My new Meconopsis bed.

I think I mentioned a while back that 2 Cotoneaster shrubs that had formed a hedge in the back garden for the last 25yrs, had suddenly, for no apparent reason, died.

Dead Cotoneaster.

A few weeks ago,while we had a spell of dry weather, I made a start on sorting the border out.

The following few photos were taken in December before I started work, the whole area is covered with ivy which quite a few brambles have seeded through.

This will be the new Meconopsis bed.

Masses of Ivy.

More Ivy.

Little yew bush found hiding at the back of the border.

Finding the yew bush was quite exciting as I’m going to need a hedge to shelter the Meconopsis once they are planted. We have lots of yew seedlings around the garden, courtesy of the birds, so I must dig them up, pot them on and then move them here once the soil has been improved. Behind the yew is the ditch that separates the back garden from the woodland.

These next few photos were taken at the end of Feb/beginning March.

I pulled the ivy up from the front half of the border to start with, yards and yards was coming up, I wonder how many miles I have pulled!

Still the stumps of the cotoneaster to dig out and a few more brambles.

Another exciting discovery was Arisarum proboscideum.

I remember planting this as a little plant about 20 yrs ago. I don’t think I’ve seen it for such a long time, it had been over grown by the Cotoneaster. This is the little Arisarum proboscideum,  that has the common name of the Mouse Tailed Arum as its flowers look just like the backsides of mice jumping into the foliage, the long tip of the flower forming the mouse tail. It has certainly spread over the years, even though it must have been very dark.

This area has turned out to be far bigger than I first thought.

I have about another 6ft to clear from the front half, before I’ll tackle the back half. Unfortunately the back half has the 2 Cotoneaster stumps and masses of brambles – oh joy! I think the area will eventually be about 20ft x8ft.

Rhododendron and hydrangea in need of attention.

Without the Cotoneasters, I can see how the Rhododendron at the back and the hydrangea to the left have been straining for light. I think I will take cuttings of the hydrangea, as if I try to move the shrub, I’m sure it will die. I will try cutting back the rhododendron as they usually sprout from stumps, I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Cotoneaster stump, where the dormouse thought it would be safe!

This is where I found the hibernating dormouse, while I was attacking the stump, its a wonder I didn’t kill the poor thing with the big garden fork or by standing on it while assessing the stump!

New home to keep the dormouse safe.

This is where I moved it to, underneath the blue conifer, where it would be safe amongst the low branches and I tucked it under the ivy covering the soil, it is also in the shelter of a huge ash tree which will protect it from any rain coming from the west, plus, most important of all , where nobody will be digging!  I have also covered it with loads of leaf litter so hopefully it will be safe and cosy once more. The undergardener says that when it wakes up and comes out into the world again, it will think, “what’s happened, this isn’t where I went to sleep 6 months ago, my world has changed!”

We have lots of compost and leaf mould that can be dug in and also lots of plants waiting in the wings. Meconopsis hybrids have been bought ( you might remember that I was sent 3 primulas by mistake!). A few Hellebores are waiting to be planted and 7 “Special” snowdrops, also lots of white foxgloves which have seeded in the veggie area can come here – well it can’t be just meconopsis can it? I can see that it will become another shady woodland bed, but this time with the meconopsis as the star turn. When it is finally prepared and the new plants in their places, I will do a catch up post. I hope it won’t be too long before everything is in place.