News from Pam Keeble's garden

Hi everyone

The pink/white tulips showing both closed and wide open are lovely, but I do not have a name for them!  The same applies to the orange tulips as well as the white ones.  I promise to be more organised in the future!

I have had a couple of strange things happen this year.  For the first time we have been visited by a squirrel who has taken to eating the tulips, particularly the leaves.  On two occasions I have watched him from my kitchen, sitting on the gate to the oil tank munching the huge leaves - even saw him go down, pluck one, up to the gate and munching again!  I have to confess I did not realise that squirrels did this.  The other problem I have had is that I have experienced a rogue tulip in a couple of bought packets which I planted in pots.  One orange/red tulip in amongst white/purple and a full blooded orange in amongst pale peach ones.  Spoils the effect a bit although there is no one to see!

I had the wall stripped of ivy last autumn with the idea of sorting that particular bed out.  

I have now planted four clematis going up the wall, Prince Charles, The President, Fair Rosamond and Ruutel.  Below are marjoram, medium sized delphiniums, cat mint, cephalaria gigantea, sea holly and lychnis chalcedonica.  I have also planted polish spirit and sugar candy clematis against the back of Honeysuckle Cottage which is in our garden, both shade loving as it does not get much sun in that area.  By the back door in a pot I have planted Freckles to climb up the wall, as it flowers in the winter so will be something to cheer us up then.

The vibrant red tulips are in a pot by the back door.

The downside about this tree (Amelanchier Lamaki Ballerina.) is that although the blossom is gorgeous, it only lasts for one week in windless conditions which is a great pity.

Happy gardening!

Pam K