Hiding beneath my hydrangea bush is a little peony.  It must have been planted long ago since the hydrangea has overshadowed this space for many years, judging by the size of it.  I of course, knew it was there, it’s green leaves making their debut while the hydrangea’s red brown branches were still bare.  But would it bloom?  I’ve been watching and finally saw the ball of a bloom developing—what colour?

And there it was, at last—a deep rich pink. Now it’s no longer hidden; the first bloom is where we can enjoy it. Yes, I love colour.

Several garden sources say that contrary to popular belief, peonies can be moved but I’m concerned about harming the hydrangea in the process; hydrangeas are some of my all-time favourite flowers but I also know that the landlord wouldn’t be pleased if it were to be injured.  We’ll see.

After a cold rainy winter, I was so relieved that it was finally spring! No more heavy coats, I could put my plants out and sit and enjoy the warm sunshine. And I did—for a day or two.  It was glorious. But now in May we’re still in heavy coats in cold and rain!  I want to plant! “Ne’er cast a clout till May be out!” is the old refrain quoted—meaning (to the speakers of it) you can’t plant until the end of May.  Though that’s been the case in most places I live, I’m still eager to get out there! Maybe it’s because so many trees, bushes and flower beds are lavishly festooned with colourful blooms that I want to add my part.

The personal and public gardens I’ve encountered here in Yorkshire boast the riotous colours I love—purple hydrangea and orange roses are planted next to each other, just as I would do.  When I first saw the carnival of colours, I knew I had gotten to the right place; I’m always looking for more colour in my paintings, home, wardrobe and garden. Some colour combinations such as the exotic fuchsias in their red, purple and well, fuchsia, are actually pretty shocking–they’re everywhere.

The cheeky colours make me question the famed “British reserve.” I love it!

We’ve had some really high winds lately that toss our garden furniture around like doll furniture—as much as 50 mph.  But it seems to always be windy here so the British seem to have a greater tolerance of what we in America would call gusty winds of 11-17 mph, they refer to as “a fresh breeze.”  After a while, I’ve learned that what the British say can be taken as multiplied.

With brown bin day (yard waste) at last approaching, it was time to prune last year’s papery beige dead hydrangea heads, and lavender spikes to make way for more growth. I’d left them on to protect the new growth—at least that’s what Monty Don of BBC’s Gardener’s World said he does with his lavender.

I expected a big job of pruning but it didn’t take long at all—or maybe I just didn’t notice because it was so good to be outside again.  Now the leaves have space to unfurl—with two sets below each one spent flower I pruned.  And it looks so much better.  Satisfying.

Since half of my back garden is spread with gravel that can’t be dug or really even have furniture on it, I’ve planted in pots—a great solution for renters like my husband and me.  Wilko have lovely yellow green plastic pots—some quite large for small prices; they thankfully will deliver them—and the compost and seeds to put in, for a small fee. It’s a good job since the big pots are wider than a bus seat and inhaling to hold a pot completely within the confines of the seat to let someone pass can be daunting!

Last year I added pots one or two at a time and grouped them mostly in threes with varying sizes but this year, I want something more exciting, something that shows off the flowers more.  Cheers to the gardener who got permission to remove the seriously ugly, rotted out shed—now I have more room for flowers. Above is a before photo of my container garden.

My forsythia on the verge of bursting into golden bloom is a sure sign—to me anyway, that the earth is waking up. Spring! In UK, we’re about a week from BBC Gardener’s World again taking up the trowel, and the ever so helpful brown bin (yard waste) pickup, so spring must be upon us.  The lovely warm, sunny weather urges an excuse to get out; what better way to enjoy it than tidying up the garden (filling the brown bin) to get it ready for planting. It’s time to get out of the house and chat with the neighbours, trade gardening wisdom and plant cuttings. I can’t wait.