A busy gardening weekend

Paeonia mairei

In a Facebook post an American friend, Mike Fusaro, alerts his circle that today is the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson in 1743, and gives a very choice quotation from the great man setting out his philosophy about gardening: 'No occupation is so delightful to me as the cultivation of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden. Such a variety of subjects, some one always coming to perfection, the failure of one thing repaired by the success of another, and instead of one harvest a continued one thro' the year.'

With fine weather - though windy - this weekend, it has been delightful to be in the garden and to be able to get things done, preparing the garden for the rush that is to come over the next few weeks.

The view from my bedroom this morning.

  

Without a greenhouse growing things in pots, especially tender plants, is a challenge. The various house windowsills had a clear-out today to give potted plants a good watering, but it is the hardening off that presents the greatest challenge. It's not just a temperature issue: plants grown without exposure to direct sunshine or moving air are very unprepared for exposure, and I did a lot of juggling things in and out of doorways today.

Last year's fern fronds have been cut off, revealing swelling croziers. this is a Polystichum setiferum cultivar.

Later in the day: lawn mown, hedge trimmed

A temporarily upward-facing Erythronium showing the beautiful markings in its throat.

Not subject to migration outdoors, at least yet, is this Cymbidium 'Doris Dawson 'Scotch Mist' on my study windowsill, flowering again after a year in my care.

The very last snowdrop of the season, a secondary flower of 'Little Drip'.