What a week it's been! A real mixed bag in terms of weather - you name it we've had it! I really am stretching the truth there - we haven't seen a typhoon, tornado nor a tropical cyclone. We have had sun, rain, frost, wind, snow and hail. It's set a few things back and others it just hasn't hindered!
The other week Helene over at Graphicality UK asked us when we considered spring was upon us - whether your answer was 1st of March, 20th of March or 31st of March (Clocks go forward) either way - one thing for sure winter wasn't far away this week. I think many of us here in the UK had a short sharp shock! I feel kind of pleased with myself that I didn't take the plunge and prune the couple of the shrubs that need doing at this time of year - even the Hydrangeas still have remnants of last years flowers, I've normally succumb to temptation by now! Yes, yes - I know I live in Scotland and frosts here should/can be expected right up until May - I've learned that lesson this year! Who did that blog/meme? - I'd like to link but I can't for the love of me remember who. Was it you? Or do you remember who it was?
My post for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is certainly not as bountiful as I might have hoped but those are the gardening breaks, aren't they? After all, what doesn't flower this week, might just surprise us next. Being a gardener requires so many virtues - do they sell those in the supermarkets? If so, can I collect bonus points!! I wonder, will they be limited to 3 per person or if I'm really lucky BOGOF!
Lets take a wee look
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Helleborus x ericsmithii - Winter Moonbeam. This plant made it's premier last GBBD - only had one flower back then. Having been under 4 inches of snow 2 days before this picture it really has picked itself up, unlike a few of the orientals.
Another Hellebore - Helleborus orientalis - White Spotted Hillier Hybrid. Looking rather lonely on Monday just as the snow started - then followed by some hail.
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Just look at how it is today - spot the difference? Mum came home with a few more clumps of Snowdrops from the lady who is having landscape work done to her garden I think they look quite good beside the Hellebore. Free plants, you just can't beat it! Can you spot Primula Don Keefe tantalising me with a little bit of colour? Narcissus Jetfire, bullet like buds, are just showing too!
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Another Red Oriental Hybrid Hellebore - a nice dark colour on the flower of this one - this one has come through last year's flooding but sadly the Ceanothus that was providing it with shade from the sun sadly did not! Nearly forgot it's white neighbour - that was stood on and completely flattened as I tried to get the Ceanothus out the ground - don't you just hate it when your clumsy feet get in the way - I may just rename this corner of the garden Calamity Corner!
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These Iris reticulata have been flowering for so long - they really do deserve another slot this month! Under the snow on Tuesday but they are still flowering today - I forgot to take a picture earlier.
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A bit of a worm's eye view here - you don't realise how old you are getting until you have to get right down to the ground to get a decent picture then there's the bother of getting back up again - especially when this bed is surrounded with gravel! A few choice words as the stones cut into my knees.
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Corydalis malkensis - only 4 inches high. Did not suffer any set back from the snow either, it bounced right back! These are gorgeous little woodlanders with lovely ferny foliage. It provides a wee glimmer of hope that spring is on it's way here in Scotland - a while before many of the spring bulbs are even considering revealing themselves to the world!
Further along the bed a wee bit Corydalis solida Beth Evans - doing a similar job and like anything else growing here in Scotland needs to be sturdy enough to cope with anything the weather throws at it.
Many of the blogs I visit have been busily posting pictures of their mature clumps of Crocus - I've been having to make do with admiring these from a far! Yes, if that's you - I have been drooling - no excuses!
I could just not help myself.
Earlier this week, hope was on the horizon - miniscule tips of yellows and purples were beginning to appear. Before long they were under a layer of the white stuff!
The buttery yellow tones of this Crocus will soon enough open to reveal it's golden inners - today it is just teasing me!
I've a few purple Crocus dotted around the garden - they were odds in a group of yellow Crocus I planted a couple of years back - carefully removed and planted, they can naturalise til their hearts are content. Plenty of foliage but lacking in blooms much to my disappointment. I'm confident that disappointment will be short lived and I will have a tiny little clump of 4 or 5 flowers soon enough.
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As usual - it's a delight to see you all and if it takes your fancy pop right over and join in with gardeners from around the globe share who post on the 15th of each month for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. This meme is kindly hosted by Carol and believe me - there is a garden for everyone! Whether you are looking for inspiration or just a wee nosy - it's the place to be!
For more information on some of the plants I've featured today, please click the links or visit my 'What's Growing' page - it is a work in progress and hopefully I'm providing a useful reference guide to all the plants growing in my garden. I'd be interest in some feedback - if you don't mind. Cheers!
The other week Helene over at Graphicality UK asked us when we considered spring was upon us - whether your answer was 1st of March, 20th of March or 31st of March (Clocks go forward) either way - one thing for sure winter wasn't far away this week. I think many of us here in the UK had a short sharp shock! I feel kind of pleased with myself that I didn't take the plunge and prune the couple of the shrubs that need doing at this time of year - even the Hydrangeas still have remnants of last years flowers, I've normally succumb to temptation by now! Yes, yes - I know I live in Scotland and frosts here should/can be expected right up until May - I've learned that lesson this year! Who did that blog/meme? - I'd like to link but I can't for the love of me remember who. Was it you? Or do you remember who it was?
My post for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is certainly not as bountiful as I might have hoped but those are the gardening breaks, aren't they? After all, what doesn't flower this week, might just surprise us next. Being a gardener requires so many virtues - do they sell those in the supermarkets? If so, can I collect bonus points!! I wonder, will they be limited to 3 per person or if I'm really lucky BOGOF!
Lets take a wee look
Helleborus x ericsmithii - Winter Moonbeam. This plant made it's premier last GBBD - only had one flower back then. Having been under 4 inches of snow 2 days before this picture it really has picked itself up, unlike a few of the orientals.
Another Hellebore - Helleborus orientalis - White Spotted Hillier Hybrid. Looking rather lonely on Monday just as the snow started - then followed by some hail.
Just look at how it is today - spot the difference? Mum came home with a few more clumps of Snowdrops from the lady who is having landscape work done to her garden I think they look quite good beside the Hellebore. Free plants, you just can't beat it! Can you spot Primula Don Keefe tantalising me with a little bit of colour? Narcissus Jetfire, bullet like buds, are just showing too!
Another Red Oriental Hybrid Hellebore - a nice dark colour on the flower of this one - this one has come through last year's flooding but sadly the Ceanothus that was providing it with shade from the sun sadly did not! Nearly forgot it's white neighbour - that was stood on and completely flattened as I tried to get the Ceanothus out the ground - don't you just hate it when your clumsy feet get in the way - I may just rename this corner of the garden Calamity Corner!
These Iris reticulata have been flowering for so long - they really do deserve another slot this month! Under the snow on Tuesday but they are still flowering today - I forgot to take a picture earlier.
A bit of a worm's eye view here - you don't realise how old you are getting until you have to get right down to the ground to get a decent picture then there's the bother of getting back up again - especially when this bed is surrounded with gravel! A few choice words as the stones cut into my knees.
Corydalis malkensis - only 4 inches high. Did not suffer any set back from the snow either, it bounced right back! These are gorgeous little woodlanders with lovely ferny foliage. It provides a wee glimmer of hope that spring is on it's way here in Scotland - a while before many of the spring bulbs are even considering revealing themselves to the world!
Further along the bed a wee bit Corydalis solida Beth Evans - doing a similar job and like anything else growing here in Scotland needs to be sturdy enough to cope with anything the weather throws at it.
 |
| Before |
 |
| During |
 |
| After |
I could just not help myself.
Earlier this week, hope was on the horizon - miniscule tips of yellows and purples were beginning to appear. Before long they were under a layer of the white stuff!
 |
| Crocus crysanthus |
I've a few purple Crocus dotted around the garden - they were odds in a group of yellow Crocus I planted a couple of years back - carefully removed and planted, they can naturalise til their hearts are content. Plenty of foliage but lacking in blooms much to my disappointment. I'm confident that disappointment will be short lived and I will have a tiny little clump of 4 or 5 flowers soon enough.
As usual - it's a delight to see you all and if it takes your fancy pop right over and join in with gardeners from around the globe share who post on the 15th of each month for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. This meme is kindly hosted by Carol and believe me - there is a garden for everyone! Whether you are looking for inspiration or just a wee nosy - it's the place to be!
For more information on some of the plants I've featured today, please click the links or visit my 'What's Growing' page - it is a work in progress and hopefully I'm providing a useful reference guide to all the plants growing in my garden. I'd be interest in some feedback - if you don't mind. Cheers!