squirrels or rabbits.    They also like the small species tulips so that is a lesson for next year that I must protect them better.  However, there is one tulip which I plant regularly as it is very dramatic and reliable although I find few  tulips return.    The regular here is Rococco  which as you can see is a parrot variety which I have teamed here with the pale blue Muscari “Valerie Finnis”.   I keep adding to this muscari every year;  it is probably spreads than the more traditional light blue and sometimes I have found it comes back white, but it is very attractive.     

White honesty is a key feature in what we call the Spring Garden;  it is very simple but no trouble at all;  there is also honesty in mauve by the front of the house;    along with sweet rocket,  which also comes in white and mauve, but which is a few weeks later, these self-seed just where you need them and I would not be without them.    

It is now the time of year when there is always something coming out next week or the week after, if not tomorrow, and already the camassias are showing their colour and the tay berry is full of fruit.   

There is so much to look forward to and the long Easter break has given me some time to catch up on the garden although this is the time of year when it quickly runs away from you. 

Happy Easter from Skinners

Rosemary