Springing into life
IT’S THE SEASON FOR TULIPS, DAFFODILS AND POTS MORE
DESPITE the fact we’re not going anywhere at the moment – and it doesn’t look like we will be for some time – the Easter break still meant something. It was a time of quiet, time to stop and reflect, particularly so outdoors, where the weather was all over the place – freezing, snow, sunshine – all our seasons in a day!
I have spent plenty of time in my plot, and I’m delighted to share some images with you.
Daffodil season is at its height, soon to cede to tulip mania. Virtually all of mine are in pots. I have them placed on a narrow terrace at the back of the verandah and down on the newly-tiled patio – spaces where we gather and spend time.
A mild winter has allowed the not-so-hardy paperwhite daffodils to thrive, and it’s lovely to sit amongst their wonderful fragrance. The next group of colour emerging are the tulips so I’ll get a good long season out of these pots.
Once they’re finished, I will plant the bulbs out in the beds.
I want to re-use these pots for a fun and long-lasting display of dahlias which I’ll plant up in May.
In other pots, I have planted agapanthus which will be absolutely gorgeous in summer.
Then there are the “in-betweeners” which are in flower now and will bridge the gap until May. These include different-coloured wallflowers (Cheiranthus), chunky red Bellis perennis and some small pinks (Dianthus). The purple Senetti daisies are hardy to -1°C, so they should be OK even in the current cold snap.
Smaller pots look pretty planted with some lilac-coloured viola and purple osteospermum. I also have a couple of trees and shrubs growing in pots.
The Snowy mespilus (Amelanchier) is starting to flower – it’s one of the earlier spring blossoms and as a smallish tree is quite happy in a large pot. Skimmia is also flowering. I’ve mulched around the base of these and everything has had a good “juicing” of my favourite liquid seaweed feed.
Around the garden there are plenty of “ordinary” plants adding spring cheer – the yellow forsythia turns to gold when the sunlight hits it, and flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum, adds a lovely touch of
pink. Sprays of dainty orange flowers are emerging from the epimediums and tiny blue flowers from the brunneras.
Less ordinary is the Echium candicans, Pride of Madeira, which has intense blue blooms – this is hardy to -5°C and one you’re more likely to spot on holidays in Cornwall. Like the other echiums, this will be a central gathering point for bees collecting nectar.
Meanwhile Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’ has just burst open its furry buds to reveal silky pink blossoms.
Spring is in full swing!