Spring Jewels

At last there are signs of life in the garden.  More and more flowers are beginning to emerge although you have to look very closely to spot them.  My snowdrop collection is growing well, nothing fancy you understand just the regular snowdrops.  I  can’t believe the price that  some people will pay for one snowdrop bulb; I would be frightened to plant it in case it didn’t grow the following year.  Whilst the snowdrops are spreading,  the  winter aconite is taking longer to get going.

I bought these Iris Purple Gem last February and planted them up with some Anemone Blanda.  I then forgot all about them until I spotted the beautiful deep purple flowers at the weekend.  They are now in pride of place on the garden tabl where I can see them from the living room.

Yet another photo of the Iris Reticulata Harmony.  I bought these this year from Avon Bulbs - fantastic value only a few pounds for loads of corms.  I planted some in small terracota pots which I brought on in the greenhouse so I had Iris flowering in the house  back in February.  I also planted in the border and the rest in shallow pans.  They have been fantastic and by planting them in a range of locations has meant that the flowering has been extended.

 

Another real favourite of mine at the moment is this Hellebore which I have posted  about before and which I bought from Ashwood Nurseries two years ago on my birthday.  It has really bulked up and has masses of flowers on it this year.  I keep meaning to pick some of the flowers to float in a dish of water – ust do that tomorrow.

All these plants are planted in the border outside the living room window or in pots on the patio so whenever I  look out at the  garden, there is a little bit of spring jolliness to cheer me up.