Early Spring in the garden

While it is early Spring, there is still a high chance of colder weather up until May.   I am enjoying the early flowering plants, such as this unnamed camellia. 

Hellebore Ice and Roses is doing beautifully, with really tall stems and more upward facing flowers.

The unnamed double camellia which Mum gave me quite a while ago now is looking lovely too.  I think this may be a camellia williamsii.

The flower colour is very zingy!

The cyclamen coum and snowdrop pot has been bringing colour to the shady patio.

While cardamine quinquefolia is lightening up the shady border.  It does spread, but so far isn't trying for garden domination...yet.  

The hellebores in the garden are flowering now but seem to be a little less prominent than they were.  Perhaps they were affected by the heat and lack of rain during the last couple of summers.

These are Harvington speckled ones and you do need to lift the flowers up to see the patterns.

I think this one may be a self-seeder from the original but I am happy to leave it in the garden.  It is a joy to welcome these lovely plants each year.

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.

Easter

To all those celebrating Easter, may I wish you a Happy Easter.  It was a beautiful day yesterday, with sunshine and blue sky but today it has turned misty and cloudy.  I am sure that Easter egg hunts and other festivities will still be enjoyed by those taking part.  Above are some of the Easter cards I sent out this year.  The cat with bunny ears was inspired by Tim Holtz, who was busy putting bunny ears on some of his photos here. 

I have also made some Easter butterfly cakes which we will be enjoying over the next day or two, assuming they last that long!

In the garden, things are starting to look more Spring-like.  Muscari (grape hyacinth) are flowering...

...and the scillas are bringing their beautiful shade of blue.

Cardamine Quinquefolia has been really pretty but is starting to die down again now.

The tulips at the front door are supposed to be Orange Emperor, but they look decidedly red to me.  however, they are very welcome, whatever they are.

The hellebores in the border are still flowering.

Here are some of the Valerie Finnis muscari I bought late in the season and planted in December, I think it was.  Their shade of pale blue is so pretty...

...and works well against the other muscari shades too.  I keep finding them popping up in the borders where I had forgotten I had planted them, so it's a nice surprise!

It's also the start of tulips in the border, which have flowered once in a pot and then get transplanted.  So far, most keep coming back, which is a bonus.  I planted them deeply and I think they like that.  The ones in pots from last Autumn are in bud, but not near to flowering just yet.

Magnolia Susan is also starting to flower and scent the garden with the lovely lemony, fresh scent. 

There is so much to enjoy and this is my favourite time of year, from now until mid-June.

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.

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.