Slowly the garden is taking shape......

I seem to have found an answer to the rabbit problem. A few weeks ago I noticed the plants surrounded by red campion had not been touched.

This pretty ancient meadow plant does well here. Over the next few weeks I shall increase my stock.

Our native sweet woodruff is massed in a bed......
it gives off the most wonderful aroma.

Mourning widow is one of my favourite native plants. It self-seeds gently, coming up between shrubs and among other flowers.

The flowers are deep maroon, almost black.

White nettle is often considered a weed, but not in this garden. It is very attractive to insects.....I love the gaping mouth and the little platform on which the insects can alight.

The bee fly is back. Here you can see quite clearly it's long proboscis for sucking nectar from deep flowers.

The orange tip clings to Dicentra......it is a windy day.

Garlic mustard grows in the copse. It is the larval food of this pretty butterfly.
The floor of the woodland walk is greening up.

Wildflowers will soon be in bloom.

The garden is very slowly taking shape....there is still much to do. I have planted more natives in this area.

Mr P made the obelisks for me last year. The two at the front will be covered in native hops. The two at the back will each have clematis and english honeysuckle climbing them.

This bed has box hedging planted at the front. I have put so many plants in this bed that I have forgotten just what. I do know that alliums, coneflower, persicaria, lupins....there are also three obelisks in the bed, which will have clematis climbing them. As they fade white sweet peas will take over.

This area still needs some work....there are several conifers that have been ringed and need to be removed.

I don't think I have ever posted the front garden. This is where Nella goes if there are vulnerable creatures in the back garden. I would not like her to hurt the hedgehogs, young fledglings etc......

There is a new bed around the three conifers in the centre of the photograph. This small area contains......blue lupins, bearded iris, lady's mantle, and wildflowers.

Just look at plantus giganticus......it is taking over.....ugh.

Look you can even see it from the other side of the pond. I have planted a silver birch each side. They will give dappled shade. I shall net the water feature in the autumn to stop the leaves going into the water.

And finally the copse....slowly the trees are leafing up. Although the beech trees are still wearing their winter coat.

This neglected area is a wonderful habitat for wildlife.

Apart from the paths, I never cut the grass or remove weeds. It is left for the birds bees and butterflies. Most of the insects shown on safari are found in this area.

Well that is how the garden looks at this time. It is a long job and I must confess it has worn me out at times. I will not be around for safari next Sunday as Mr P is taking me away for a three day break.

I will visit your lovely blogs during the week......