Please stop now.

It just will not stop raining and the temperature has dropped to 3C in our area.    When will this weather sort itself out.

searching for moss.

 It's raining.   Perhaps the perfect weather to look for moss.

 The woodland area leads to the copse.   I knew there would be moss looking at its best here.

 Moss has no roots.   Moss loves places that are cool moist and dark.

 Moss loves shady ground, rocks, trees and a moist environment.

 Moss can only grow in a clean environment.   Certain animals, such as reindeer, consume mosses because they contain chemicals which warms the blood.

 Its a fascinating subject and one that I intend to study more.   Anyway come over the bridge with me.

 If we stop in the centre and look to our right there are rocks covered in moss.

Growing alongside them is this pretty little Asplenium Scolopendrium (the hart's tongue fern)   Usually found in shady walls, the rocks are obviously a perfect situation for it.
I did not plant it.    A may well buy some more though and plant amongst the rocks.    A perfect situation for any creature looking for cool damp shade in the height of Summer.

Rainy or dry, enjoy your weekend.

Mysterious ferns.

 It wasn't until I counted the ferns in my garden today, that I realised just how much of a passion they have become.    I wish I had made notes of them in my diary, because to be honest, their names elude me.

 I was reading Life in a cottage garden by Carol Klein today, the following is her view on ferns.    I wonder why I am spellbound!!!

 They are the most mysterious of plants. All manner of magical properties have been attributed to ferns, mainly because before the invention of the microscope nobody understood how they reproduced.

 Folklore had it that spores could bestow the gift of invisibility on those who believed in their magic power.
Just to watch fronds unfurl is magic enough.

 Somehow ferns embody the power of nature and the way it triumphs.   Gardens would disappear without human attention but most plants would survive and somehow you feel ferns would be oblivious.

 Their ancestry stretches back five hundred million years and makes flowering plants look like newcomers who have just tipped up on the botanic scene.

They were here long before humans and no doubt will still be going strong long after we cease to exist.

I'm hooked :)

Oh what a beautiful morning.

 I opened the window and almost felt like singing 'Oh what a beautiful morning'      The pear tree burst bud yesterday and looks like a bride in all her glory.    I could hear the constant buzz of the humble bumble.   Oh what a morning, after the long Winter.   Spring at last is making her presence felt.

 The grass is damp, and the sun warm.   I breathe deeply and have an overwhelming feeling of contentment.

 The wonderful scent of Auricula wafts around the garden.   Such pretty little flowers.   My collection grows.

 I hadn't noticed the Fritillary yesterday.   I must put protection around it, as it will most definitely be a swift meal for a rabbit.

 Rhododendron buds are swollen, another few weeks and they will be in bloom. 

 Camassia are popping up all around the garden.  I divided them last year, it was a chore at the time but so glad I did.

 Acers are looking good.   This is my favourite, gold and red is such a lovely combination.

Perhaps  this is how a mouse sees things :)
I am sure whatever is in my garden they are humming
'Oh what a beautiful morning'

Have a great weekend.

Warm and sunny.

 Yesterday was a lovely warm day.    Everything seemed to be enjoying the higher temperatures, birds, bees butterflies and me.   Decided to take a trip to the nursery to buy some Summer bedding.

 Have kept everything soft this year.   Pastels and whites are my chosen colours.

 With the moss garden very much in mind I bought three shuttlecock ferns.    I am not sure if they will suit the garden as they like reliably moist soil.    I have prepared the planting area with plenty of organic compost and they are in shade.     

 Skimmia Japonica love it here, they do so well.   Many are in flower, bringing in the insects.    Whilst this is a fairly common plant it is one I really like, it always has something to offer.

 Have I ever shown you this little box hedge?   I planted it around seven years ago.   It looked very spindly then and I thought it would fade away.

 There are a few gaps here and there, as the dreaded box blight hit some of the plants.

 I really do need to get some new plants to fill the gaps but feel I could bring blight into the garden.   The hedge is now settled, so I am undecided at the moment.

 Ferns are slowly emerging.   These plants are such a wonderful addition to a woodland garden.

 Most ferns are extremely long lived, so these should be around for many many years.

I found this tiny specimen beneath the tree house last Autumn.   I knew it would not survive because rabbits tend to dig there and Nella sleeps the afternoon away in the shade on a hot Summers day.   I could see it being trampled, so moved it to the woodland area and planted it in a piece of wood I found on the woodland floor.   It is a survivor.

It is warm again today so I am going to do some much needed weeding.   It is great to feel the sun on the back of my neck.

Happy gardening days :)

A few degrees and wow.

 Just a little bit of sunshine, makes the world of difference.

 Everything explodes.   Bursting bud.

 The simplest of combination bring a smile.

 Winter starts to fade and Spring is making her presence felt.

 The older I get the more precious these times are.

 I love the gentle heat that Spring brings.

 To watch plants make their way to the sun.

 Hope runs through me, for this is another gardening season.

 Winter has been harsh but already it is fading.   

Oh to be in England now that Spring is here :)

Moss garden.

 As usual, I can never wait, when I have a project in my head.   Despite the continuous rain and dreary skies I have been working on the moss garden.   I wanted to keep this area fairly simple with just a few additions.

 I have placed large pebbles in the lawn to show the pathway.   This should stop visitors walking on the moss.   With the uneven stones I am hoping it will slow people down and make them conscious of what is around them.

 Yesterday, whilst visiting Rye, I noticed two pieces of driftwood for sale at a garden shop.   I had already bought ferns, so decided to plant up.    Six Japanese shield ferns were planted around the wood.    New growth in Spring emerges red, turning green in the Summer months.   I also dotted the fern in the borders that edge this area, so hopefully it will all tie together as they establish.

 The small tree on the right hand side of the image is Cryptomeria japonica sekkan-sugi.   The beautiful soft foliage is creamy yellow in Spring, green in Summer and bronze/purple in the cold Winter months.    As it grows it can be clipped, so perfect for my needs.   I have also placed some rocks, which you can see in the left hand side of the picture.

Now I play the waiting game.   I must learn not to fuss over this space and let the moss and lichen grow, let nature take its course.   I will show you this part of the garden as it progresses.

Have you any garden projects set for this year??