Any day now there will be a green explosion. The other side of the valley hums with just a suggestion of vert - next week it'll be cloaked. Today's 30 degree heat just upped the pace a little, it's all change.
The cardoon's romping away and I fear it's going to be too big for its space. It's leaves have doubled in size over the last week or so.
The meadow area is ready. I borrowed a friend's rotovator to till the soil. So much easier than with a spade as last year. Seeds were broadcast last Thursday, hopefully an even distribution, and already there is evidence of germination with just a tinge of green starting to appear. My only concern are some patches of bindweed to which I can do only so much to control.
Almost daily, the 'rosettes' of Scotch thistle, onopordum acanthium enlarge. They're going to be big and with an impressive vertical extent. Thistly brutes with the best purple thistle heads.
Fattening 'fingers' of delosperma and the swelling foliage of sedum are filling out at a pace. Summer is poised.
Special Request! Please detail closely the meadow.
ReplyDeletePics regularly, what seeds you have......
Thanks.
Garden & Be Well, XO T
Hi Tara
DeleteThe meadow is planted with a seed mix from Pictorial Meadows. Headed by Prof. Nigel Dunnet, they're the same people who did a lot of the planting at last year's London olympics. The mix I'm using is the 'Classic' mix, which starts life full of red slowly changing to yellow and golds as the season continues, for info. http://www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk/annual-mixes
I grew a 'meadow' last year which was a resounding success, http://ourfrenchgarden.blogspot.fr/2012/07/pictorial-meadow-gold.html
Fingers crossed for this year.
Love your 1st photo of the rustic stone buildings....and I look forward to seeing your meadow in full bloom.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny, The 'pastorial' view to the valley is a good one. The light's beautiful at this time of year and lends something extra to the stone.
DeleteBeautiful. What mix did you plant?
ReplyDeleteThanks James, it was the 'classic' mix http://www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk/annual-mixes. I am generally concerned that there are patches of bindweed popping up which could spoil the show. It would super piss me off as I bust a gut preparing the area which is larger than last year. We'll see.
DeleteYou have such a beautiful space there:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bobbi
Delete"You have such a beautiful space there:)"
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more.. a great place indeed.
Thankyou Cindy
DeleteThe grass looks like green velvet. What is that large flowering tree?
ReplyDeleteHi Sweetbay,
DeleteThe tree is a cherry. Not sure which, it usually fruits prolifically assuming no unusual heavy late frost, with small, but very sweet cherries.
Sounds blissfully warm in your neck of the woods Rob. Well for sitting down with a good book and a cool drink but maybe not for serious gardening. We have still to hit the 20s here but at long last the temperatures are into double digits. Is the seed mix the same one that you used last year and will there be any self seeders emerging from the 2012 flowers? Good luck with the bindweed - it's a ****** to eradicate!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, yes, it's the same mix as last year. There would have been some self seeders if I hadn't 'tilled' the area though they would't have been up to much.
DeleteI see in the comments that you planted a seed mix by Nigel Dunnet - I believe his seed mixes were mentioned in Piet Oudolf's new book that I've been reading (Planting: A New Perspective). You'd enjoy the book, I think. Enjoy your on-the-brink-of-summer weather! I'm expecting another hard frost tonight - probably 5 degrees below freezing or so, and then I'm hoping to get new plants in the ground instead of pulling their pots into the garage each night.
ReplyDeleteI hope spring springs quickly for you. I didn't know about the new Oudolf book, I'll buy a copy. The seed mix is the same as I planted last year, it flowers for months with the colours changing as time goes on. I'm a little worried about bindweed which is popping up every where at the moment. It may spoil the party.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out your seed link to see the varieties. After your success last year, I'm sure you'll have another splendid display. Are you the guests flocking into your vacation rentals now that May is next week?
ReplyDeleteMy only concern this year is the amount of bind weed popping up. I fear it'll be a problem.
DeleteYes, our first guests are with us at Le Banquet, although we still have a week to finish everything before the first guests arrive at our other homes, Le Relais des Roches.