Over the last week temperatures have been gradually rising until yesterday, when suddenly they shot up and we were into summer with the temperatures rising higher than ever. Yesterday started off with thick fog and mist and it is the same this morning, I wonder if we will have the sunshine and high temperatures of yesterday. Flowers are bursting out everywhere, it is a question of which ones to choose, but here are the six I have chosen for this week.
No 1 Acer Osakazuki
Acer Osakazuki is looking stunning at the moment with fresh green leaves bursting out with their contrasting red flower buds, the whole tree is looking very pretty.
No 2 Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pulsatilla on the alpine scree is flowering better than ever this year, so many buds still to come.
no 3 Primrose family
The Primrose family has so many variations. This one was bought 3 years ago on a whim when I saw it in the indoor section at the garden centre. I wasn’t sure if it would be hardy with it being where it was but took a chance and now I’m glad I did as it seems very happy where I’ve planted it, sheltered by the Bar-b-Que from the winter winds and frosts.
A lovely pale blue primrose which I bought along with others from Barnhaven Primrose in France a few years ago before we left the EU. This is tucked at the bottom of some rocks on the rockery where it has the shade and moisture that it likes.
No 4 Prunus
A little Prunus shrub with dainty double pom pom flowers on the rockery is now adding to all the colour there at the moment. I am keeping this to the height I want by removing 2 or 3 older stems each year, it is working so far.
No 5 Erythroniums
The Erythroniums in the woodland are giving so much pleasure at the moment. I wish I could lie on the ground like Monty Don did last night, to enjoy my flowers, but if I did I would be stuck there for ever! These are under a rhododendron bush and I have cut away a few of the lower branches so that I can photograph them more easily.
E. White Beauty is also planted at the end of the woodland on a slope, this makes them easier to see and photograph.
Nearby are also bulbs of Erythronium Pagoda, this has more than one flower on each stem so looks even better as more buds open.
No 6 Hyacinthoides non-scripta
English bluebells are popping up everywhere and adding a lovely blue haze to the colours in the borders.
There we have my six for this week. Thanks go to Jon The Propagator for hosting as usual, do pay him a visit to see what else is happening in the gardening world!
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend and are able to do lots of gardening!
Your Erythroniums are just perfect. What a lovely spread of them.
Thanks Noelle, I am enjoying them each day, knowing that they don’t last very long.
I love the delicate primrose, your garden is bursting with colours.
Half the garden is very colourful at the moment Rosie, soon the rest will join in! Love the primrose family, so many different members to enjoy!
Enjoy your Easter, and thanks for the laugh. I imagined you lying on the ground looking up at you erythroniums and then looking around for a helping hand!
We had a few warm days and have jumped from winter to early spring. A few pulsatillas are opening and the primrose are nearly there as well. It’s amazing how quickly we catch up to you.
Where is a helping hand when you need it Frank, fortunately I can enjoy them while standing! You certainly are catching us up, hope your warm weather continues for some time.
That little prunus looks really pretty and it is interesting to hear that you can keep it as a small shrub – what variety is it? What a lovely show of erythroniums you have – how many bulbs did you start with?
I think the prunus is a naturally small shrub anyway Cathy, I have a white one too but the names have gone in the mists of time, I must have planted them over 25 yrs ago, long before I started my blog! The Erythroniums get better each year, I only started off with one of each variety, then sat and waited!
Goodness, how gorgeous they all are! I love all the colours too.xxx
Thanks Dina, with new flowers opening every day, the colour in the garden at the moment is amazing!x