Garden Bloggers Bloom Day March 2014

By comparison the garden this year is of to a flying start!  This time last year saw the entire garden stuck in limbo and the only plants that were blooming here last March was Hellebores, Snowdrops and Iris reticulata.    Not forgetting the couple of inches of snow we had just prior to my Bloom Day Post.


Bloom Day March 2013

What a difference a mild winter really makes.  I'm a tad apprehensive about acknowledging Spring's arrival.  I generally don't mark spring until we change the clocks at the end of the month knowing full well things can always take a turn for the worse at the drop of a hat!

Join me for a wee walk around and admire what's flowering today

Those same Iris reticulata flowering right on cue minus the snow!  These were from a packet of multi coloured bulbs bought from a budget store a few years ago.  I've tried comparing other's I've seen for an id but had no luck doing so yet.

Unknown Iris reticulata

A couple of tiny pots with left over viola plugs.  Bought in autumn, the ones in larger pots have thrived and multiplied, they have filled out the little pots just nicely.  A cheap and cheerful way to add some colour.

Violas

 Also growing in a container - Ophiopogon.  Is under planted with Iris reticulata Harmony, which has now gone over.  Making way for Chionodoxa forbesii Pink Giant.  After 3 years in this container, I think it's time they found a permanent home in the ground - time for another experiment!

Ophiopogon and Chionodoxa forbesii Pink Giant

Hellebores continue to nod their heads gracefully when the wind gets up.  Most of my Hellebores are now of a reasonable size - they make quite a statement where ever you are standing in the garden.

This, I think is Helleborus lividus, purchased Spring 2013, I then found out they are possibly not hardy enough to grow here.  I was so confident it wouldn't make it through a normal winter, I tossed the label!

   
The oriental hybrids have been flowering for a few weeks now.

The next group of Hellebores are all new to the garden 2014.

Gearing up with it's first couple of flowers is a new addition to the garden this spring, a momento of my trip to Dunblane - Helleborus x sternii Silver Dollar, don't you just love those serrated leaves? It might be tiny but it won't stay like that forever!


Helleborus x sternii Silver Dollar

I've finally chosen a spot to plant Helleborus x ericsmithii Pirouette.  I bought this charming Hellebore weeks ago - it's found a home in the new woodland bed.  I hope it likes it there!

Helleborus x ericsmithii Pirouette

I commented to Helene over at Graphicality UK only last week that I did not have any white Hellebores in my garden and asked her to put my name on any seedlings she has with white flowers.  I could not believe my luck when I visited a garden centre on my day out last weekend.  I found this beauty marked down by 50%! 

Helleborus White Beauty

A little spring colour under the variegated pagoda dogwood - we've got Corydalis and Crocus.  Dwarf white narcissus and blue muscari will take over in a few weeks.

Corydalis malkensis and Corydalis Solida Beth Evans

The yellow of Narcissus Tete a Tete picked up in the eye of Primula vulgaris Drumcliffe - an Irish bred Primula blooming for St. Patrick's weekend!

Narcissus Tete a Tete
Primula vulgaris Drumcliffe

Just out of shot - Crocus x cultorum Jeanne D'arc, or what's left of them that is!  The cats seem to have taken a dislike to these and keep trampling them to the ground!

Crocus x cultorum Jeanne D'arc

More Tete a Tete in the little spring bed outside the kitchen door - partnered in this bed with a very pretty unnamed Primula and more of the same edging the side path. 

Narcissus Tete a Tete

Primula Don Keefe and Primula Mrs Marjory Banks

Even in the miniature garden things are coming along nicely.  I got the first glimpse of Saxifraga burseriana Gloria full of buds last week, what a difference a few days make.  Joined now by Crocus chrysanthus Blue Pearl and over the next few days Saxifraga x boydilacina Pink Star (top right) will be in full bloom.

 



Last and most certainly not least, Camellia x williamsii Jury's Yellow producing the first flowers of the year.  At least 4 weeks ahead of a normal year.  This plant has been a really battler in my garden.  I suffered greatly when builders spilt cement over it 7 years ago.  I've nurtured it back to health and this year it has produced the most amount of buds it ever has since that event!

 

Camellia x williamsii Jury's Yellow

Camellia x williamsii Jury's Yellow

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Bloom Day - I've grabbed a comfortable chair, cold drink and a bag of Jelly Babies and I'm popping over to May Dream Gardens to see what the rest of you have going on in your gardens.  You are more than welcome to join many garden bloggers who join in on the 15th of every month and share with the world what's blooming in their garden. 

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!