An Espalier of Citrus- and gardening in May

From the Italian spalliera (something to rest on). You take a tree and you train it flat. If done well it can look really extraordinary. Here’s an apple tree:

Last year I decided to espalier two small lemon trees in pots. Here’s where we are now:

I also finally settled on what to plant on both sides of the steps down to the garden. I went with the Florentine cypresses because that was my first instinct. A pair that’s 2.5 to 3 metres tall. Digging the holes for them was not amusing. I’m very pleased my line of business doesn’t involve digging holes on a regular basis.

Around the cypresses I’m planting four polygala myrtifolia (sweet pea bush.) They should arrive in the next few days. I’ve got two planted elsewhere in the garden and they’re very happy with climate- so it’s a safe bet.

My next project is a shade garden under the camellias. I’ve been testing plants to see what would grow/survive and the lamium beacon silver just loves it there; so do the hostas.

I’ve been digging where the lawn meets the shade to see if I can tempt the grass to spread a bit more. I’ll let it go as far as possible into the shade and then border that in whatever shape it turns out to be naturally. I considered leaving the lawn perfectly rectangular and planting around that, but that would make the garden feel smaller. I want the eye to be drawn way back there:

A smoother transition between light and shade. Definitely a challenge- but it’s not like I’m on a deadline.