Mid April in the garden

Spring is certainly here and the garden has shifted up a gear.  Above is Erythronium Pagoda with a beautiful open flower.

The clematis plants on the arch are looking lovely too - alpina 'Frankie' and and alpina 'Blue Dancer'.

Tulips in the border...

...my favourite, Ballerina, with a fresh lemony scent.

Muscari or Grape Hyacinths always bring me a lot of joy.

These are the best tulips I bought last year, a variety called Finola. They have opened up more since I took this photo and there is one yellow one amongst the pink, but that makes me smile.

They are at the front of the house, so greet us as we come in - a very cheering sight!   The Choisya 'White Dazzler' is indeed dazzling - lots of flowers with a honey scent.

So pretty!
 

More Spring flowers at the end of March

March came in like a lion and seems to be going out like a lion!  While we have enjoyed some sunny Spring-like days, it has also been blustery and cold, some places have had rain, snow and hail to contend with.  Despite the vagaries of our weather, tulips are in flower in the borders. I think these are all Brown Sugar from previous years and they do seem to be doing the best out of all the ones I have planted in the borders.   

They have a very strong stem which helps.

They are also flowering in the north facing border too.  As I mentioned previously, I think my tulips in pots will be disappointing this year, but at least I still have these to enjoy!

The Erythronium (Dog's Tooth Violet) Pagoda grows every year and the flowers will soon be open.  This is a lovely, undemanding plant. 

I also noticed the Epimedium Sulphureum flowering too with its delicate stems of yellow flowers.

Finally for now, at the front of the house is this lone narcissus in a pot. I am not sure of the variety but it could be a triandrus. I love the delicate pale cream/lemon colour.  

Lots to bring me joy as we move into April.

Late Spring garden

Apart from tulips there are some other rather lovely plants to celebrate in the garden.  Above is Erythronium Pagoda - a 'dog's-tooth violet', although they aren't violets at all.  The 'Dog's-tooth' bit comes for the shape of the bulb which looks a bit like a canine tooth. I have had these in the garden for many years and have loved seeing them...

...but they have only just started to make a decent sized clump.

Epimedium x versicolor Sulphureum (I think) was another one I have had for years.  I thought I had lost it completely but it has reappeared, much to my delight.

Camellia rosthorniana Cupido is flowering down at the bottom of the garden.

I spotted a little self-sown viola in amongst some sempervivums.

This was the colour of the sky this morning, with the Magnolia Susan flowers looking (and smelling) beautiful.

Spring in the Garden with lots of tulips

Spring has arrived now, although it has been a bit colder again this week.  However, the plants don't seem to have minded.  This is quite a photo heavy post, but I just couldn't help it - I love this time of year! Above is Clematis Frankie...

and here is elegant 'Blue Dancer', both growing up the arch.

Tulips in the border have done well - Brown Sugar or Cairo - not sure which.

Brown Sugar/Cairo with a little Ronaldo.

Narcissus Triandrus which came back this year.

Clematis 'Rosy Pagoda' looking pretty.

Lathyrus vernus with pink and purple pea-like flowers.

Clematis 'Rosy Pagoda' again.

Tulip Ballerina...

...more Clematis Frankie...

...and again with tulip 'Danceline'.

New Ronaldo tulips, planted in a pot.

Brown Sugar/Cairo, Ballerina and apple blossom.

Ballerina, Brown Sugar/Cairo and Danceline.

Ballerina,  Ronaldo and a little Red Shine - I love this colour combination.

Erythronium Pagoda with its delicate swept back petals...

...near to an Epimedium x versicolor sulphureum, I think.

These tulips are out at the front, in a pot.  They started off yellow but have turned a lovely orange. They are 'Sunlover'.

Lovely flowers.

The fringed tulip which seems to come back each year now.  

More Ronaldo.

More fringed tulip.

Magnolia Susan and Lilac flowers...

...and again.

Ballerina in a pot, really glowing.

Finally (well done if you made it this far), a rest for the eyes in the form of Ginkgo Biloba Mariken.  It will be the turn of alliums, aquilegia and astrantias next and then roses!

Back again!

One of the very nice IT boffins at work was able to sort the computer out for us, so we were very pleased we wouldn't need to buy a new one just yet.  However, all my photos and saved pictures etc. have gone (luckily, I keep my photos in several places so was able to put them back), but not the pictures.  A salutary lesson - I won't save so many and I will print them out if I really want to keep them.
It has been so cold and grey for what seems like months, but despite the distinctly un-Spring-like weather, the garden is doing its best to provide some colour. I went out this morning to see what I could find.

 Lathyrus vernus...

 and Lathyrus vernus with pretty pink and white flowers.

 Muscari latifolium, bringing a lovely splash of blue...

 ...and erythronium Pagoda which has steadily grown and looks as though it will have lots of flowers this year.

 A new plant - Rhododendron Bloombux (not a very attractive name). It is a dwarf plant with pink flowers in May and June and can be shaped like topiary after flowering.  It had several buds on it, so we'll see how it does.

 Another Rhododendron, Patty Bee, which has yellow flowers in April/May.  It has lots of buds so I am looking forward to seeing them open.

 The camassias 'Blue Candle' I ordered at RHS Chatsworth last June have come through the winter and have put on a bit of growth.  I am sure that they have enjoyed the rain.

 The hellebores are still doing well.  White...

 Pink Picotee...

and the pink spotted one.  Nest week, we are being told that temperatures will get to 18 degrees centigrade.  This is hard to believe at the moment, but it will be lovely if it is true!