What’s flowering in April.

At last the mad rush of blooms brought on by our sudden heat wave seems to be slowing down. We are working in T shirts and retreating into the shade with ice creams to try and cool off – not the weather we should be having at this time of year – still, mustn’t complain.

Tulips have started flowering, this one is always the first to flower here, even appearing in March some years.

The pond area is beginning to wake up once more and this Marsh Marigold is the first to flower in the pond.

Muscari Valerie Finnis is looking good in the raised bed where it appreciates the good drainage. Lovely shade of pale blue.

Brunnera Jack Frost is now flowering its socks off. Must remember not to dead head it so I will get lots of seedlings – greedy ? – yes !!

I think the Cyclamen repandum here are being over run by the ground cover, or is the ground cover keeping the frost away from the corms, as this variety isn’t as hardy as coum or hederifolium. What does one do, I wonder !!

This is one of the culprits, Lamium galeobdolon “Variegatum” which my friend Jill gave me when I was first starting to plant the garden here – it is now trying to take over. I pull most of it out each year after it has flowered, but obviously must leave some roots behind as it always comes back the following year. Always looks very pretty when flowering and the bees absolutely adore it so I’m glad I don’t succeed in getting rid of it !!

Erythronium White Beauty is such a gorgeous little plant, so fleeting, so make sure you never go on holiday at this time of year or you will miss it!

Dicentra Snowflake has grown a lot since it was planted last year.

Clematis alpina “White Moth” is our first clematis to flower. It is on the archway into the woodland to tempt us to explore further. From now on there will be different clematis flowering right through till autumn in different areas of the garden.

The next one to flower is Clematis macropetala “Pauline” , sorry, had to have it when I saw the flowers looking so lovely. Poor thing was bought last year and has sat in its pot all through the frost and deep snow last winter  – I thought I had lost it – suddenly I saw it was flowering, so have promised it that I will plant it SOON !!

Epimedium grandiflorum flowers are very dainty and certainly need the old foliage removing in February if we are to have a chance of seeing them. Cutting back any later than February here and  there is a danger that you will cut the flower stems !

Another Epimedium, only 1 year old at the moment, so not much foliage to remove.

Epimedium x rubrum is looking good now that the foliage has been removed, new foliage will soon come and take its place.

What are my Cowslips getting up to – these have been moved to another bed because they have obviously been misbehaving !! I know they sometimes throw a red one, but I am now getting all sorts of orange and brown shades as well.

Celandine “Brazen Hussey” is surviving in the cracks in the paving so will be allowed to stay as it is so much nicer than the wild celandine which is a pest in the rest of the garden.

The climber, Akebia quinata, is doing a good job on the trellis which hides 2 of our water butts. It’s common name here is the Chocolate Vine, not just because the colour of the flowers is a brownish purple, but it really smells of chocolate !!!

Erythronium “Pagoda” is one variety that is beginning to seed around, so lovely when they make more without any help from me.” White Beauty” is another that is increasing, they must be happy in the woodland.

I think that is enough for now, lots more to share with you another day – I must go and plant that poor clematis !