Lush The Gardens Are Becoming

Nothing quite like it, to wander about the gardens, front and back of the house, and just drink in the texture, the colours, the shapes and the companioning of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. There's always something new and different to note. And there's always something that needs to be done. A planter getting too dry and the flowers beginning to wilt, a flower stalk that needs to be supported, others that require dead-heading to encourage new growth.

And anything that has been newly planted has to be scrutinized, to determine whether it's happy, feels it's in the right environment for its needs. And then the lilies, looking for that scourge of the lily patch, those bright orange lily beetles. And the roses, plagued by those damn little green caterpillars that love to eat every bud in sight.

Of course there's always the nice surprises, to discover that something planted last year, like poppies or portulaca, or cosmos, or Canterbury bells, have re-seeded and are positioning themselves nicely for another go at the garden. Hostas that you've forgotten you split and stuck into awkward shaded spots suddenly appear.

And the surprise, to discover that the Jack-in-the-pulpit really had returned again this spring, but look as you might, you kept overlooking it. But there it is, huge, a giant, how on earth could you ever have not noticed it? The stalks are unbelievably tall, the leafs huge, and there, underneath, the shy little - not so little - striped purple flower head.

Just another pass through the garden, on another beautiful day. Just cannot believe how thick and lush everything has become. The rhododendrons, azalea, and irises have finished blooming. The lilies are beginning, the roses are breaking out into bloom and the clematises. Can hardly wait to see the digitalis in bloom, and the delphiniums are getting ready to open their long-stalked blooms.

Just wondering: what's it all going to look like in another month? We're not yet into summer. Form, texture, fragrance, colour. Truly spectacular. Unbelievably satisfying.