Visiting February

A look back at what's flowering in my garden.....

Despite being the shortest month of the year - February seemed to have taken an age to go from start to

February 2013

finish!
It's been a very dry month here - the borders have been incredibly easy to work and there have been slight frosts most mornings, lifting by late mornings in all but the pond bed.  Things are very slow in this bed - the Mahonia is still not budding up, disappointing but what can I do?  Waiting is the only option!  The soil I suspect is not quite warm enough for a few of the perennials to show face.  There is some movement though - the Astrantias are just beginning to poke through the surface, as have the drumstick primulas - the alliums seem to have gone forth and multiplied this year - masses of 3 inch shoots are pointing skyward.
Elsewhere in the garden, especially on the sunny side - the perennials are back in business, the Globe Artichoke has not halted it's growth - it's already reaching about 1ft in height, this is despite being cut right down to the ground in November!
Most of the shrubs are budding up nicely - the Kilmarnock Willow has started to display it's catkins.

Salix caprea
Catkin

The remainder of the rescued snowdrops on the sunnier side of the garden are now open.

A lonely little snowdrop has appeared under the Leucothoe - a nice wee surprise! I like surprises, don't you?

Most of the hellebores are still tight in bud, I don't mind, I'm happy to wait - only the two in the deepest of shade are flowering.  I'm pleased that they are both different colours, they came from a multi-pack of 'red' hellebores planted early winter 2012.  I was pleaed to these flowering this year - I really thought I would have to wait a couple of years before they flowered.    

My little gravel bed has started to come to life - the first bulbs to flower are a selection of Iris reticulata - unnamed variety - the picture on the packet showed both purple and yellow flowers but I'm glad the majority appear to be purple, I didn't particularly want yellow and I was going to pull them when their colour was apparent and plant them elsewhere!  Miniature daffs, tulips, mossy saxifraga and hebes will add interest as the months progress - this was otherwise redundant gravel, so far so good - my plan is coming together!

In the terracotta container, Ophiopogon makes a beautiful back drop for Iris reticulata 'Harmony'

There might only be a couple blooms on the pink Anemone blanda but still a welcome sight.  The blues I planted last year have failed to materialise!

  

A collage of the other plants blooming - they made their debut on an earlier blog.

I'm hoping that a monthly blog like this will provide a useful year on year comparison and reference as my garden matures.  I suspect the format will change as I go along.  Do you keep a record of what's in bloom in your garden?  Do you find such a blog useful?

A quick question for all you seasoned garden bloggers out there - I tend to learn/record all my plants with their latin name and know very few 'common names' - would you recommend using latin or common names?

Thanks for visiting February with me!

About time!

Since joining the blogging community a little over 4 months ago - I have been patiently waiting the day I can take part in my first Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  

I know it is now the 16th and I truly wish I had a reasonable excuse for not turning up on time.  I would love to say that I spent the last 2 days opening the sacks full of Valentines Cards that made their way to my letterbox but sadly no, I just wasn't organised in time!  

Close ups of flowers

Galanthus 

Galanthus

Snowdrops, these are rescued Snowdrops, a neighbour of a friend was having a new concrete path put in their garden, the lady in question was about to have the old path ripped out - seeing that the snowdrops were just breaking the surface - my friend said to the elderly lady that she knew of a good home for them.  When she asked me if I could make room for them, there was no hesitation on my part, just make sure you get plenty of soil around them and get them to me ASAP!!  Were the instructions!  The first of the 5 clumps to open their delicate little flowers - I'm hoping that these will like my garden enough to stick around.  I've grown rather fond of them.

I made a declaration on Valentine's Day - 'My garden loves me' - I exclaimed!
Why? I hear you ask.

Iris reticulata 'Katharine Hodgkin'

Those of you living in the UK will know just how wet summer 2012 was.  For the best part of June and July part of my garden was continually under 6 inches of water - this part of the garden usually the driest and sunniest.  An ideal place to plant some Iris reticulata bulbs in the green winter 2012.  Various shrubs and perennials were removed because they had drowned, a couple of plants were potted up and rescued.  It took me until December 2012 to decide the remainder were dead, yes, for a change I was being an optimist rather than my usual pessimistic self! In a final bid to tidy up before spring - I noticed lying on top of the soil that 3 tiny bulbs had started to sprout.  The must have lay there throughout the 3 weeks of frosts in November.  Knowing that they were Iris bulbs - they were potted up and deposited in the cold frame.  As I opened up the cold frame on the 14th - this beautiful sight greeted me.  There are 2 other bulbs just breaking the surface, I am very pleased.  Out of 12 bulbs originally planted, 3 have survived - AGAINST ALL ODDS!! 

Iris reticulata 'Katharine Hodgkin' is my favourite of the dwarf spring Iris - the powder blue colour of the petals is so delicate.  It can't fail to impress.  I have read that this is one of the fussier spring flowering Iris - drainage it's said to be paramount to it's success - now you can understand why I think my garden loves me - all that rain water and yet, it gives me a gift such as this!
There was also some deep purple Iris planted in this border - I wonder if they will survive - no sign yet, but you never know do you!  It's all so tempting to get rooting around in the soil but for now I'd rather leave things to surprise me.    

Helleborus orientalis

I've lots of oriental Hellebores scattered around the garden - most of which are budding up nicely - this lot in almost total shade is the first to grace my garden with some blooms.  Thus far, I have resisted temptation to allow them to set seed - I would like them to bulk out a bit and try propogation through division first.         

    

Helleborus x ericsmithii

Hellebore x ericsmithii - I fell for the foliage on this plant.  The grey marbled leathery leaves drew me right in at first sight!

This Hellebore needs a bit of sun - although planted to the rear of a Pieris - the sun shines happily through the fence.  Being so far back in the border, it proved rather difficult to get a decent picture of the flower.  As you can see there are plenty more to come.  

Helleborus lividus

Helleborus lividus, frost tender, so not something I would knowingly buy for my garden.  I picked this up way at the beginning of the season thinking it was a smaller, cheaper specimen of Ericsmithii - yes, I know, check the label!!  Never mind - I've planted it under the Fatsia japonica - where it should be protected from any further frosts over winter - I will lift it later in the year and attempt to store it in the cold frame.

This next plant will not be to everyone's liking - to be honest - I'm not sure I'm that keen on it myself, what do you think?

Primula Francisca

Yes, that green 'blob' in the centre is the flower, as it matures it will have a yellow eye.  An impulse buy a couple of years ago and up until summer of 2012 it sat in the pot it came in from the nursery - in a corner, as if it had done something wrong!

I divided it and managed to get around 8 plants from the 1 pot - all bar a couple have taken.  What on earth am I going to do with 6 plants I'm not sure I like.

Primula Francisca (Francesca) is supposed to flower from March until July, perhaps that will be it's saving grace - watch this space!




The weather here in Edinburgh has been tremendous this last few days and I have managed to be out in the garden without an outer layer on!  It's time to get those fingernails really dirty and if I'm lucky I may even break a few!!

Thank you for reading my first GARDEN BLOGGERS BLOOM DAY post - if you are interest in joining, pop over to MAY GARDEN DREAMS to find out how you can take part.     

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

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

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

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!

Crocus crysanthus

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.

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!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day February 2014

The post I'm about to put together really is a rushed job.  Two reasons for that, the first is that I'm having a little away day tomorrow with a couple of gardening friends and since it will be dark when I get up and dark when I get home - there will be little chance of getting some pictures together.  The second, here's me in a hurry to get some shots of what's in flower and realise the battery in the camera is as dead as a dodo!  Just as a watched pot never boils - uncharged batteries don't replenish themselves as quickly as you'd like.  With light fading fast, cloud coming in, rain threatening and wind battering almost everything around - I stood little chance of getting decent pictures.

Unlike most of you putting together some wonderfully written blogs this Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, mines is rather short and sweet - a bit like myself, eh, maybe not!  Short, certainly but sweet, I doubt that would be an adjective used to describe me, EVER!  However, all is not lost, there's lots more to see over at May Dream Gardens where Carol hosts the Garden Blogger's Bloom Day meme on the 15th of every month.  I'm just a few hours early and I will get round to linking and reading on Sunday.

It was nigh on impossible to get a decent picture of snowdrops today.  I have no named varieties growing in the garden.  All are plain old Galanthus nivalis - with a few doubles thrown in for good measure.   Every snowdrop growing in my garden was rescued last year from a garden that was about to be covered in concrete - the elderly lady who lives there needed her path widened and an access ramp put in.  These little beauties would have otherwise been ripped out.  I jumped at the chance to rehome them.  I divided up the large sized clumps and planted the smaller clumps around the garden in the hope that they will naturalise and spread around. 

 
Everyday is a school day isn't it.  A common name for Snowdrops I had never heard before was Fair Maids of February - they are indeed this February.  I found this verse which really does sum up the weather here right now.

FEBRUARY fair maids,
  All along the lane,
Dancing with the breezes,
  Nodding to the rain,
Whispering tales of Springtime
  Through the snow and sleet,
February fair maids,
  Brave and bright and sweet.

 

February fair maids,
  Soon you'll disappear,
Soon the swallow's twitter
  Tells that Spring is here.
Soon the rose and lily
   Laugh 'neath skies of blue
February fair maids,
  None so brave as you.

 

February fair maids,
  Dancing down the lane,
Bowing to the breezes,
  Smiling at the rain,
Lifting laughing faces
  Through the snow and sleet–
February fair maids,
  Brave and bright and sweet.   

 

    by Norah M Holland (1876-1925)

 

 

The hellebores are just about coming into their own - a few will be the first time they have flowered in the garden.  Plugs plants bought back in 2011.  They have now reached flowering size but are as yet still tightly budded.  They were a mix of White Spotted and Red oriental type hybrids. 

 

 

My favourite Hellebore - Helleborus x ericsmithii Winter Moonbeam is rather fickle.  Turning it's first flowers away.  Still, lots more to come over the next few weeks.  Mental note to self - do not cut out old foliage, it doesn't look nearly as spectacular as it did when it was new last year.  Gardening is a learning curve isn't it?  That's one mistake I won't make again. 

 

Another Oriental Hybrid, which should have a name but was purchased a while before I realised how useful it would be to keep labels.

Winter flowering Violas and Pansies still doing their bit.  I am fair pleased with these Violas and Pansies but boy does it give me concern as to where those pesky slugs have gone.  I have visions of them gathering in their masses just beyond the fence waiting to do reek havoc.  In years gone by the war against those slimey garden critters always began on Valentine's Day.  I am now coming into the 3rd year of using no chemicals in the garden.  Perhaps the garden has reached a natural balance and is now taking care of itself.  I really would like to think so, time will tell.

 

 

 

Many of the Primula are budding up and starting to look good again, they took a right knocking in the long dry summer.  Primula bracteosa is the first to open it's flowers.  I almost missed these - Heuchera Obsidian has all but collapsed round about it.

Primula bracteosa

Just in case any of you are interested - here's what Kevock Garden, a reputable nursery and garden to the south of Edinburgh say about it. 

The petiolarid primulas (section Petiolares) are classic Himalayan (and Chinese) plants, thriving in cool, damp places (where there is humidity in the air as well as moisture at the roots), and complaining when it is hot and dry. But they are worth every effort to please, including some of the most beautiful and sought-after of all primulas. Many of them produce little seed in cultivation here, and so these ones are propagated by division, which they love, as they flourish in rich soil. Some kinds are evergreen, and make small mats of rosettes, with the mass of flowers at the centres, and others spend the winter as large resting buds, flowers and leaves appearing amazingly early in the year. 

 

The large dutch Crocus are still barely above the soil but the smaller Crocus chrysanthus have been stuck in limbo for what seems like weeks now - they might just flatten before they get a chance to open which would be a shame.  They too are naturalising, albeit slowly, around the garden.  This little clump will soon be joined by Corydalis, Narcissus and Muscari.

 

 

My regular readers will know that here in my garden I've often got the odd plant flowering out of season - back in January it was Lupins, Geums and Heuchera.  Those are still holding on and for this month - I was most surprised to find this Eryngium, albeit a bit wintery looking, flowering.

Eryngium bourgatii Graham Stuart Thomas

Now I know many of you will be wondering just where me and my gardening friends are off to tomorrow - we are having a day out for the Early Bulb Show organised and held by the SRGC in Dunblane.  I'm hoping there will be plenty of time to get some photos (yes, batteries are now fully charged) to put together a blog and more importantly a chance to purchase some lovely new plants for my garden.  My first port of call will be the Snowdrop stalls, I really do fancy a few named varieties and then who knows what will come home with me.

 

I'd like to end this post to extend my thoughts to all those who are right now experiencing such freaky weather.  The situation, particularly in the South of England, is particularly awful right now.  Those terrible scenes in news reports is heart breaking and I could not begin to imagine what those poor folks are going through.  I do hope there is some respite soon.

 

What ever you are up to this weekend, stay safe and stay warm!