Another week of freezing nights and mostly sunny days, a lot of the mornings have seen the snowdrops and hellebores collapsed to the ground, but by lunch time they are bright and perky, standing upright once more. I was getting on really well with clearing the rockery until I somehow did something to my ankle, and no, I wasn’t gardening at the time! Walking on the flat is fine, but even walking round the woodland is rather painful so I don’t think I’m up to balancing on the rockery yet for a while, my visitors next Tuesday will just have to put up with an untidy end to the rockery! In the meantime, here are my six for this week…………
No 1
My first Narcissus this year, not Rijnveld’s Early Sensation as hoped, that still doesn’t have any flower buds for me, I think I need to split them and spread them out. I think this is Narcissus johnstonii or Queen of Spain. The purple in the background is Cardamine quinquifolia.
No 2.
Iris reticulata Edward has joined Pauline on the alpine scree, they certainly make a lovely splash of colour.
No 3.
Crocus tommasinianus is now flowering in the woodland, open for any passing bee and I’ve seen 5 so far!
No 4.
My only Winter Aconite, I just can’t seem to grow them anywhere else, I have tried so many times. This one is on the slope that goes down to the ditch in front of the woodland, do they like damp soil I wonder, maybe someone can tell me.
No 5
Daphne bholua in a corner of the woodland isn’t looking too happy, last year she looked as though she might not make it through the winter, but thank goodness she did, maybe she needs feeding?
No 6.
I couldn’t do a post without any snowdrops at this time of year so here is Galanthus Trymlet which was planted as one bulb just 4 yrs ago when the new path was made. It has certainly increased well and has obviously settled down happily into its new home.
Those are my six for this week. I will do a longer post next Wednesday after my village ladies have been, showing you what they saw. The forecast fortunately is for sunshine which will hopefully open the snowdrops for them to see after they have had their coffee and cake! Thanks once again to Jim at Garden Ruminations for organising us all, do pay him a visit to see what is happening in gardens around the world.
Such a pretty Iris, I hope the ankle gets better soon.
I love the iris that flower at this time of year Rosie, they are so pretty. The ankle is improving each day thank you.
All the best for your visitors, I’m sure they will love what they see, and I hope your ankle mends quickly!
Things look great there. I’m surprised the winter aconite does not spread. Here in both dry and damp they seem to do well although I think they prefer some summertime shade.
Thanks Frank, I’m sure they will enjoy the snowdrops and the cake! The ankle is feeling quite a lot better already so hopefully I’ll get more clearing done today. My aconite has summer shade in the woodland, I thought it would seed around where it is but have never seen any seedlings unfortunately and any new ones that I have planted have never appeared again.
Sorry to hear about your ankle Pauline. I hope it mends soon. I reticulata Edward really does add a splash of colour though perhaps not quite as lovely as Pauline. I’m afraid I can’t help with the Winter aconite as my own attempts have not been very successful. I am sure the village ladies will love the garden.
The ankle is improving all the time, thank you Denise. I have now found another Iris reticulata on the alpine scree, a paler blue than Edward, maybe George, whatever its name, it’s lovely! The snowdrops are coming along nicely ready for Tuesday and we have sunshine forecast, we shouldn’t need the umbrellas!
Gosh, you’ve got quite a bit out in flower there. Love the Irises. I hope your ankle gets better soon.
Lots more in flower Graeme that I wasn’t able to show you. The iris make such a lovely spash of colour at this time of year, must get more varieties.The ankle is now a lot better thank you, soon I’ll feel up to balancing on the rockery once more!
I have aconites growing in the garden, which were here when we moved in. The garden hadn’t been looked after at all so I think I can assume that the aconites had placed themselves where they were happy. There are two spots they are in. One is under sycamore trees in our small woodland area. So not particularly moist as they are up against the tree roots in places, but with Winter sunshine and Summer shade. The others are growing at the side of the gravel drive at the base of a low stone wall (West facing), where a birch tree shades them in Summer. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much Cathy for telling me about your aconites habitat, I think under your sycamore trees sounds the same as my ash, oak and horse chestnuts in the little woodland, so maybe I will try once more in that area.I would love to have them seeding about among the snowdrops, so will keep my fingers crossed when I plant some more.
What cheering spring blooms. Your daffs are way ahead of mine. Here’s to your ankle getting better.xxx
Thanks Dina, once the bulbs start flowering I feel spring can’t be very far away! The daffs are a bit behind, these were supposed to flower earlier, normally I have a lot more out by now. The ankle is so much better now , thank you but still not up to balancing on rocks in the rockery!