FIRST JOBS OF THE YEAR IN MY GARDEN, MARCH 2016

It's been a wet but mild winter and many plants in my garden have scarcely gone into hibernation—unlike me.  Today we have beautiful weather, a little cool but sunny and dry.  Of course, it could snow tomorrow.  Who knows?  A neighbour who is happily taking my row of seven Arthur Bell roses from me and planting them in her garden has shamed me into action.  I am finding gardening more and more difficult as years go by (don't we all?) and am now getting rid of plants that give me the most work; that includes roses.  I am no winter gardener and so I try to begin my spring gardening gently, to ease unused muscles into gradual awakening.  Today I cut back the dead and straggly growth on the Arctic Queen clematis to 18 inches (50cm) or so above its base.  It might be a bit early but it's planted in a pot which is overwintering in a sheltered position and will remain there for a little while yet until I can trust the weather not to turn suddenly spiteful. 

Arctic Queen

I cut back some of the protective dead foliage, which was hanging down to ground level, from around the Dryopteris Filix-mas Euxinensis fern which I have growing in a large terracotta pot.  I've left some of the dead growth to cover the fronds which have formed but are still tightly curled.  It's considered hardy but I take no risks. 



Dryopteris Filix-Mas Euxinensis

At the front of my home, in the small open porch facing south-west, I grow red trailing pelargoniums in little corner (90 degrees) baskets.  It's an interesting position to place them, actually, as one of them ends up hiding the doorbell.  Then I complain when people hammer on the door.  :D   These trailing pelargoniums, although not hardy, have survived this winter and are showing signs of growth already, making little leaves.  I've repotted them in fresh compost, removing some of the old compost from around the roots, and trimmed the tops back a little, removing any dead shoots.  I look forward to them flowering again this summer.  Those two trailing pelargoniums have survived two winters in the somewhat sheltered porch.  They deserve a medal.







Trailing pelargonium



Corner basket

containing trailing red pelargonium

I've also potted two fragrant begonia tubers that I bought last week: Odorata Angelique.  The flowers are white, blushed pink.  The label says they will flower all summer and autumn, and grow to a height of about 18in (50cm).  They like a semi-shaded position although they will bloom in full sun in a moisture-retentive soil.  The two pots will remain indoors for a month or two until it is safe to put the plants outdoors - assuming they grow, that is!  I'll post a photo of it in flower in due course.  Watch this space. 

Begonia odorata Angelique (taken 15 July 2016)