The Spring equinox seems to be the jumping off point I was waiting for. The garden has crept forward once again, fed by the magic of rain and a few degrees more warmth. Of course there’s a downside. The snails are eating the tête-à-têtes and the perennial ground elder and cinquefoil weeds are running riot once again. But these are old friends (foes), and signal warming soil and better things to come. I think the garden is behind last year but finally buds are opening out and the bees are flying. Here’s my six from the garden this week.
One
By this time last year the clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ was in full bloom. This year there are plenty of buds still to open but flowers have started to appear and on sunny days the scent emerges.
Two
The muscari are also on the edge of revealing their full potential.
Three
These are early tulips ‘Purissima’ chosen to flower to coincide with the hellebores. They are ‘scheduled’ to flower in late March/early April. Almost there then.
Four
The first of the cowslips have opened, encouraging me to really believe that Spring has arrived in this garden.
Five
Heralding promise for later in the year, the leaves of the climbing hydrangea have opened up. I have two of these, which have been in the garden about three years. They are slowly spreading themselves across a north facing fence and have almost met in the middle. I have high hopes for a good display this year.
Six
I can’t ignore that other indicator of the garden on the move: tree seedlings. Oh my, what a crop of them I have this year. The back of the garden is set aside for the veg and fruit growing and this particular space is destined for potatoes. The asparagus bed, in its second year of growth, is also showing a healthy crop of seeds. There’s work to be done here!
It was not a week for getting out in the garden, the rain was welcome but I could have done without the gusting winds. There wasn’t even time to sow seeds in the shelter of the greenhouse. I managed to pot up dahlia tubers and cut out the dead wood in the choisya. It might survive, as might the cistus. Today I spotted some new green growth in amongst the dead looking stems. There is hope. There’s plenty more to see in Jim’s garden, he hosts the Six On Saturday meme so stop by and take a look at his six and the links to all the other SOS gardeners. Happy gardening.
n20gardener 
Goodness, what a lot of tree seedlings to deal with. I assume they’re nothing exotic? My muscari are just emerging with the first dash of blue barely visible. I’m sure all the changes in weather – hot, then cold, then hot again – doesn’t do them any favours.
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Sycamores, everywhere. Definitely not exotic. Funny how even just one day later my muscari look a little more open. And then I see -1 forecast for tonight!
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0 at 5 am tomorrow is the lowest we’re expecting. It’s nearly April and I’m planning drought-tolerant plants for summer, yet expecting snow. Madness!
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All the trouble people go to to plant trees when a lot of the time they’re perfectly capable of doing the job for us. My oak is just as fecund.
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I was muttering about them this morning, Sycamores…not under threat are they? They’ve gone mad this year, the lawn, of course the leaf mould heap and just about every other place you can imagine. Aargh.
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Fabulous clematis! You too are reaching this stage where the tulips are almost ready: we can’t wait! Your hydrangeas are also well developed compared to mine. I’m a little afraid of a few morning frosts that could burn the tender young leaves. (I had planned to cut back the faded flowers and prune them this weekend, but I’m going to have to wait a bit because Tuesday it should be cold in the morning…)
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I was also thinking about the hydrangea cut back and today I saw -1 overnight tonight forecast for here. Maybe another week or so just ot be sure.
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The ‘Apple Blossom’ looks beautiful. I noticed some buds appearing on my Montana this week. And I am pleased to see some of my older tulips coming up with buds. It’s exciting now to see what is growing. Cleavers and hairy bittercress are doing well!
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It’s relentless on the weed front! But the good things are coming too.
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Took advantage of a sunny and not quite so windy day to transplant a couple of perennials and plant some new grasses. Hope they grow!
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Grape hyacinth is rad! It is a long story, bu I am not trying to grow some of what remains of grape hyacinth that I met in 1976. Also, I acquired my first white grape hyacinth from Tangly Cottage Gardening last year.
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Good luck with the white one. That will be so lovely once established.
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White is my favorite color, but blue is what I remember. I feel the same about the agapanthus. I have grown the same blue agapanthus since I was in junior high school, but grow some white ones also.
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Those tree seedlings look like the ones in my garden, Sycamore? They are very sneaky where they grow.
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Yes, Sycamore and oh so sneaky. I have thousands!!
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‘Apple Blossom’ looks beautiful, I’ve thought about getting one but I really don’t think I’ve room to let it do it’s thing. Looking forward to seeing the Tulip/Hellbore combination
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Yes it does need some room, it likes my neighbour’s garden and fortunately she likes it!
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I am a fan of climbing hydrangeas. The one I started is young and has not yet bloomed.
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They do seem to be slow to start. I’ve had a few flowers but as I said I’m hoping this year will give me a good display.
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I seemed to have missed your post this week, but I’ve found it now and what a treat it is. That Clematis is beautiful, and the cowslip is very pretty too. You’ve not long to wait for the tulips now.
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