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 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!

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!

Winter into Spring

 

There are quite a few photos on this post, but when there is so much happening in the garden, it isn't surprising.  The two daffodils above seem to be sharing some gossip.

The crocuses took a while, but have now graced us with their elegant presence...in purple

...and white.

 I love to see primroses - simple but beautiful.

 The blue of a scilla just doesn't show on this photo.

 Then there are the hellebores...speckled pink

 Picotee pink...

 Not sure, but pretty anyway...

lovely pure white...

 ...and the latest addition 'Hello Ruby', not in the border yet but acclimatising to the garden.

 Pale and beautiful narcissus Elka.

 Camellia St Ewe.

 Cardamine Quinquifolia (three flower stems this year and slowly spreading.

 It has been really windy this week, but Spring is on the way.

Signs of Spring

There are signs of Spring which makes me feel so cheerful.  In a pot at the front of the house, Prunus Kojo-no-mai  is flowering beautifully.  It only had a few flowers last year so is doing much better now.

 A blue hyacinth in the back garden is flowering for the third year in a row (I think).

 Primroses are blooming...

 ...as are Tete a Tete daffodils.  The smaller daffodils seem to come back more reliably in my garden.

 Crocus 'Jeanne D'Arc with the palest lilac lines inside the petals.

 Reliable grape hyacinth...

 ...and a single anemone blanda.

 More crocuses with some beautiful veining.

 Pale blue scillas, shyly facing away from the camera.

 Narcissus Jetfire - a single but very welcome survivor from a large group I planted a few years ago.

 The stars of the garden must be the hellebores - this is a new one this year 'Harvington Single Red' which I bought mail order from here and would happily recommend as the plant was in lovely condition and has three buds on it, which I wasn't expecting.

 This is Harvington Pink Speckled, (I think) and it has made a lovely clump in the garden.  To see the markings, you do have to lift the flower up though.

 Finally, Harvington Pink Picotee (I think) which is clumping up nicely too.  Lots of colour to enjoy and more to look forward to, including tulips!  I really enjoy this time of year.