At the side of our house is a large magnolia tree that casts lots of shade once it is fully in leaf. The magnolia is laden with bird feeding devices and as this is really close to the house we can enjoy watching the birds throughout winter at close quarters.
We have made this area into a spring garden so that all the plants can 'do' their flowering whist there is plenty of light. Again being close to the house, at this time of year, we are treated to a beautiful spring display whilst still being warm inside the house. Seeing everything burst into flower is something I always look forward to.
This week this area has just about reached it's peak. The snowdrops have opened and the hellebores are still in flower. (If you read Martyn's blog you will see that he stole my photo before I got a chance to use it!)
Another bonus is that the flowers are lifted up nearer to eye level as this bit of garden is held back by 2' (600mm) wall. It's the area behind the lower wall in the photo below. By the way the photo was taken last year as the large daffodils aren't as far forward as they are below.
This also helps when taking close-ups of the snowdrops.
The hellebore orientalis have been doing their thing for quite a while now. Janet at Plantilicious commented about how the hellebore flowers shyly hide their beauty. It is really difficult to get a close-up of the faces of the flowers so excuse my fingers on the following photo.
Their cousin hellebore niger on the other hand holds up its flowers saying look at me!
In the first photo there is a large shrub hiding behind a pink hellebore. From ground level you don't really appreciate it. It's a mahonia and it is covered with lovely yellow flowers at the moment which if you get close enough have a delicate perfume.
This evergreen shrub is a favourite hiding place for our feathered visitors so I am really surprised that it has so many flowers. Some birds often look as though they are pecking at the flower buds and with a pair of our visitors having the reputation of striping flower buds from fruit trees I am surprised that it has so many flowers.
Next to the spring 'garden' on the higher bit of ground is one of our bird baths so I've really imaginatively labelled it as the bird bath bed. I've planted lots of spring bulbs around the bird bath as again it is enjoyed from a house window.
This bed is only beginning it's performance with one or two tete a tete miniature daffodils opening.
I'm sure there should be some crocuses in this bed but they don't seem to be putting in an appearance!
This bed is only beginning it's performance with one or two tete a tete miniature daffodils opening.
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You've got loads of interest in your garden already (again?). I have never seen a Bullfinch "in the flesh", but I'd like to - they look very handsome birds.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting through to me again Mark, missed your comments. The bullfinches now visit quite a bit so I hope that they leave our fruit trees alone - thankfully they are nowhere near the bird tables and feeders. YOu should see the interest around the pond!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm being a bit cheeky here but any chance you could save me a few of those hellebore seeds when they come through if I promise to save you a few from my 1 plant that I have in the garden. Will post a pic of it soon on my blog. The flowers are a very light green but still very lovely.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Captain I'll do that but they may not come true as I have a few different plants in the same area and they may cross pollinate
DeleteCheers Sue
ReplyDeleteReally pretty photos. Most of my snowdrops are finishing or finished. Two daffodils in flower at the minute. I like the raised bed/wall that gives you a great view of plants! I have no hellebores in the garden (surprisingly!) - your purple and white one is striking!
ReplyDeleteIt was more a case of having to have a wall Kelli as our garden is at different levels - our house is lower than most of the garden - but it was a happy necessity.
ReplyDeleteSo uplifting to see your snowdrops!! Beautiful photos Sue.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely time of year Bren
DeleteWell it is all looking wonderful and makes my garden seem very mundane in comparison...but it's small so i keep it practical though at the minute it is in dire need of some tlc.. :-(
ReplyDeleteYou should see the rest of the garden Tanya!
DeleteYour spring garden looks wonderful, so much interest. It's nice to be able to have all the colour close to the house at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Jo and we have the bulbs at the front to look out out of another window
Deletethere is a lot going on in your garden my daffodils are not out yet.
ReplyDeleteThe mini daffodils are always earlier than the big varieties Cathy our big ones aren't anywhere near out yet!
DeleteYou seem to be much further ahead with your spring bulbs - my crocus in pots haven't made a showing at all yet.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough Elaine the ones in the side garden aren't out yet even though the mini daffodils are. I doesn't get as much sun - such there has been so maybe that is why!
DeleteI don't have any snowdrops unfortunately as they do look gorgeous at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThey do Damo - I love them
DeleteHi Sue; Just confirming that I have entered your competition. Some great phots in that bunch! You obviously had some fun putting the comp together too.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
DeleteThe entry has come through so that works then! I did have fun putting it together - I'll be able to have more fun when I do the next four competitions
Looking great there Sue - love that first image! Nice to see the bullfinch pair although I didn't realise they could damage mahonia - have neither so not a problem here :-)
ReplyDeleteThey devastate fruit buds, Shirl so I am assuming any sort of tree/shrub flower bud will be fair game. I know some years the other birds have nibbled off the emerging flowers but this year we seem to have got away with it - maybe the secret is to keep feeders and bird tables well stocked! The mahonia is a favourite hiding place for birds being next to one of the bird tables.
DeleteMartyn posted a video of the two bullfinches here if you are interested
Sue, that is all looking wonderful, just how I envisage our little Coppice area one day. You asked about the primrose seeds you sent me, I'm very sorry, rude not to reply sooner.
ReplyDeleteLast year I sowed them immediately upon arrival, covered with vermiculite, popped them safely in the nursery and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. The pots have spent all year alongside the snowdrops and winter aconite which didn't get planted and in truth, I wrote them off. Had a look a couple of days ago and I think we've got germination - much excitement in The Shire! The winter aconite seeds I sowed at the same time also seem to be coming up. Moral of this story - don't give up too quickly (although checking a propagation book on length of time to germination might have been sensible!)
PS: I agree with Shirl, suspect Mr and Mrs Bullfinch are the culprits in The Case of the Missing Crocus.
I hope you manage some primroses BW I'm surprised that they took so long to germinate as the seeds were in the green and should have germinated quickly - no wonder you gave up on them.
DeleteThe crocuses are now coming up - they are just later than the ones in the front bed maybe because it gets any sun that is on offer. So Mr and Mrs bullfinch are not guilty!
Beautiful.Wish I have snowdrop in our garden here as well.
ReplyDeleteI love snowdrops - pity but they are now starting to go over
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