It has been a week of blue skies here and although the winds are still cold I have finally braved putting some new purchases outside to toughen up. Joining them has been a tray of dahlia seedlings and some climbing beans. There have been plenty of jobs to do – soft fruit netted, penstemons cut back and a tray of zinnias sown. Going against habit, I have not sowed cosmos or sweet peas this year. But I am going back to having a cut flower bed prompted by some tempting seed that came free with a magazine. I have an ever growing collection of free seed that rarely get sown. This year I’m going to use a up few packets. Here is this week’s sunny spring six
One
Cherry blossom for the second year in the garden. Last year’s few blossoms came to naught but there is a much better display this year. I am training the tree against a fence and will have some important formative pruning to do this year. I’ll have to read up on that. The cherry is netted now, which might give a little protection from the inevitable late frost.
Two
The tulips in the long border are opening up. These were planted four years ago to create an avenue of tulips along the edge. This worked well for the first couple of years but then became patchy. Last November I topped up the planting but this year there are more empty spaces. Time for a new plan. The tulips in this combination are ‘Shirley’, ‘Barcelona’ – not quite showing in its true colour and ‘Violet Beauty’.
Three
These dainty tulips are ‘Doll’s Minuet’. I have planted all of the patio pots with these this year, putting five or six to a pot. Clearly I could have squeezed a few more in. Once they go over I should be moving them on to make way for the scented leaf pellies, which are looking a little worse for wear in the greenhouse. Hopefully some judicious cutting back and a feed will improve things.
Four
I was also brave enough to unfleece the evergreen agapanthus and was very surprised to find a flower bud. A little pale from lack of light and curled up into the fleece, but as above, a clear away of the dead leaves and some liquid seaweed feed will get things going again.
Five
The warmer weather brings out the nasties. The lilies were barely above the ground before I spotted a crowd of lily beetles on them. They were despatched and the lilies were drenched in a spray of Grazer C4, a spray I am trying out for the first time this year. It should reduce the damage caused.
Six
It wouldn’t be Spring with out bluebells would it? Despite my efforts to remove an extensive spread of them from a corner of the garden they are very resilient. Here they have found their way out from underneath an old garden roller. What can I say?
Mr P, host of this meme, has tulips and blossom too. Plus an interesting looking seedling – curious? Stop by and have a look. There’s plenty more to see if you go to the comments section. Happy reading and happy gardening.
n20gardener 
Love your tulips, and I have Barcelona just coming through too, mine’s magenta! I think the bluebells poking under that lovely old mower look delightful!
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Just catching up, I don’t what I do in the week/weekend! I’ve got some Barcelona in a shadier spot and the colour is different again.
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I’ve got it on today’s post, mind you the camera didn’t capture the colour accurately, it’s really brighter and more zingy. I like it.
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Yes, the warm weather does usher in unwelcome visitors. My honeysuckle, in its tender second year in my care, is covered in aphids. We have seen a couple a lady bugs feasting, but they seem to be having difficulty catching up with the scale of the infestation. I like your “garden roller” – what is it for? What is its story?
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The garden roller came with the house. It’s probably about 30 years old. Traditionally used to roll out all the bumps in a lawn – by those who have high standards. This lawn is well past that, although we did use once when we were preparing an area for new turf. Now it’s just decorative. I’m keep thinking I will grow clematis round it. One day…
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That is a lovely idea.
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Does the cherry tree have a pollinator? I do not remember what cultivar it is. I grew a ‘Stella’ cherry because it needs no pollinator. It seemed weird to consider that within the Santa Clara Valley, which was once famous for orchards, including cherry trees. The ‘Bing’ cherries I grew up with were very productive on their own in their gardens. There were plenty of pollinators in nearby orchards or other home gardens nearby.
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It’s a Stella, chosen for that reason – no pollinator required. But now I’ve written that I doubt myself! I may have to go and check!!
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My last cherry tree was ‘Stella’ also. It stayed nicely compact. I was none too keen on the fruit though. It was certainly good, but mildly flavored relative to the common ‘Bing’ that I grew up with. I think it was more reliably productive once it started to produce. ‘Bing’ sometimes had bad years with less production.
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Oh it’s good news to already see a flower spike of agapanthus! I haven’t got one so far here.
They are extraordinary these bluebells 😂 ! To grow in that place , in this way is really stunning!
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Lovely to see a flower bud on your Agapanthus already. Sadly, mine hasn’t made it through the winter. It was in a sheltered spot but got too wet. Looking forward to seeing the cutting garden progress
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Sad news about the aggie. I have my patch prepared and have some seedlings in modules but planned to direct sow a few more. The cold weather just puts me off but I plan to brave it this weekend.
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