A look back at what's flowering in my garden.....
Despite being the shortest month of the year - February seemed to have taken an age to go from start to
finish!
It's been a very dry month here - the borders have been incredibly easy to work and there have been slight frosts most mornings, lifting by late mornings in all but the pond bed. Things are very slow in this bed - the Mahonia is still not budding up, disappointing but what can I do? Waiting is the only option! The soil I suspect is not quite warm enough for a few of the perennials to show face. There is some movement though - the Astrantias are just beginning to poke through the surface, as have the drumstick primulas - the alliums seem to have gone forth and multiplied this year - masses of 3 inch shoots are pointing skyward.
Elsewhere in the garden, especially on the sunny side - the perennials are back in business, the Globe Artichoke has not halted it's growth - it's already reaching about 1ft in height, this is despite being cut right down to the ground in November!
Most of the shrubs are budding up nicely - the Kilmarnock Willow has started to display it's catkins.
The remainder of the rescued snowdrops on the sunnier side of the garden are now open.
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A lonely little snowdrop has appeared under the Leucothoe - a nice wee surprise! I like surprises, don't you?
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Most of the hellebores are still tight in bud, I don't mind, I'm happy to wait - only the two in the deepest of shade are flowering. I'm pleased that they are both different colours, they came from a multi-pack of 'red' hellebores planted early winter 2012. I was pleaed to these flowering this year - I really thought I would have to wait a couple of years before they flowered.
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My little gravel bed has started to come to life - the first bulbs to flower are a selection of Iris reticulata - unnamed variety - the picture on the packet showed both purple and yellow flowers but I'm glad the majority appear to be purple, I didn't particularly want yellow and I was going to pull them when their colour was apparent and plant them elsewhere! Miniature daffs, tulips, mossy saxifraga and hebes will add interest as the months progress - this was otherwise redundant gravel, so far so good - my plan is coming together!
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In the terracotta container, Ophiopogon makes a beautiful back drop for Iris reticulata 'Harmony'
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There might only be a couple blooms on the pink Anemone blanda but still a welcome sight. The blues I planted last year have failed to materialise!
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A collage of the other plants blooming - they made their debut on an earlier blog.
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I'm hoping that a monthly blog like this will provide a useful year on year comparison and reference as my garden matures. I suspect the format will change as I go along. Do you keep a record of what's in bloom in your garden? Do you find such a blog useful?
A quick question for all you seasoned garden bloggers out there - I tend to learn/record all my plants with their latin name and know very few 'common names' - would you recommend using latin or common names?
Thanks for visiting February with me!
Despite being the shortest month of the year - February seemed to have taken an age to go from start to
 |
| February 2013 |
It's been a very dry month here - the borders have been incredibly easy to work and there have been slight frosts most mornings, lifting by late mornings in all but the pond bed. Things are very slow in this bed - the Mahonia is still not budding up, disappointing but what can I do? Waiting is the only option! The soil I suspect is not quite warm enough for a few of the perennials to show face. There is some movement though - the Astrantias are just beginning to poke through the surface, as have the drumstick primulas - the alliums seem to have gone forth and multiplied this year - masses of 3 inch shoots are pointing skyward.
Elsewhere in the garden, especially on the sunny side - the perennials are back in business, the Globe Artichoke has not halted it's growth - it's already reaching about 1ft in height, this is despite being cut right down to the ground in November!
Most of the shrubs are budding up nicely - the Kilmarnock Willow has started to display it's catkins.
 |
| Salix caprea Catkin |
A lonely little snowdrop has appeared under the Leucothoe - a nice wee surprise! I like surprises, don't you?
Most of the hellebores are still tight in bud, I don't mind, I'm happy to wait - only the two in the deepest of shade are flowering. I'm pleased that they are both different colours, they came from a multi-pack of 'red' hellebores planted early winter 2012. I was pleaed to these flowering this year - I really thought I would have to wait a couple of years before they flowered.
My little gravel bed has started to come to life - the first bulbs to flower are a selection of Iris reticulata - unnamed variety - the picture on the packet showed both purple and yellow flowers but I'm glad the majority appear to be purple, I didn't particularly want yellow and I was going to pull them when their colour was apparent and plant them elsewhere! Miniature daffs, tulips, mossy saxifraga and hebes will add interest as the months progress - this was otherwise redundant gravel, so far so good - my plan is coming together!
In the terracotta container, Ophiopogon makes a beautiful back drop for Iris reticulata 'Harmony'
There might only be a couple blooms on the pink Anemone blanda but still a welcome sight. The blues I planted last year have failed to materialise!
A collage of the other plants blooming - they made their debut on an earlier blog.
I'm hoping that a monthly blog like this will provide a useful year on year comparison and reference as my garden matures. I suspect the format will change as I go along. Do you keep a record of what's in bloom in your garden? Do you find such a blog useful?
A quick question for all you seasoned garden bloggers out there - I tend to learn/record all my plants with their latin name and know very few 'common names' - would you recommend using latin or common names?
Thanks for visiting February with me!