Another glorious day - can't believe it is April but still no rain. Had a huge sort out of English Garden Magazines yesterday and enjoyed article by Ursuala Buchan "The Great and the very good" Her definition of a great garden is that it should please the sense, open the eyes, calm the breast and satisfy the intellect ... hmmm

Big space down here in Red Oak bed surrounding the Epimediums and next to the Acanthus. I'm thinking Scampston Hall influence required ie drifts of Veronicastrum, Monarda, Echinacea - these should balance the Phlomis and Acanthus well and provide good ground cover for an area that is on a deep seam of rock. The light down at this end of the garden in the morning is spectacular as it is east facing. Just thought a few more root cuttings of the Acanthus would be good for the new bed up by the cottage underneath the mystery Prunus.