Heavy Rain

Heavy rain, really quite tropical fell on Saturday and Sunday. The result is abundant growth.

The Baskets

After Chelsea Dr Anne decided to plant strawberries in the baskets this year. There are four baskets each with three plants. There are three early (Honeoye), three mid season (Elsenta), six late season (Florence). Dr Anne planted them with a mix of John Innes No 3 and Murphy's multi-purpose compost. She gave them a thorough soaking. The strawberries will be fed with Levington's Tomorite as it is rich in potassium. Reports will be forthcoming throughout the season.

The Rockery

Dr Anne dropped past White Lodge Nursery, near Turriff. There were some large, beautiful, fresh looking alpines. Although they have been unsuccessful on previous occasions Dr Anne decided to give them a try on the rockery which is presently bare of plants.

Planted are: Primula vialii, Dianthus Annette, Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus, Lewisia 'Little Plum', Pratia pedunculara, Rhodohypoxis 'Twinkle Star' and some variegated thyme.

Sculptures at Chelsea

Watering a tender plant
Transporting some flowers
Collecting Apples
All by Christopher Lisney

Sandstone Roses in th M&G Garden

Anyone who knows Dr Anne is aware that she loves garden sculpture. Above are some of her favourites.

Favourites from Chelsea Show

The University of Worcester Garden - a low allergy garden. There was a calmness in this garden to sit around and have a 'rant'. Dr Anne really liked the coloured glass in the roof.

SAC Strutt and Parker Sustainable Highland Garden - a contemporary take on a traditional Scottish way of life. The windbreaks are powered by a wind turbine on the roof of the house. They close to protect plants. Native planting, a water rill and insect homes under the windshields provide ideal conditions for birds and insects.

Christian before Dior

This garden reflects Dior's love of flowers and design and the influence these were to have on his couture collections and perfumes. Dr Anne particularly liked the hydrangeas in the big pots and of course the roses and lavender.

Global Stone Bee Friendly Plants Garden above and below
This garden aims to draw attention to the important role that gardeners can play in sustaining the UK's threatened bee population. Dr Anne really liked the design of this garden.

Dr Anne has chosen the above as her favourite gardens. She principally chose them because of their design but she also particularly liked the planting in the Christian before Dior.

Chelsea Show, 2010

Hanging Basket in Japanese Garden

Hanging basket in Japanese Garden

Strawberries in baskets in the Grand Pavilion

Dr Anne and Greygranite headed for Chelsea Show on Members' Day. It was the first time for both and what a day they had. Dr Anne had three purposes - the rockery, the baskets and the possibilities for a future patio makeover. There were no rockeries and few hanging baskets. Greygranite has since purchased a conical hanging basket and Dr Anne has purchased strawberries for her baskets.

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley from the Dell

Dr Anne dedicates this most beautiful of flowers to Mrs McArthur and her best friend Jenny Paterson. This was Jenny's favourite flower and every year Dr Anne would give her a bunch tied with a beautiful ribbon. The posy has been placed in the front window. The scent is filling the room.

May in the Dell

The place to be today when it is hot and sunny is the Dell. The bluebells are in flower. The rhododendrons and azaleas are either in bud or in flower. It was cool there as Dr Anne cut back the crocuses and pulled out the Welsh poppies.

May Storm

It was a beautiful morning, warm and sunny. By the time Dr Anne was ready for the garden there had been a thunder storm with a good shower of rain. The plants were sorely in need of this heavy shower. However, she decided it was the right time to feed and weed the grass. The lower green was given feed, weed and moss killer. The upper green was given green, feed and weed. Another shower of rain would now be very welcome.

Steven, Dr Anne's landscape gardener and mentor came to view East Neuk today. He was very impressed and complimented Dr Anne on her attempt at keeping the garden in order. They looked at ways to develop the garden. Last year the birds ate all the cherries and the red currants. It was decided to purchase an aluminium fruit cage and a fruit tree protector. Harrod Horticultural was the chosen company for purchase. Steven will erect the cages when they arrive. He will also prune the birch tree to prevent leaves falling into the neighbour's garden and the top of some of the shrubs in the shrubbery to keep them under control.

Later in the year the patio near the back door will be given an overhaul. Dr Anne will collect ideas at Chelsea next week.

Maintenance in May

The first rosebud of summer

Anna Pavord in the Independent on 8 May indicated that May is the month when work must be done. Today was the day. The grass was cut then raked and cut again. The edges were given tender loving care. Maybe the grass will get fed this week. Maybe the frosts have gone or maybe not.

The daffodil pots and tulip pots were emptied and the bulbs laid out to bake. Anna Pavord said that tulip bulbs need good drainage and a baking hot sun. Dr Anne doesn't know if she has done the right thing but today they are laid out on trays to bake. Meanwhile the bulb compost was scattered on the empty rockery. The rockery is still being given thought. The free dianthus from Parkers were planted out. The new lavender went in the pot beside the dinosaur egg. The baskets were given some compost although the contents are not bought yet. Dr Anne does not put bedding plants out until June at East Neuk.

The rose beds were weeded. The first rose is opening on the arch. The lily of the valley is coming into flower and oh that special smell reminds Dr Anne fondly of Mrs McArthur's best friend Jenny. She must take some bunches to the cemetery even although they only last a day or so. The dell is a carpet of purple with the violets. Oh the wonder of it all.............

Dr Anne even put weed killer on the chuckies.

Oh .......... there is much to be done. The shrubbery is full of weeds and the dell has these yellow poppies which must be howked out using the dandelion howker given to Dr Anne by Mrs McArthur when she won £10 on the Lottery. But... one must also sit and enjoy the wonder of the garden. Dr Anne opened the 'Sheddie' for such thoughts.

The Water Feature

The Dinosaur Egg
The Waterfall

East Neuk has two water features.

At the upper level, is the Dinosaur Egg powered by a solar panel. The rule at East Neuk is to take the solar panel into the 'Sheddie' each night. Last year, Dr Anne decided that she would disobey the rule. She started leaving the solar panel outdoors. Within a month solar panel had blown over and was broken. Dr Anne learned a lesson the hard way. She phoned Stapeley's Gardens in Cheshire, the original supplier to find a new solar panel would cost £700... The original did cost over £100. The man at Stapeley's advised Dr Anne to put in an electric cable as it would be much cheaper to run. Dr Anne was unsure. She waited all summer then found a local supplier who could provide a solar panel - Filopumps at Thanestone Industrial Estate near Inverurie. She decided to go for it even although it had to come from Germany and would cost £700. Today was the day that Dr Anne's friend George came to fix it up to the pump. Wow...wonderful... All that is needed now is a replacement lavender.

At the lower level of the garden is the waterfall. It is on a site of the old pond. The pond became difficult to manage over the years. The heron came up from the Burnie Brae and ate all the fish. As Mrs McArthur grew older she became frightened that she might fall in. So... the pond was filled in and Stephen built a slate waterfall. Kids love standing in it. When Charlie came to visit last year he was beautifully dressed to visit his granny. The shirt got wet so came off. The trousers got soaked so they came off and he ran around in his nappies having a whale of a time. He was leaning over the waterfall drinking the water at one point. He got his full dose of bacteria in one day to boost his immune system...

Obsession re Windows

Dr Anne is obsessed with her window cleaning. Her mother had very high standards regarding windows. Car owners used to be scared of her as she stepped out onto the street with the hose early in the morning. As she grew older she decided to get a window cleaner - £10 for 10 minutes. He didn't wash the woodwork, his water was dirty and the windows did not sparkle. When Dr Anne quit her job four years ago. the window cleaner was cancelled. Dr Anne had to undergo training then close supervision before she achieved the standards required.

Now on her own, Dr Anne has the voice of Mrs McArthur in her head. She hoses the windows (glass and woodwork) to get rid of the dust before hosing the cobbles. The windows are then given a soapy water using car wash in hot water. The windows are then hosed to get rid of all remnants of the soap. The windows are dried using an absorbant cloth. When dry the windows are given a buff up with Betterware's Stay Clean. This was how she passed the test...

Dr Anne has now spent four hours at the windows today and how she would love Mrs McArthur to give the seal of approval. Alas.

Crows and Starlings

There are two crows who like to live at East Neuk. They sit on the dyke cawing and fly into the birch tree. They are seen with bread in their beaks and yesterday Dr Anne found their cache under some flowers. She removed it. Today they are back with bread in their beaks with a new cache among the roses.

Yesterday a flock of at least 30 starlings landed on the grass and spent some time picking out worms then they disappeared as quickly as they arrived.

Two blue tits are in the box at the top of the garden. They spend a lot of time in the birch tree. Unfortunately the new neighbour has a cat and it can be seen in the dell under the birch tree.

The collar doves spend much of their time in the birch tree or on the arch. Where is their nest? The holly tree?

The blackbirds are in the garden but the nest is next door behind the Wendy house.

A robin has appeared. It looks very thin.

First Fruit of the Year

Dr Anne cut the first fruit of the year today. With no cloches, the three clumps of rhubarb had grown considerably over the last three weeks bearing large thick red stalks. Dr Anne gave them a good mucking towards the end of last year and this has certainly produced great fruit. She cut enough for 5 large foil cartons for the freezer then it will be rhubarb crumble, rhubarb compot, rhubarb jam. Any other ideas?

Ivy and Hostas

The ivy on the big dyke and the hostas required attention. Dr Anne kept putting the task off blaming the rain and cool weather but it was really the challenge of the job. Anna Pavord's column in the Independent today said advised that the jobs not tackled in May never get caught up. Out came the ladder today and the trimming scissors and Dr Anne did her best to trim the ivy. The hostas were then fed. Anna Pavord advised mulching so Dr Anne decided to give the hostas some additional compost to keep down the weeds and give an extra feed. When in NZ Dr Anne was advised to put copper tape round the hostas to keep the slugs at bay. She bought some in the local garden centre. Tonight there is a long line of copper tape along the top of the dyke. Will it stick? Will it be effective? Watch this space.

The Gab of May

Sunset Apple Blossom
Grape Hyacinths and Tulips

Bergenias in the Dell

The Tibetan Cherry

Since Dr Anne's return from Cambo there has been three days of rain and although today is sunny it has been very cold. There is the threat of snow next week. However, spring is here. The apple trees are in blossom. The grape hyacinths provide an amazing show especially with yellow tulips. The bergenias are in full flower. The trees are in leaf. The ferns are uncurling. The hostas are a couple of centimetres above the earth. The begonias have at last peeped throught the soil in the little greenhouse. There is hope...

Glendoick

Hellebores at Glendoick

Glendoick House Gardens at Glendoick

When the garden at East Neuk was landscaped in 1984 Robin Currie of the Banff and Buchan Nurseries advised Mrs McArthur to buy her rhododendrons and azaleas from Glendoick as their hybrids would suit the seaside garden.

To date Dr Anne has visited the Garden Centre on numerous occasions always buying but had never been at the gardens. Anne and Sandra bought tickets at the Garden Centre and walked up the drive to the gardens which are open between April and June each year. The rhododendrons and azaleas were coming into bloom. The hellebores were magnificent. The underplantings of anemones, bluebells and grape hyacinths were amazing. It was definitely a garden to be seen.

Dinner at the Peat Inn, Fife

Dr Anne's Starter

Sandra at the Peat Inn

Dr Anne and her friend Sandra went for dinner at Scotland's Restaurant of the Year 2010, the Peat Inn near Cupar in Fife. Staying in Cambo Castle near St Andrews they decided to travel by taxi so that they might enjoy the evening to the full.

They received a very warm welcome enjoying an appetizer with some smoked almonds, olives and a parmesan twist while they studied the menu. Dr Anne chose a bottle of Koura Bay (2008), a sauvignon blanc from the Malborough region of New Zealand to accompany the meal.

The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and friendly. The staff were efficient and very attentive. First of all Sandra chose a parmesan and onion roll while Dr Anne chose a date and sesame seed roll. They received an amouze bouche of celery soup with walnut oil, compliments of the chef.

Sandra chose a warm salad of wood pigeon, apple and fennel with a prune and Armagnac puree. Dr Anne decided on the home cured salmon on a dill blini with dill cucumbers, lobster and advocado creme fraiche (photo above). For mains, Sandra chose duck breast while Anne decided on the vegetarian option -rosemary polenta, open ravioli of gem and celariac, wild mushrooms and walnut veloute. All were enjoyed to the full. To end they had coffee and petit fours.

Walk from Cambo to Crail

The seashore near Fife Ness
Crail Harbour

Dr Anne and Sandra were keen to build up their physical fitnes while visiting Cambo Castle at the weekend. They put on their walking boots and some warm clothes and walked through the estate down to the beach. They turned right and headed east along the Fife Coastal Route. They walked on the paths, they walked along the edge of the golf course, they walked on the beach. They walked around Fife Ness and eventually reached Crail three hours later having tackled an expedition rather than a light walk. Dr Anne was ready for a coffee and a 'fine piece' but Sandra saw a queue at the bus stop and persuaded Dr Anne to go for the bus it being Sunday when buses would not be regular. Both used their bus passes for the first time and reached the Cambo road end in 3 minutes. It took a further 15 minutes to walk the 0.8 mile to the Castle for a welcome plate of soup and feet up.

Tulip Festival at Cambo Castle

Dr Anne and her friend Sandra made their way to Cambo Castle, the seat of the Erskines for the first every tulip festival. Famed for their snowdrops this was their first tulip festival. Anna Pavord gardening correspondent for the Independent and the Telegraph gave a fascinating illustrated talk on 'the tulip'. This was followed by a signing of her books. Present were members of the Blom family (the fifth generation) famed for their tulip bulbs and Ken Cox of Glendoick. Lady Erskine introduced Anna and led the question session.

There was a display of 6000 tulips in the Potager Garden and a wonderful show of cut tulips from Bloms in the garage.

Dr Anne invested in the purchase of a variety of tulips for spring 2010. She intends putting them in pots initiallly. Tulips need good drainage and a baking hot sun. The do not bloom annually particularly the ones with the virus. They like a good compost and some grit. Where the soil is light the tulips can be planted deeper than in heavy soils.

Walks around the estate were greatly enjoyed. Spring had well and truly arrived. Trees were in bud and the undergrowth was very green.

To Dr Anne's delight there were sculptures both environmentally friendly like the pigs below and the ornamental in the walled garden.