Tomatoes and many, many greens

This week at Heale I saw the lush greens produced by rain and then sun and then rain again, the layers of Lavender, Box, Lawn, Roses, Trees. There is new growth in abundance and as the new leaves unfurl their colours change quickly. The blossom that was bright on the Prunus trees two weeks ago has already passed its peak yet the Apple blossoms are just coming and are pink and white and full.

There had been lots of change in the borders, there is Solomons Seal amongst Hosta, Allium and Pulmonaria and lots of different Tulips.

We took some time this week to prepare the Greenhouse for Summer. We painted on Cool Glass which I had never done before, a solution which shades the plants inside the Greenhouse and can reduce the temperature by around 10 degrees. The mind boggles as the solution remains on when it rains and yet when we want to remove it in the Autumn, we just wipe it off with a cloth. Once we had cleaned the Greenhouse we lit a Sulphur Candle which kills all pests and bacteria so we can start growing afresh. It stinks and reminds me how much rubbish you can breathe in as a Gardener but it seems to do the trick! It is left for 12 hours until you can go in and check it is all done.

I helped to place straw around the Strawberries in the fruit cage this week. Membrane had been put down to suppress the weeds and the Currant bushes and Strawberries are now the only plants to show above the straw ground. It looks great.

We prepared 24 pots for growing Tomatoes in, (which had already been started in root trainers, I will definitely be buying root trainers, they seem to do an excellent job of starting the plant off) and created two wires across the Greenhouse both sides for the plants to be trained to. The Tomatoes were planted and tied to a cane to give them a helping hand on their way. I was shown how to do a Hitch Knot which stays firm to the cane but failed miserably and need more practice! The Tomatoes were finally watered and fed with Tomorite. What lucky plants.

The Hybrid Musk Rose borders were in serious need of a weed so I helped out with that. The borders are planted at the front with Nepeta clumps which will be great once they fill the space. I have never worked with Hybrid Musk Roses so will look forward to seeing them change. Michael told me they range in colour from white, cream, apricot to pink and have wonderful names such as Penelope and Buff Beauty. The border is full of Roses and runs the width of the front of the house, a step down from the Croquet lawn, in a uniform line.

A potter around the garden is a reminder to look at ALL the plants available and not just what is in front of you. There are many trees which I take for granted and Michael showed me an Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' which is a beautiful kind of pink /peach and sits across the Japanese bridge. Also, many Magnolias which are dotted about, the heavy scented 'Allspice' and the bright yellow of 'Butterflies'. So much to learn but I am enjoying it and taking it all in.