Welcome to the no corona zona

[YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet]

Have you aged ten years overnight on a supermarket website?
Are you sticking to the 'two sheets' rule?
Have you had it with singing celebrities?
Are you yearning for what we will now call The Before Times?

If you've answered yes to any of the above, here's where you come to post threads about Naice Things - like ham and cats. Where The Virus That Must Not Be Named (TVTMNBM) is off-limits.

We'll do our best to keep the corona-free zone moderated - you do your best to chill out and gather strength.

Keep using the normal boards for normal stuff, but here's where to come if you need a break. We're hoping everyone will see the value of having somewhere to get away from it all.

Thanks,
MNHQ

The buds on my clematis Montana are starting to bloom.

My clematis Montana is too but only the ones on next door's side of the fence because it's sunnier!

I've trained some of it to come back to us!

We'll get a delayed display on our side!

I've got 3 in different corners of the garden, they don't all come out simultaneously.

My clematis Montana is absolutely massive and out in bloom

Can we have a pic of the clematis?
I will love seeing clematis even vicariously.
I have a dark purple clematis, maybe Niobe-similar anyway that is making it's annual mad amount of growth and trying to grow along the washing line.

When the rain stops, will post a pic of mine!

Thanks @Roussette. We've worked out our rounds now (although DH still needs to write 2 of his).

We need clematis pictures. I'm spectacular useless at growing them. I've killed at least 3. My DGPs had a massive clematis Montana that went over most of the front of their house and all over their garage roof.

*spectacularly (need more coffee)

I have to say, mine is too much. It is covering a pergola and the pergola is barely standing with the weight of it! It needs attention but it's gone beyond me being able to do it.

Miserable pouring rain here

I thought about taking a photo yesterday but it's the smallest of the 3 and just starting. Patience!

I could do with some rain now, I used the last bit of rainwater I'd kept in the wheelbarrow yesterday to water my pieris and top up the barrel ponds. (I was meant to be getting a butt installed for my birthday, but we hadn't got round to it in time). It's cloudy here but looking at the weather maps I think the rain system today will miss us.

It's raining here in Cambridgeshire. I'm glad we had a water butt installed when we had our gutters replaced.

Maybe clematis don't like me. The Rambling Rector rose which I put in the same spot as my last failure is very happy.

I've had mixed luck with summer clematises but I can't imagine Montana failing anywhere. The main problem with it is keeping it in check as Rousette says. The larger two of mine require a massive pruning job after flowering - made more fun by my having grown it among other climbers like honeysuckle and jasmine with completely different pruning time.

Here is mine. It is massive, unruly and needs tackling !

Roussette-gorgeous!
Errol you have barrel ponds? I've got two horse's water containers as ponds. One was home to three goldfish now reduced to one but he is 8. The other was meant to be the interesting plants one until fishy got sick and I transferred him so now his pond is a bit bare.
The local cats sit on the wire mesh I've had to put on top.

Mine are plastic 'cauldron' type pots, not actual barrels. They aren't great for wildlife and certainly not fish (the water can get quite warm) but they've got some nice marsh marigolds at the moment, and will soon have water forget me not and avens. And they do make good bird bath/drink.
I've not found any good way to inhibit algae so I have to scoop it out regularly

We've got a tiny bit of rain now.

The small bit...

I love these! Ours are still buds but looking likely to burst forth soonish!

This was it the other day

These are photos of the beautiful azaleas and dogwoods in my mother's garden in the southern part of the USA. Every year around Easter they bloom with all their glory...so incredible to see...only problem with them is they only bloom for about 2 weeks so if you go away on holiday during that time you'll never even know they've bloomed...I have gotten them to bloom again in one season by pruning them right after they bloom.

Hurrah!

Huzzah! Dangly
Beautiful Sissymate2

The big bit is partly out now. Also crab apple and the lawn ornament.

Looking good Errol except the lawn ornament which isn't very realistic.
Today whilst on my bi weekly supermarket shop in sainsburys I got a tray of lobelia an aubretia and some seeds. Nasturtium, cornflower, calendula and Californian poppy.
The fact that I have about two square foot of bare earth available is neither here nor there

Thanks, LunariaAlba!
The really lovely part of gardening is that when we pass away whatever we've planted and tended in life keeps coming back(mostly) every year as a beautiful reminder of us.
My DF planted all those azaleas and dogwoods over 20 years ago. He's been gone for 3 years on and every Spring his gardens bring us joy as we remember how much he enjoyed gardening.

@ErrolTheDragon. Your garden keeps getting more luscious every day and your little lawn ornament brought a big smile to my face. Love all your pinks, purples, and blues . You've probably already told us, but if you don't mind, would you please share what the little blue flowers are in your photo?