ALL THE PRETTY FLOWERS
Spring flowers are now popping up all over, all dainty and sweet and pretty (except for the monstrously huge bright yellow daffodils of course). Still, even they are sort of welcome after a long grey winter. In compensation for our dry February, it's now raining a lot, which is welcome of course, except it brings its own problems, more of which later.
Let us begin with something problem free (if you don't count the slugs eating some of the violas). This trough of flowers by the back door is full of bulbs, and the Muscari Azureum are growing taller day by day.
Muscari are an odd one for me. I believe they grow like weeds in some peoples gardens. I plant them out in the borders after I've finished with them, but they rarely come back.
Another relatively easy to grow Spring flower, which seems to dislike it here is Anemone Nemorosa. These ones were planted about five years ago, and most years I don't see any sight of them at all.
I have a small border of Spring flowers near the front door, which contains some Narcissus Sailboat and Tulipa turkestanica among others. It's been a little blown about in the wind the last few days, but all these were planted two or more years ago and have returned.
I've been trying to get a decent photo of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus in the orchard, and I've finally managed one that I am happy with. The camera struggles to capture what appears to the naked eye to be a plethora of flower.
I love the plain and simple primrose. They are so dainty and I'm not sure any of the fancy primulas are actually an improvement on this. I just want some violets to mingle in with them, as they grow in that combination in the churchyard and to my mind it is the prettiest of sights.
Remember that comment about welcome rain that I made at the start? The downside is weeds. This is a foot across I swear, and appeared almost over night (or so it seemed). So there's been lots of weeding to do this week. Sore knees, back, hips you name it, I've got it. The clay soil clings to the roots, so it feels like I'm removing most of the topsoil too. 😢
Moan over. Onwards and upwards.
To finish with here is a shot of the woodland which I'm including even though it takes me over the six because I can't end with a weed. There are a few white daffodils framing the entrance.
That's it for this week. Don't forget all the Six on Saturday posts can be found on Garden Ruminations where 'Cornwall Camellia Jim' collates all our garden ramblings.
I know what you mean about the weeds - they do seem to have appeared from nowhere. I pulled up one that I had been nurturing as a plant until I spotted a similar one growing next to a footpath and twigged 'weed.' Lots of lovely spring colour and you've reminded me that I planted 'Sailboat' last spring. I hope it's survived.
ReplyDeleteSailboat is a pretty little thing. I hope yours appear soon.
DeleteAah ... weeds, they are everywhere right now and yes it's going to be the weekend's job. (What I have the most is cardamine)
ReplyDeletePerfect mix on photo 1 between violas and muscaris.
Cardamine is such a fiddly little thing and it seeds like crazy.
DeleteI've taken to slicing off weeds like sow thistle with hori-hori or secateurs and leaving the roots in the ground as soil improver. Even dandelions give up eventually. It does seem odd that things that thrive in my garden, Muscari, Anemone nemorosa; struggle with you, then you grow tulips and daffs that I struggle with. I suppose the explanation involves soil, climate, aspect and more besides, there rarely seem to be obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about you and the daffodils when I was writing this. It does seem to defy reason.
DeleteYou are not alone with the muscari and anemone blanda. Muscari don't seem to comeback in my garden either and some anemones I planted years ago disappeared, so I was very surprised to see two this year in a most unexpected location!
ReplyDeleteThey seem able to lurk in dormancy then, awaiting the conditions that they think are right.
DeleteAnd I went and bought a nice muscari and anemone blanda at the plant sale today...before I read this post! Money down the drain?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not - see Jim's comment above. Hopefully your garden will have those conditions that they like.
DeleteThere is a time and a place for weeds. I am more respectful of them for their soil improving after reading a book by fellow SoSer Sarah Rajkotwala
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know since I'm never going to manage to get rid of all of them😂.
DeleteIt’s all looking beautiful in your garden. The only Muscari that repeats reliably with me is M. latifolium and it’s quite enthusiastic.
ReplyDeletethequiltinggardener
I thought I had some of those, but I haven't seen them this year.
DeleteN20. a.nemerosa - must go out and see if mine have come back, they're in a deep dark spot so probably a few weeks to go yet. I love those t.turkestanica, I think those must go on the wish list. Lovely to see the garden springing to life.
ReplyDeleteT. turkestanica is very tiny and sweet, and I might get a few more for elsewhere in the garden. It's worth a try in my opinion.
DeleteNice to see we have a few plants in common, N. Sailboat and Pseudonarcissus and yes, nothing beats a mass of wild primroses. Like your daffodils at the entrance to your woodland.
ReplyDeleteThere are odd unrelated clumps of white daffodils in some unexpected places in the garden, but those ones look just right.
DeleteThat primrose is gorgeous. 🌸🌳 Your woodland shot is superb!
ReplyDeleteThank you
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