DELIGHTFUL DAFFODILS AND MAGICAL MAGNOLIAS

Welcome back for another edition of a week in my garden.  It’s been a great week. The weather has been good, and more importantly it’s been dry and I’ve some beautiful plants to show you too. 

Let's start with a daffodil which is a particular favourite of mine - Thalia.  Its an easy to grow bulb, which has done well in the woodland garden, but didn't like it in the dry shade of yew trees.  It hangs it's multi headed flowers, and looks delicate despite being quite robust.

I'd read a book by Gertrude Jekyll that suggested planting in long drifts, to achieve maximum impact and not leaving a big gap in the border when they die back. So that's what I've done.  Towards the front of the photo below are a group of paler yellow daffodils.  Despite noticing that they are getting quite over crowded (they have probably been there 12 or so years now), I never seem to find the time to lift and replant them as April is just so very very busy in the garden.  

 

I think they are Narcissus 'Bestseller'.  I bought them a long time ago, so don't hold me to it, but I do seem to recall the name was a bit naff.  The flowers are lovely though.

The drift of 'Thalia' is shown below.  I like the way the white is picked up by the bark of the Silver Birch.  

You were promised Magnolias too, so here it is.  Magnolia soulangeana.  Probably the most frequently grown, and with good reason.  It is covered in wonderful cup shaped flowers flushed darker pink at the base.  I can't show you my other Magnolia which is Magnolia Stellata, because it looks like it has died.  There is no obvious sign of leaf or buds. So far no frosts to spoil it and long may that continue.

Look at that beautiful blue sky too.  Such a welcome sight after having had cloud for weeks on end. 

The early tulips are here already.  It all seems to be happening very quickly this year. I'm still catching up on the post Winter weed and tidy up, and the new season is already here.  I feel like I'm chasing my tail.  With tulips, too much warm weather and they go over too soon.  The Tulip humlis have looked good for over a week but the tiny Turkestanica came and went too quickly.

Tulip humilis Persian Pearl

In the front garden white tulips predominate,  The double 'White Emperor are mixed in with Narcissus Sailboat and Oriental Hellebores.  These have proved to be reliably perennial.  

A little native wildflower growing in the grass verge.  It's an Oxlip I believe.  I hope it self seeds and we have a little patch of them next year.  There are a few cowslips appearing nearby and with the wild violets they should create a pretty country scene.

From the English countryside to somewhere far more exotic, by way of this Camelia.  There was an interesting and informative piece on Gardeners World by Jim, whose Six on Saturday posts I used to take part in.  It's worth a look at if you would like to know more about Camelias from someone who is a real expert.

Jim's blog

Just time for a quick note about what I've been up to in the garden this week before I go.  It's seed sowing time and I've been routing through the old packets and sowing African Marigolds, Purple Basil and Lettuces this week.  Tackling that weed filled border in the Knot Garden is ongoing, and the weeds in the rest of the garden have started to appear in earnest.  Each year there seems to be a predominant weed and this year its Ivy Leaved Speedwell, the kind with the violet flowers.  Easy enough to remove though, so that's a plus.  The first signs of blackspot appeared in the roses, so I've given them a spray with fungicide.

Mr B has been hoeing and tidying his vegetable garden.  He took this over from me last year, so he's now getting into the swing of things and it's looking good.  Perhaps next week we should see what he's been up to.

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you again soon.