I am welcoming the warmer dryer weather. I found the just passed Early May Bank Holiday weekend was joyful for outdoor activities including some more gardening. Active attention to the garden was much needed on my patch as the warmth and light have accelerated growth of a whole range of plants significantly.
As the hours of daylight increase (sixteen hours now compared to the December solstice amount of seven hours) I notice every moment that I am in the garden how rapidly the foliage is responding. I have particularly seen during these April and May weeks the unfurling of leaves on different trees at differing rates and times. There is an old saying “Oak before ash, in for a splash; ash before oak, in for a soak”: the oak leaves are certainly well on their way now – while as I write the ash buds have yet to burst to reveal their young leaves. We will see if the saying comes true: any scientific thoughts on its validity are welcome.
I have also been noticing the different longevities of varieties of flowers. The same narcissus flower seems to last a good few weeks, while some of my tulips are going over rapidly in the recent sun. I loved the early bright yellow traditional daffodils while I still have some late white narcissi blooming. Wallflowers are blooming prolifically in the southwest facing flower bed.
These are all well frequented by the insect life which has become much more apparent as the warmth brings more blossom out.
My garden tasks are changing as spring moves forward. I am making inroads into deadheading as the early blooming plant blossoms fade and brown. The leucojum I wrote about in the last article have provided their floral contribution for this season and the once white blooms are withering so I am deadheading those with my secateurs. I know I will see their graceful flowers again next March.
This part of the season brings to my garden abundant self-seeding plants which have shot up both in flowerbeds, and in cracks in paving and walls. There are some whose contribution I very much welcome: bluebells, aquilegia, welsh poppies – and some, like dandelions, which I am less keen on.
I am doing some weeding: trying to do it well by getting the whole root out alongside the plant. I don’t always succeed but feel a strong sense of satisfaction if I can get the whole of the dandelion tap root out. My neighbour tells me he has a special tool for extracting dandelion roots. On searching online for this tool I find there is a whole market place for dandelion root herbal products: maybe there is a Settle opportunity there.
As always gardening comments, hints, tips and articles are most welcome.
annie@settlenews.co.uk
