For at least a day or two it seemed as though Mother Nature had turned up the thermostat, opened those big cloudy curtains in the sky and allowed the sun to shine once more, encouraging the emerging shoots and buds to resume their growy-openy thing. But then the rain came. And the hail. And oh yes, the wind. The lawn is a muddy, squelchy mess, littered with casualties of the toppled white crocus kind. The borders aren’t much better. However, it’s not all doom and gloom out there.
1. First up, snow drops. It appears I have more than I thought. Some have begun to appear in the border near the wildlife pond. It has been a pleasant surprise as I’d assumed they hadn’t survived. The difference a bit of warmth and sun makes to their appearance is also surprising; they can look positively perky.
2. The sun also encouraged a few more of the Iris reticulata (possibly Harmony) to open…
3. … and this lone purple beauty that has since had to be propped up with a few twigs to help it withstand the wind and the rain.
4. Self sown seedlings have started to appear here and there. These popped up in the ‘wildlife’ border back in January but it’s only now the proper leaves have formed that I’ve been able to figure out what they are: Honesty, and there’s loads of them. Next month I’ll dig some of them up and plonk them around the garden.
5. While the cream crocuses in the lawn have been a disaster so far, one crocus, hidden away at the back of the Eucalyptus bed, has opened without incident. Fingers crossed some others will make it to flowerhood.
6. And finally… Last week I featured Hellebore ‘Single White Blotched,’ one of two Hellebores purchased the other week. This was the other one: Rodney Davey Marbled Group ‘Reanna’s Ruby.’
As the flowers have aged the marbling has become more distinct. They look almost metallic. I’m proud to say that thus far (good word ‘thus’) I have resisted purchasing any more. I have ordered another rose though.
They were my Six on Saturday. For more Sixes on Saturday, from all around the world, take a look at the site of the chap who started it all over at https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com.
One Man And His Garden Trowel 
The lone purple Iris is a beauty! Honesty is a great plant – a little underrated in my opinion. It might be because of the prolific self-seeding I suppose… Anyway, I look forward to them 🙂
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The Honesty was supposed to be a fragrant perennial variety that was sown a few years ago but I think there must have been mix up. It is a show though in the spring and easy enough to pull up.
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I share your upset with the present conditions, that squelchy sound underfoot as you walk across the lawn etc. Yeugh! Still, the flowers appear and put on their show!
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I think it rained all through the night and it’s still bucketing down now. Bored of it now!
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Likewise! We have a Zoom talk from Mike Nelhams of Tresco Gardens at 2.30 this afternoon to entertain us.
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Nice six, especially as you didn’t share the squelchy lawn and toppled crocus. 🙂 Your hellebore is a beauty, I love the marbled ones. Beautiful (unflopped) crocus shot! Have a fun week.
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Thank you. The cream crocus casualties would have made for a too depressing photo that may have needed an accompanying “if you have experienced a crocus calamity and you would like to talk to someone for emotional support please contact this number” thing.
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The irises are very pretty. Hardly any of my reticulatas flowered for me last spring, so I’m enjoying yours.
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I hope you have better luck with yours next time. They are very cheering at this time of year.
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Gorgeous photos as always. Especially this hellebore #6 … a wonder !
I also can’t help but think that this very pretty purple iris would look great in my garden.
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Thanks Fred. As usual I didn’t keep the label that must have accompanied it!
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Despite ALL the challenges Mother Nature throws at us we are stubborn and WON’T give in. This week we have had strong southerly winds that dry everything out so I ned to remember to water!
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It’s still raining here. Despite the gloom though I’m sure I can spot new growth on a lavender which is encouraging.
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You have done very well to have so much colour but not yellow! Lovely irises……I’ve said that to a few people today, they do look good.
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There’s one daffodil about to open, though it may have had second thoughts!
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Poor crocuses really do suffer with the wind and the rain. Especially some of the smaller varieties. The irises seem to withstand the weather better and the snowdrops are extremely resilient. My early tete a tete narcissi are flowering now, it would be nice to be able to go outside and admire them, but still the wind roars! I do like that red hellebore. Very nice.
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Yes, it never stopped all day. I hope things pick up soon weatherwise. The frogs seemed to enjoy it though.
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I do love those iris. I have discovered some this week that I didn’t know we had – I didn’t notice them last year. Such a sense of spring about them.
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That must have been a pleasant surprise. They are such great little flowers.
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It was. And I bought some bulbs in the autumn but it’s been so wet they haven’t gone in yet….
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Am jealous of all this colour you’ve got going on. I love iris and yours look great – waiting patiently for mine to flower – judging from previous posts of yours, I think I’m a couple of weeks behind you with plants’ flowering schedule. I sowed Honesty seeds last August and the plants are now in the borders, looking fine, so am quite relieved they made it, clearly quite robust things.
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I think the garden is a fews weeks behind where it was this time last year. I’d quite like some of the purple honesty. I must look out for some seeds – not that I need anymore seeds!
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So much colour but the top picture for special colour goes to the purple iris.
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And it’s still standing after a day of rain thanks to its little twig crutches.
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Ha! Twig crutches…I am using them to prevent the birds flying into them.
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That’s a good idea!
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Lovely photos. Helebores are finally blooming for me. Everything else is late this year.
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Thank you. Things are definitely flowering later this year.
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Oooh just look at that hellebore – what a gorgeous form and colour.
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It went to look a bit ropey in the cold but it has picked up nicely.
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The deep red hellebore is stunning. I’m beginning to feel tempted to have another go. I have banned myself from buying any more roses, but my resolve is failing.
You do seem to have had a bit of a mixed bag weather wise, but the iris are looking good despite the hail.
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The hail was very strange as it fell with the rain. I’ve bought all the plants I’m going to buy this year (although some won’t be arriving until April). Did that sound convincing?
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No.
I’ve just had a little ordering session, but managed to resist the hellebores, but not the roses.
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So many beautiful spring flowers this week, and like others, love that hellebore.
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I wasn’t a fan of hellebores all that long ago. I was a fool.
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Lovely six, so much more coming on for the warmth. The purple irises are amongst my favourite and seem to be the ones that aren’t returning for me. But plenty of others to enjoy.
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Indeed. Quite a few Alida have opened today. More are definitely required for next spring.
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That’s one special hellebore – and beautifully photographed. So jealous of your honesty seedlings. I haven’t managed to get them to do that (yet) here – in previous gardens I was swamped!
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Thank you. Thankfully this hellebore looks up so is naturally photogenic!
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