PUSHING THE BORDERS

This Acacia fimbriata fills the greenhouse with scent at this time of year

001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

I have post pictures of my Bergenia pacumbis before but as it often gets frosted before reaching its full potential I can never resist it when it escapes damage

005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Often overlooked as an evergreen self clinger Ercilla volubilis is rock solid hardy and salt gale proof

002 by charliepridham, on Flickr
The flowers (which are now) are I admit very small but held in bunches and very scented

003 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Watching the frost forecasts at the moment, after the previous 2 years of poor crops (once due to drought - our fault, and last year frost) we are hoping for a good apricot harvest

007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Bumble Bees have been doing my job for me

008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

I had not realised how scented the Apricots and Peaches are, probably not noticeable outside but in the tunnels its quite strong

Those apricots seem way ahead of ours in london, Are they in fully enclosed, or are the side to the poly open?

There seem to have been a lot more bees out this year than last. Last year it was scary how few there were in the garden right into the the start of summer. This year there are lots about already, the joys of such a mild winter I guess.

Poly tunnel is open at both ends and there is a large opening halfway down one side, its really to protect the climbers from wind and to be able to control the amount of water they receive, we are not looking to raise the temperature inside or to protect from cold, but I suspect that the wind protection probably does encourage the fruit trees to flower a bit earlier

Charlie, I agree, no humming birds in West Wales either. :roll: The flowers on my Nectarines have been and gone! Probably due to last years hot summer ripening the wood. ;)