Spring is in full swing!
It's taken it's sweet time, fierce easterly winds brought in snow, ice and freezing temperatures in March, but finally, enevitably, Spring 2018 has arrived - thank goodness!!
Let's have a look at a few of the highlights so far...
Alpines
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| New Alpine Planter |
This new planter is filled with two types of Arabis, one creeping and one upright, and wonderful softly spikey Armeria aka Thrift.
Spring Bulbs
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| Anemone coronaria and ladybird |
I can't believe I took this photo with my camera phone! No filters or fancy stuff, this is just how stunningly vivid anemones look...the newly hatched ladybird needs to learn about the art of camouflage though 😄
Narcissus Tete-a Tete have been beautiful this year, and I love the contrast with these early purple tulips, the pink hellebores and all the vibrant fresh foliage.
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| Narcissus Tet-a Tete, Tulips and Hellebores |
Sempervivums
I've just refreshed my Sempervivum planters, they are doing really well, and have put on lots of growth as the days are getting longer and warmer. I love the tapestry of colours, sizes, textures and markings.
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| A Mixture of Sempervivum in a Strawberry Pot |
But as you'll see from the next photo, they also look really fabulous when one variety is planted en-mass (see the top right pot crammed with a cushion of wine red Semps)
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| More Sempervivum Planters |
The Woodland Garden
Things are changing daily in the Woodland Garden, and whilst I love all my plants, there is something very special about Wood Anemones
(Anemone nemorosa). I remember walking through woodland with my mother, and her pointing out these shining white, daisy-like flowers to me. She loved them, and the way they spread and bloom under deciduous trees.
My clumps are growing huge, and last Spring I took the opportunity to split off some pieces and replant them in other areas of the Woodland Garden. I was delighted to see them flowering among the Primroses and Dog Violets too.
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| Wood Anemones glowing under the trees |
On the Lawn
I scurrified the grass ready for it's first cut, and was surprised by this little beastie proudly sticking out from the turf...
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| A Morel Mushroom |
And the Morel of this story is...Sorry, that's a terrible joke 😁
Don't become plant blind, nature is amazing and ever-changing. It's so important that we appreciate its diversity, ingenuity and tenacity. Not just from an environmental or horticultural standpoint, but also to get our faces out of our smartphones and start experiencing real life.
What's going on in your garden right now? Let me know in the comments,
Love
Rebecca xx
