Camellia Mary Phoebe Taylor | Green Writing Room

Every year I am fooled into thinking I have a spacious garden. I mean, why on earth would a modest pot like this need all that space?*
The plants have plenty of elbow room.

Tiny scillas and modest hellebores are easily visible.
I get super excited about the first blossoms on the cherry
and the fattening buds on the camellias.

The bees and I become delirious on the scent of the skimmia which fills the air for yards around (you can’t see them because of my photography, but I gave up trying to count them). I have this temporary sense of control, I even add a plant or two… and every year nature teaches me a lesson before we reach midsummer.

*To see what happens to the tub click here.

Though it didn’t look very promising at half time.

Holly root

I won eventually.

We have been putting up coconut halves full of fat and bugs for the birds. These have been a great success and we have much enjoyed the antics of a pair of long-tailed tits. They are thinking of nesting, but are convinced that our garage houses some rivals, so they spend much time attacking the windows.However a much more serious threat has appeared. A pair of magpies have been eating from these coconut shells, and even investigating the seed feeders. We have found a simple solution, which might be useful to others. Two hanging baskets joined together make a really good guard. Small birds in, Magpies out.
I shall be away from my blog for a few days. I should have put up another POW post, but the garden demands have been non-stop so this will now have to wait until I return. I wish I could leave you with a picture of the miniature cherry or the apricot, but though both have started to flower they are not yet looking their best, so here are the current stars.