If you read Martyn's blog post you will have heard about our aborted visit to a garden centre and how as a result I was not a happy bunny.
Martyn had taken me off to photograph a couple of steam trains - one in the morning and another in the afternoon. He had also planned that we would have lunch at a large garden centre between locations and my plan was to browse for a while before we headed off for the afternoon's photography. The afternoon train decided to run early and so my plan was thwarted but, as the garden centre is only about half an hour from home, I was on a promise to return. It was also an excuse for another lunch out. Just in case you are interested both lunches were excellent.
My focus was spring bulbs to add more colour to the front garden bed - in particular some more dwarf irises to add to the Katherine Hodgkins that are looking lovely at the moment.
The garden centre hadn't missed a trick as to reach the restaurant on our last visit we had to pass the spring displays. As well as irises I had my eye on some aconites.
In the end we returned home with a boot full of pots and a stomach full of beef and mushroom pie. I could have maybe squeezed a few more plants into the boot but certainly couldn't squeeze anything more into my stomach although Martyn topped up with a slice of mud pie.
We bought pots of aconites, two type of irises - George and Harmony (the only varieties on sale), double snowdrops, puschkinia and some pots of primroses. I know it's an expensive way to buy bulbs but hopefully they will bulk up.
The primroses are destined for a tub but the bulbs have been planted in the front garden.
At the moment there isn't much to show for it but hopefully the front garden will soon have lots of colour.
Although ... I think I may need a few more crocuses :)
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I love spring bulbs, but seem to have lost almost all of mine, except the muscari and one or two daffodils. I wonder if it was last winter's bizarre weather and salt laden air? As I am not alone in my area in this, assuming it is the weather.
ReplyDeleteGlad your trip to the garden centre worked out and that you enjoyed your two lunches :)
Don't forget to watch the western sky tonight for the moon, Venus, and Mars again! ~~~Deb
Will be on the look out Deb
DeleteI'm sure they will bulk up nicely. The Katherine Hodgkins do look lovely. Always handy when you can engineer a favour such as that!
ReplyDeleteThe clump of KH started as just five bulbs, Jessica and that was only a couple of years ago.
DeleteSue, you are unstoppable! Still, I can think of worse things to spend one's money on.
ReplyDeleteAnd I haven't stopped yet Mark
DeleteIt is an expensive way to buy bulbs but they're so tempting when they're flowering like that, very hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteStrangely we had to hunt for the irises, Jo as most of the things not on flower were less prominent. I couldn't find the bulbs last year so settled for the potted ones. Also I bought the primroses in bud not in full glory so was much more thrifty - well that's my story and I am sticking by it.
DeleteI so love primroses! I am envious of all the choices you have. We are rather limited here. It looks like a very tempting trip.
ReplyDeleteI think that the temptation came on the first trip Bonnie - tempting me to return,
DeleteLooks like a successful shopping trip to me. Were they all on your list, I wonder? I always keeps my plant list with me. I rarely find any of the items but come back laden with others I took a liking to. Better than clothes shopping because you can always find a plant to fit!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better than clothes or shoe shopping, L. My list was along the lines of bulbs to add colour to the front garden bed so I guess the primroses were an extra, but I didn't succumb to the ones in full flower.
DeleteI so love looking at the colourful spring flower displays ......
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Welcome Jan so do I, Spring is my favourite time
DeleteDwarf iris is really new to me! Such an interesting plant. The beautiful blue color!
ReplyDeleteI hope they manage to flower Endah
DeleteThe gardencentre looks so attractive, now wonder you bought a boot full for the front garden. I´m fond of bulbs but I´m always really fond of the Iris reticulata ´Katherine Hodgkins. In my garden they don´t multiply and they disappear after some time at all. That´s why I always buy new bulbs for in pots in autumn.
ReplyDeleteThe ones planted in other areas seem to have reduced Janneke but in the front bed they have done really well.
DeleteThey all look very cheerful!
ReplyDeleteI hope that soon it will looks more cheerful, Alain
DeleteLovely to finally to catch up with you Sue and I'm glad you got back to that garden centre. You picked up some great purchases and I bet your garden will look great as soon as they all come into bloom!!
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back Tanya Just hope nothing happens to the bulbs before they flower.
DeleteWhat a tonic these floral images are, I love your Iris!
ReplyDeleteWow, TWO lunches? Respect! You have made some lovely purchases here, I especially like the Aconites, I must get some more of those too.
Your front garden will be a feast for the eyes soon...xxx
The aconites are a welcome splash of early yellow, Dina
DeleteOh what a lovely haul to come home with Sue. Our two nearest garden centres are missing a trick as you do not see any plants for sale until you are well past the restaurants. It may be a more expensive way to buy bulbs but sometimes an instant splash of colour is worth it :)
ReplyDeleteAt another garden centre where we sometimes have lunch, Anna, you have to walk all the wall through the shop before reaching the dining area,
DeleteIt's very difficult to control temptation at nursery! ahhahaa... Nice collection of plants!
ReplyDeleteWe were fairly controlled, Malar as we could have come away with a lot more :)
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