Enjoying flowers both inside and outside

Last month, I was given these cream roses by a friend and they lasted really well.  I trimmed the stems and changed the water and they lasted for two weeks.

Outside, the run of a few days of sunny and warm weather have brought plants on really well. It's nearly the vernal equinox too, so the lengthening daylight is also a signal to grow.  Primroses are out, both the native ones and...

others which have self seeded under the patio table, but as they are so pretty, I haven't had the heart to dig them up and move them.

Muscari (grape hyacinth) flowering in a bowl on the patio.

Some different varieties of grape hyacinth in a pot.

Scilla going over a bit, but still a lovely sky blue.

Camellia St Ewe with its bright pink flowers and egg yolk yellow centres.

Tulips are also in bud in the border.  I did plant some in pots too, but they are not looking too good.  I think they have got too wet over the winter, so may have rotted. We'll see whether I get anything at all.  However, there will be lots of other plants to enjoy, so I shall focus on them instead.

Spring colour

Spring has sprung, so let's celebrate!  The camellias in the garden are in full bloom.  Above is an unnamed one I bought as a stick and it is doing really well and flowering profusely.

This unnamed double was a present from my Mum and has enjoyed being potted on.

Camellia St Ewe with its egg yolk yellow stamens.

Camellia Yoimachi which has had flowers through the winter.

Other flowers in bloom are Cardamine Quinquefolia which is certainly spreading through the border, but so far, hasn't proved to be a nuisance.

Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai with its pretty white flowers.

When the sun shines, just look at the beautiful blue sky.  A lovely Spring colour.

Echoing the blue sky, I recently potted these scillas on into a bigger pot and they have rewarded me with a mass of flowers.  Such a pretty plant. I need some more of these, I think! I also have my first tulips flowering in the border.  No doubt they will get a post in the weeks to come.

Spring is on the way...but more Winter to come yet...probably

It has been very mild recently and the plants are thinking it is nearly Spring.  The hellebores are still looking beautiful but the camellias have now joined in.  I think this is quite early for them, so I am enjoying their flowers in case the frosts get them.  Above is the flower from the unnamed double variety that my Mum gave me. 

Here is another unnamed variety but I think this is a japonica type.

Here is Camellia St Ewe - I bought this a few years ago and it seems happy at the bottom of the garden, in a west facing position.  

I noticed the three flowers in a row and thought they would make a good photo.

I also have a few narcissus Tete a Tete in flower. I do like these small ones and need to get more!

Finally here is my standard cherry - Kojo-no-mai, with its delicate flowers.  Again, this seems quite early, but is telling us that Spring might not be too far away.
 

Spring is just round the corner

Spring is almost here and the garden is starting to respond to the increasing light levels.  The camellias need to be featured as they are looking lovely at the moment. I was a bit concerned that the snow and overnight frosts would play havoc with the flowers, but so far they are all right.  Above is an unnamed one given to me by my Mum.

Camellia St Ewe is providing a lovely splash of colour down at the bottom of the garden...

...as is Yoimachi, which has been flowering for ages.

Another unnamed camellia looking so pretty with its blush pink flowers. This is probably a japonica variety.

I planted this little trough of Tete a Tete narcissus last Autumn and they make me smile with their happy yellow flowers.

The colour contrasts well with the cool blue of this scilla.

My standard cherry Kojo-no-mai is also starting to flower.

Cardamine quinquefolia is also doing well - possibly making an attempt at border domination.  I keep meaning to dig some out, but in flower it is pretty and then it dies down again, so I forget to do it.

Hellebores in the garden are later than the potted ones.  This is Harvington Pink speckled.

This one is Harvington Pink Picotee.

Finally, just because I can, more camellias.  Well, when they flower, they should be celebrated, shouldn't they?

Spring is nearly here.  I have tulips in bud too, which is always exciting!

Hello nearly Spring

It is so nearly Spring proper - it is just round the corner.  It is comforting that it happens without any interference from man.  The hellebores in the border are now in flower - they are a little later than the potted ones but I love to see them nonetheless.  Above is Harvington Picotee.

Harvington Pink Speckled.

Another Harvington Picotee - was this an original plant or is it a seedling? 

Harvington White Speckled.

The reliable Cardamine Quinquefolia, which I love.  I have been warned it can become invasive and it is certainly spreading but so far, not a nuisance.  If it outgrows the space or makes a bid for garden domination, we will be having words!

Camellia St Ewe flowering at the shady bottom of the garden.  It certainly provides a splash of colour!

A little crocus, (sieberi tricolor) opening up to greet the sun. I have planted these all around - in the borders (where I could find a space) and in various pots.  They are such cheerful little flowers and good for the early bees.

Finally, another hellebore, in a pot, called Princess Victoria.  This one is the darkest I have and has taken quite a while to get into flower.  I love the dusky, velvety look to the flower.  

I have just added two more salvias to the garden - Microphylla Cerro Potosi, which has a bright pink flower.  They are just starting to put out leaves, but I am looking forward to seeing them in flower.

Nearly Spring, but not quite.  It is an exciting time of year.

Hello new plant!

 Some of my lovely readers were interested to find out the identity  of the new plant that I needed to buy.  I can now reveal that it is a Camellia x vernalis Yuletide, which I saw on a blog I follow.  It has such a lovely pop of colour that is much needed at this time of year.

I bought it from Carbeth plants via Amazon and it arrived very quickly and was a lovely strong plant, with lots of buds and several flowers. I was really pleased with my purchase.  I have five camellias, (Yoimachi, St Ewe,  Cupido and two unnamed varieties, all in pots) but I thought I could just about squeeze another one in...

It has bright red flowers with golden stamens so has a very regal look.

Potentially it can grow to 2.5 metres, but as it will be in a pot, it won't get that big.  It's a shame because a full sized camellia is such a wonderful sight to see.  There are some stunning examples in Cornwall.

The only other large plant purchase I have in mind this year is a rose, Emily Bronte, but I was just thinking the other day that it would be nice to have a few more hellebores...

More hellebores and other plants

My hellebores in the border I laughingly call the 'woodland' border (north facing and relatively shady at the back) are finally catching up with those in pots.  Above is Pink speckled which has made the best clump and which looks the happiest. 

I think this one is Pink Picotee.  

This could be White Speckled?  I should have a white one and a red one as well, but I seem to just have leaves from them this year.  I have bough a white one for a pot though, so that may flower next year, all being well.

Cardamine Quinquefolia is flowering away nicely.

As is Camellia St Ewe, with its bold colour contrasts.

I planted these muscari azureum last autumn and I like their delicate baby blue flowers.

An unnamed camellia  is also flowering, with a pale pastel pink flower.  I have a double flowered camellia too, but that isn't in flower yet.  The garden seems to be changing daily at the moment and these plants are bringing me a lot of joy.