As many of you know, we only have a small front garden which means the bed there has to work hard to maintain all year interest. At the moment it's dipping into its spring wardrobe.
The general photo doesn't really do the bed justice as it is at the stage where in real life the eye is drawn to patches but the camera accentuates the bare earth - so let's look closer.
The crocuses were just a mixed selection and some have already gone over but the purples are still strutting their stuff. Of course they are at their best when the sun shines which it wasn't when the above photo was taken. Below they are shown at their best.
The first clump of small tulips Show winner has put in an appearance.
These will soon open to reveal their bright yellow stamen. Slugs always seem to enjoy nibbling tulips leaves but this year these have escaped relatively mildly.
Two varieties of mini daffodils are putting on a spectacular display. One is Jetfire, a cyclamineus type with swept back petals ...
Two varieties of mini daffodils are putting on a spectacular display. One is Jetfire, a cyclamineus type with swept back petals ...
... the other is Topolino.
There are two clumps of each that have bulked up well since planting and could benefit from being divided. Ideally if I could do this when I divide the penstemons it would be most convenient. Can anyone advise of the best time to do this?
The aconites are now fading but the newly planted iris reticulata are doing well and have not disappointed.
George is a little ahead of Harmony but both colours are stunning. I just hope that after flowering they don't disappear never to be seen again.
Crocuses and daffodils have always been my two favorite spring flowers. And yours are just lovely.
ReplyDeleteMaybe yours are popping through under the snow, Daphne
DeleteI like iris reticulata in the darker shades, Katharine Hodgkin always seems very wishy washy in comparison.
ReplyDeleteAs KH comes out earlier, Jo I don't think it suffers from the comparison
DeleteWow! Tulips in flower already! I agree with Jo about Katharine Hodgkin. She always looks lovely in other people's gardens, but I grew her once and really didn't like her wishywashiness.
ReplyDeleteThey are the early minis, Sarah and usually out about now,
DeleteMY Irises have been very poor this year - lots of them have disappeared. The only one to do well has been Kathleen Hodgkin, the very pale blue one. I don't normally grow Tulips, but this year I have got some. Some of them are short red-flowered ones like your Show Winner variety. I was out in the countryside at the weekend and I was particularly struck by how many Snowdrops there are in the hedges and verges - and they are at their best right now.
ReplyDeleteWe were on the N Yorkshire Moors and I noticed lots of snowdrops too, Mark. The reliability year on is what concerns me about the purple varieties KH does seem fairly reliable,
DeleteSo spring~like and colourful, full of promises of better days ahead!
ReplyDeleteI seem to have lost a lot, nay almost all, of my spring bulbs so I am pleased to see you share yours, especially on a dreary, dismal day in Wales.
A dismal day here in Yorkshire too - Deb
DeleteUn autentico spettacolo! Qui molte delle tue piante devono ancora fiorire! Solo i Jetfire stanno cominciando a farsi notare! Complimenti :)
ReplyDeleteUn saluto :)
Grazie Pontos Pontos per il vostro commento avrei pensato che i vostri fiori sarebbe avanti di ore.
DeleteSpero che questo si รจ tradotto con precisione
Your planting is just lovely - the colours on the crocuses are wonderful. I really must get more bulbs into our front walkway - I planted a bunch of tulips a couple of years ago but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret we really need some more bulbs in the back garden
DeleteGorgeous spring colour Sue! I am very envious of your tulip - ours are still snoozing! 'Jet fire' is a lovely variety of mini daff and I just adore all varieties of Iris Reticulata. It may be cold again after the joy of a warm weekend, but it really feels as if spring has sprung!
ReplyDeleteThe tulip is an early spring variety Jane - others of ours are still snoozing too
DeleteI'll be back tomorrow to compare the colour of George with the blooms I have, it's too wet right now to go out!
ReplyDeleteI think your spring colour is lovely Sue, they all work well together. I have been reading up on moving bulbs recently and it seems that lifting and dividing in the green is best suited to most. I have had success with lifting and moving daffs in full flower but err on the side of caution and take lots of soil with them. I generally don't realise I have them growing in the wrong place until it's too late!
Yours are way ahead than those here, most are just showing bubs.
The mini daffodils do tend to be earlier, Angie but the ones in the back garden are behind these. Maybe I'll lift and divide next year with the penstemons.
DeleteThe colour on the screen of George is accurate
I know exactly what you mean about the camera picking out the bare earth, it's the same in my garden, I just see the heavenly clumps of colour. Those crocus look lovely open, and I'm amazed you have tulips, I haven't any flowers yet and they are only an inch or so above the ground. You do make the most from that space!xxx
ReplyDeleteI guess our eyes are more selective and drawn in certain directions, Dina and filter out things, I always find taking photos in full sun tends to wash out the colour a bit too,
DeleteIt's looking lovely, I especially like the iris George, such a beautiful deep colour. Your soil looks nice and dry after a spell without rain. Although no doubt that will change.
ReplyDeleteGeorge is a beauty CJ, I just hope that he shows his face next year. The ground us dry looking on top but probably not beneath the surface - we will see when we try to dig.
DeleteBeautiful Spring flowers.. :o)
ReplyDeleteThe first splashes of colour are always a delight, Julie.
DeleteBeautiful spring colour, makes everything look bright and cheerful. I do love crocuses (almost the best).
ReplyDeleteSuch a pity that it is all so fleeting Kelli
Deleteoooo you've been lucky with your miniature Iris, we has no snow here so mine haven't flowered this year.
ReplyDeleteVery little snow for us this year - just the odd day really and any we did have didn't stick around, Liz. The irises were grown in pots and planted out so may have been earlier than those growing in the ground,
DeleteI love the smaller daffodils and they look so good with the irises. A real picture.
ReplyDeleteMe too Jessica - I think that the minis suit smaller gardens better;
DeleteOh what an eye catching splash of colour Sue - your front garden's 'spring wardrobe' is a winner. I grew 'Topolino' last year for the first time and was most pleased when it came into flower. I prefer the little daffies as they seem more resilient than their taller counterparts when the elements are rough.
ReplyDeleteI think the minis are more to scale in most people's gardens, Anna
DeleteThe red tulips look so striking!
ReplyDeleteEspecially we the petals open to reveal the bright yellow stamen Endah
DeleteWhat a lovely spring flowers! They are so colourful!
ReplyDeleteThey are Malar and most welcome
Delete