We were lucky to have had a wonderful weekend last weekend, weather wise. Lovely hot sunshine all day long, the wind decreasing as the days went by, until by Monday, this week, it was positively balmy! March came in like a lion and is certainly leaving like a lamb. The lovely warm weather has made such a difference to the plants, they are rushing into flower, tumbling over each other to get to the sunshine first.
There have been one or two primroses out since the beginning of the year, but now there is such an explosion of them all round the garden.
Cowslips, Primula veris, are just starting to flower. I will be saving the seed of these to increase the drifts that I already have.
More different narcissus are opening each day, I welcome the paler ones at this time of year, the yellows now seem too bright somehow.
Lovely N. Thalia, we have lots of this one spread round the garden and I add more each year.
Galanthus Polar Bear has decided to flower now. This is a new one this year, when I planted it in February I noticed that it had a bud on it. I wonder if this is its usual time for flowering or will it adjust for next year? I hope it comes earlier at snowdrop time as it is almost hidden by all the other flowers in the woodland at the moment.
This Muscari turned up unexpectedly in a mixed packet, I believe it is M. latifolium.
Tulips have started flowering, I can’t remember them flowering in March before. These are in a large pot on the front drive, I can’t grow them in my heavy soil.
Having said that, this tulip is in the side border by the field, proving to me that some can grow in the borders. Usually they are planted, flower once and then are never seen again, this one is determined to survive, it is it’s third year.
Forget me nots are starting to flower in all the borders.
Choinodoxas have burst into flower on the little slope at the end of the woodland, must buy more for next year as they are such a pretty flower..
Brunnera Jack Frost is brightening up a couple of shady areas.
The Japanese Azalea by the steps onto the back lawn has now started flowering. Eventually it has so many flowers, you won’t be able to see any foliage.
Clematis alpina White Moth has been super this year, so many more flowers than usual, it must have appreciated the handful of fertiliser I gave it in the autumn!
Cyclamen repandum has also done ever so well this year. The corm must be getting quite large by now as there are so many flowers. I really must buy a couple more corms in the autumn and also save some seed to try and make more in the woodland.
Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana is spreading about nicely in the woodland.
I couldn’t not include my fritillaries could I ?! They are going from strength to strength.
Honesty is now flowering in the woodland, the purple one too in another area.
Iris japonica sends up sprays of flowers. Each stalk has about a dozen flowers on it. Each flower is only about 2 inches across, but when there are so many flowering at once, they make a nice display.
Caltha palustis, the King Cup, beside the pond, has suddenly burst into life.
Blossom is now appearing on the trees and shrubs, this is the cherry by the entrance.
Kerria japonica pleniflora is the other side of the entrance.
Berberis by the garage, the bees are loving this one at the moment.
A lovely Camellia planted up by the house, pity I’ve forgotten it’s name.
Just opening, the flowers of the Amelanchier look lovely contrasting with the new bronze leaves.
Blackthorn is flowering in the gardens and along the lanes here in Devon. Think of all the sloes for Sloe Gin in the autumn!
A form of Prunus, planted before we were here, but who planted it where the natural bog is, no wonder it isn’t very happy!
I’ll finish with a few long views.
The front drive. It looks a little bare as the red stemmed cornus and the buddleja have just been cut back. The primroses make up for it though.
The woodland border from the back bedroom window.
The woodland.
Looking back to the house from the archway.
Looking towards the back garden from by the back door, which is at the side!
As you can see March has ended by giving me a wonderful selection of flowers to enjoy. The weather certainly makes a difference to the plants and myself. Being able to wander round the garden without a coat has been a delight the past few days, although now rain has arrived once more. I mustn’t grumble about the rain, where would my fritillaries and their friends be without it?
What amazing garden blooms……So much color!! What satisfaction when everything comes to life and the labors of love pay off…..Thank you for sharing, Jane. You have given me some ideas for my woodland garden. Your garden is a reminder of what is to come. Happy Gardening!
Thank you Sally, you’re very kind! I’ve been frustrated for so long looking at the dead material and things that need cutting back, but at last the garden is beginning to look as it should. I was lucky in that a few of our really good gardeners here have written books about woodland gardening, so I was able to get inspiration from them.
Your garden really has burst into life hasn’t it….some lovely flowers, I especially like the unknown camellia, how pretty and dainty she is! xxx
It is looking quite colourful in places Dina, thanks to the sunshine we have had recently.
I love your description of what March is like in the garden “tumbling over each other to get to the sunshine first”; just perfect! Everything in your garden is looking wonderful it must be such a constant pleasure to you Pauline, you are an inspiration.
So glad you liked it Christina, the garden is beginning to look more like its old self now that I have Neil helping me. It was so frustrating the last couple of years when I had to watch it going downhill, we should have got help sooner!
Amazing what a few warm days does to bring out the flowers and your garden really is looking beautiful. I like the sound of the Sloe Gin! And thank you for the reminder to cut back the cornus and the buddleja. Here the buddleja usually dies off completely above ground but so far shoots from the rootstock.
The sunshine has been wonderful Denise, we are back to showers now for a couple of days, but I’m sure the plants will like it. I’m busy now cutting back the hardy fuchsias, I have cut the golden bamboo but all the Miscanthus grasses and the willow are still waiting, it will all be done eventually!
All those blooms, it certainly is a bonanza. Your photos make me just want to wander through your woodland, very enticing.
Thanks Julienne, I usually find something new each day in the woodland, my favourite place!
Pauline, your garden is delightful in every direction. That camellia is breathtaking.
Spring is such a lovely time of year here in the UK Susie with all the beautiful bulbs, I wish sometimes it would stop and let me take everything in, flowers are passing over too quickly.
A veritable feast of colour! I saw that two toned muscari this week and so very nearly bought it. Wish I had now, I shall have to go back. I much prefer the paler daffodils too.
It’s rather nice isn’t it Jessica and it doesn’t seem to seed around, not yet anyway.
Now that is what spring should look like, I just love all the treasures!
I hope you don’t mind but I might try copying your box accents along your driveway border. I thought a little structure would help my front border as well.
Enjoy your weekend and I hope you get a little sunshine again!
The weather is doing us proud at the moment, just enough sunshine and just enough rain Frank, to keep the plants happy.
The box cubes are still a work in progress, they need to fatten up a bit before they are really cube shaped. They all started off a tiny cuttings given to me by a friend, but they have developed enough to give structure in the winter.
Happy weekend to you too, we have some more sunshine forecast for tomorrow!
Hi Pauline. Great to see all your spring flowers. Beware the Choinodoxas, once established they will spread like mad. I am currently trying to eradicate them from areas of the garden!
Thanks for the warning Steve, I’ll make sure I don’t plant them anywhere near anything precious!
Sorry, mistake in the web site name!!
We’ve been so lucky in the south to have had a mild winter, gardens seem to be coming alive early this year. The rain that you’ve had hasn’t quite reached us in London so I’ve already had to go out and water the garden with a hose last week! I also wish the spring would slow down slightly, some of my favourite flowers have been and gone in such a short while – the daffs are almost over here, even the white ones.
Spring is racing through the garden Caro, I agree, I wish it would slow down, flowers are over far too quickly. The warm weather plus the sunshine and of course, the rain makes everything grow at such a rate, even the weeds! Watering the garden with a hose isn’t something that we need to do here, thank goodness, we get too much rain for that!
I really enjoy seeing both the close-ups and the long views; your garden is enchanting! The camellia by the house reminds me of an old rose. It is so lovely! Spring is such a wonderful time of the year. We had strong rains this morning, followed by sunshine and perfect temps. The newly washed garden was such a joy. I wish we could keep the freshness through the summer!
You must have been so glad to see some rain Deb, it sounds as though you certainly needed it. Spring is my favourite time of year, when the garden looks so promising in all its freshness, as you say, I wish it could last.
The Primulas are enchanting, and I love the delicate white Clematis. The Japanese Iris are very lovely.
Even more Primroses are flowering now Jason, they are everywhere in the front border, making it look very springlike. Each week, at this time of year, is so different from the last, everything is rushing into bloom.