Easter in the garden 2025 - part one

From now until mid June is my favourite time of year here in the UK.  Everything is so fresh and green and there is so much to enjoy.  A walk round my little garden brings me a lot of colour, starting with Lathyrus vernus above and Lathyrus vernus alboroseus below.

Lathyrus vernus is a member of the pea family, which is obvious looking at the flowers.

Clematis alpina Blue Dancer and...

...Clematis Frankie in flower on the arch.  When I pruned the summer flowering clematis which also grows up the arch in the summer, I unintentionally pruned some of these too,  which I was really cross with myself about, but they are still flowering, so I am really pleased to see them.

I never tire of these simple primroses, which seed themselves about and are always a delight.  They were one of my granny's favourites.

The more exotic looking Erythronium Pagoda...

...with the similar colours of Epimedium versicolor sulphureum.

These do look like lilies.

Apple blossom is also a joy - my little patio apple, James Grieve is having a good blossoming time.  

I'm not the only one enjoying these flowers as I saw lots of bees and other insects on them yesterday.  

Finally for now, there is the delicate baby blue of Muscari Manon.  I do like these paler blues but have a lot of 'ordinary' grape hyacinths as well as named varieties such as Valerie Finnis and Latifolium as well as some mixes.  These are also enjoyed by the bees and other insects.

There will be a tulip focus in my next post.

Happy Easter

 

A long weekend for Easter is just what is needed at the moment!  Work has been very busy so a bit of time off is much appreciated.  To those who celebrate, I hope you have a Happy Easter.  Above is my seasonal tree with its Easter decorations and the odd few chocolate treats! 

There was a beautiful blue sky yesterday, so I had some time in the garden.  The lathyrus vernus is in flower again...this is alboroseus...

...and this is Lathyrus vernus itself.  It is a hardy, reliable plant which I am very fond of.  

Muscari Latifolium with its shades of blue - another of my favourites.

Finally, that blue sky behind the unfurling flowers of Magnolia Susan.  Beautiful!

Enjoying Spring in the garden

Even though we are having lovely sunny days, the nights are cold, with a bit of frost sometimes.  However, this is not stopping the garden from celebrating Spring.

The tulips in the border are flowering - above is Ronaldo.

Clematis is in bud.

Daffodils are still blooming.  This one is Narcissus Triandrus.

My favourite tulips, Ballerina, are opening out in the sunshine.

They are beautifully scented and such a joy!

Here is a pot of Tulip Brown Sugar, my second favourite.

Clematis Alpina Blue Dancer, with long elegant flowers.

Clematis Rosy Pagoda....

...and a close up.

The ever reliable Lathyrus Vernus, in pots, in shade, but providing a lovely splash of colour.

Lathyrus vernus Alboroseus.

Finally, the cheerful flowers of a saxifrage which is a new plant and needs to be potted into a bigger pot.  I think the garden is enjoying the sunshine, just like we are.

Easter weekend

From temperatures around 20 degrees C earlier in the week, it feels as if we are back in Winter this weekend here in the UK.  However, the garden is coming to life and seems to be coping with the downward temperatures.  My standard cherry Kojo-no-mai is flowering well.  I treated myself to it last year, at the beginning of lockdown, but it had just finished flowering when I received it.   

A year on and it is looking lovely.

Some tulips in the border are starting to bloom too - i am not sure if this is Brown Sugar or Cairo!

A little self seeded purple primula is flowering  under the patio table.

More tulips.

Bright blue scillas.

The beautiful native primrose which has seeded itself at the base of a rose in a pot.

A violet which has seeded itself everywhere, but is welcome nonetheless (unless it is where I really don't want it to be).

Beautiful Lathyrus vernus which is a joy every year.  This one is in a pot and features on my blog every year, because it is always a delight to see it.

Happy Easter to you and keep warm. I believe snow is forecast for tomorrow!

The wonders of nature

 As we are staying at home as much as possible for the foreseeable future, it is rather kind of the weather to be giving us such sunny days.  (We have had some frosts overnight though).  I have been enjoying being out in the garden even more than usual and I think it will become more important to me this year.  Above is Clematis Rosy Pagoda.

 The ever faithful Lathyrus Vernus which I love to see every year.

 A double camellia given to me by my mum a while ago.  Although it may not be so good for insects, it still earns its place in the garden at this time of year.

 The beautiful blue sky behind the unfurling lilac and magnolia.

 Tulip 'Brown Sugar' getting ready to flower (this was last Saturday).

 Tulip Negrita also getting ready to flower.

 Brown Sugar today.  I would have liked to buy more of these tulips, but for the last two years they sold out before I could get to them.  They have lovely strong stems and (I will have to check) I think they are scented.

 Tulip Negrita today.

I was also rewarded by seeing this little ladybird enjoying nectar/pollen (my knowledge of ladybirds seems sadly lacking) from this rather bedraggled and nibbled Scilla.  (I was really pleased that my sometimes a little unpredictable camera produced this image.) 
Just a reminder that those little things that are so important and which I have rather taken for granted are still there, if I care to look and enjoy.

First tulips and other Spring plants

This quite a photo heavy post, but it's not my fault - there is so much happening in the garden!  Tulips in the border are making an entrance. These are all ones I grew in pots originally and then transferred to the border.

Yes, this is Ballerina, with an unknown white variety which I don't remember planting, but must have done.  It is welcome all the same.

 Tulip Brown Sugar from last year and planted in the border.  I was most impressed with this one and wanted more this year, but it wasn't available.  I shall have to keep a look out for it this year.

 Some of my daffodils are still flowering - this is Toto.  I really like this one and it has been in flower for a while.  It is also multi-headed.  More needed for next year, I think.

 A Camellia bought a year or two ago.

 Narcissus Minnow looking very elegant and dainty.

 Tulip Danceline starting to bud up.  I am looking forward to seeing this one - a big peony-type flower.

 Lathyrus Vernus looking pretty...

 ...alongside Lathyrus vernus alboroseus (these are all in pots).

 Unfurling Ginkgo leaves on 'Mariken'.

 Buds on a little philadelphus (Little White Love, I think).

Bluebells (also in a pot).

Plant of the moment has to be this Clematis alpina (label lost, but I may have made a note of it, so will check.  Edited to add: indeed I did make a note of it - Rosy Pagoda).  It got squashed when the wall fell on it and so I cut it right down.  It seemed to struggle to get going last year, but this year it is looking the best I have ever seen it.

Here it is flowering beautifully and enjoying the sun we had yesterday.

 So pretty.

 Erythronium Pagoda is starting to flower too.

 Here is my 'artistic' shot trying to look into the flower.

Magnolia Susan is also starting to flower.  The nights are still a bit cold, so I am hoping it stays in bud a little longer.

Finally, blueberries in flower.  Above is 'Northland'...

...and this is Blue Pearl.  They fruited really well last year but so far, this year is a bit dry for them.  I need to keep them well watered.
So much to enjoy - no wonder this is my favourite time of year (up until June).