A Turn Around the Grounds

 I had intended to do some gardening today, but the West Wind is bitter (and, as I type this, it has just rained), so instead of getting cold and mucky outside, I have sorted out some photos from yesterday's turn around the grounds. 

 Above, the daffodils I planted on the embankment behind Hexenhäusli Device when we first moved in are in full force.  And below, my shade garden behind the garage has been brightened by blooms:

 There have been some changes since this time last year: I moved the pheasant berry/Himalayan honeysuckle (Lycesteria formosa) from its pot next to the table into the ground next to the square compost heap (you can see its tall, dark red stems at the back right of the photo above).  In its place I put the chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) which is going great guns and competing with the Pyracantha (behind the pheasant berry).  It's also flowering, as you can see on the right.

 My latest purchase is the black cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra') with the pink blossoms below.  I have fond memories of the one next to the paysho of the home I shared with SP (click here and scroll down to just past the Terrifying Tapeworm), and have wanted one for ages.  I'm entirely sure where I'm going to put this one, so it'll stay on the table for now.

I can't remember what was originally growing in this pot on the shelf above the table, but now there are wild violets.  And sycamore seedlings (bloody "weed trees" as Jon accurately dubs them) - they are EVERYWHERE!

The fawn lily (Erythronium californicum 'White Beauty' - mistakenly identified as a dog's tooth violet in previous posts) is doing VERY well in its small, rectangular prison.  I've been meaning to repot it for years but haven't got around to it - just as well, it seems.

The wild strawberry is blooming already

Some sort of lungwort (Pulmonaria)

I can't remember how long this Acer has spent cooped up in its tiny, shallow pot, but it's been at least 10 years - probably longer.  I'm sure I had it when I was with SP, and maybe up my old back passage (the tree is not in these photos, but the pot may be).

Some irises that a friend gave me after I helped her divide her overgrown clump last summer.

Pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa "Sparkling Burgundy") with three offshoots.

This leopardplant (Ligularia przewalskii, top) really needs moving forward as it's a bit squashed between a laurel and lilac.  Fortunately, it has self-seeded (middle and bottom), so if I forget (i.e. can't be bothered) at least the young ones should flourish.

This Chinese rice-paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer) was a gift from a neighbour.

The pond with a Bitey-thwarting (mostly) grid covering the frogspawn (which he tries to pull out)

Who's been "helping" to dig up the garden?!?!

No, he didn't bite these rosemary branches off himself (although I wouldn't put it past him), The Mother had been doing some pruning.

The lawn seems to be more sycamore seedlings than grass at the mo.

They'll all perish when I get the lawn mower out, though!

Gah!  They're even growing in the nooks & crannies of this Cordyline!

An arial view of Hexenhäusli Device's South Garden repleat with holes, mud, and sycamore seedlings.

 

 

 So, now that mine's out of the way (for now), how are you all getting on with your own gardens/court yards/window boxes/house plants?  I hope you're planning and planting and photographing already?  After all, The Infomaniac Garden Photos Event is only a little over seven months away!