Gorgeously Sweet

This is one gorgeous Spring scent everyone has to have.

Daphne odoratus aureomarginatus

The fragrance from this Daphne is fantastic. It needs a sheltered spot from cold winds and does well in a woodland garden setting. Reasonably fertile, drained humus rich soil will help this shrub to thrive.

Plant it close to a path you walk so that it is easily to reach and enjoy the fabulous scent.

Nowhere in the garden? Grow it in a pot so that it is easily positioned out of cold Winter winds and can be protected so that hard frosts do not freeze the roots.

Use a soil based compost with extra humus added. Or mix one of your own with good soil or loam, some grit for drainage and twice the amount of organic matter normally contained in a John Innes mix.

A John Innes Base consists of:-

• 7 parts soil or loam
• 3 parts peat (substitute with peat free organic compost)
• 2 parts sharp sand or grit

You won't need lime added to the mix for the Daphne. John Innes mixes use artificial fertilizer ingredients. So substitute with an organic feed. About a handful of chicken pellet manure for each 1 gallon bucket of the soil mix comes out just right.

Shocking Rockfall

It sounded like a terrific clap of thunder, followed by a rolling rumble. Then when it fell quiet a look outside presented her with this sight in the garden.

Behind the house at the top of the garden an old rock wall stood. It is the remains of the estate that once thrived around 200 years ago. The walls were over 8 feet in height and used to keep roaming deer within the deer park. But time is taking it's toll on these beautiful structures as they fall into disrepair.

Many just fall gently apart, gradually diminishing in size until all that exists is a pile of rocks. Others go out spectacularly, such as this one.

Men working for the estate came in and cleared the rocks from out of the garden, piling them back up behind the original position.

 

The wall will not be rebuilt, nobody can afford the cost of labour to rebuild a traditional rock wall. It takes skill and knowledge and lots of time and it's all very costly. So yet another small part of local history crumbles away.

The garden especially just under the wall is in a bit of a sorry state. The bed contained many lovely David Austin roses. Some will rejuvenate with the careful pruning I gave them along with plenty of organic feed.

Others though will not make it and will need replacing. Amazingly the Box hedge border sprang back from the battering it had and is none the worse for wear.

  The Box hedge (Buxus sempervirens) recovered from this abuse.