Tags
Anthriscus sylvestris, barnhaven.com, cow parsley, Hellebores, Iris reticulata, primroses, Primula vulgaris, six on saturday, Viburnum bodnantense dawn
The weather this week has been incredibly mild for February. Garden jobs are so much easier when I can feel my fingers and toes. The sunlight has encouraged buds to emerge or even open and spring bulbs are pushing through thick and fast. My Six on Saturday are those signs from my garden.
1.
Iris reticulata
The blue of these tiny iris are thrilling at this time of the year. I am chuffed to bits that they have come up as I have never managed to get them to flower before.
2.
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’
This shrub is at its best in winter, Bare twigs covered in bright pink, highly scented flowers. Tough as old boots but pretty. 
3. 
Signs of life emerging, here in the form of black leaf buds on Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla Black Lace. An attractive shrub with deeply divided leaves of a rich near black. I have just pruned this back to encourage better ie larger foliage.
4.
Primroses, Primula vulgaris. My favourite. I would choose these every time over the brightly coloured varieties.
5. 
Less about the fern more about the emerging foliage of the Cow parsley. Anthriscus sylvestris. Such a fresh green and delicate foliage.
6. Last and by no means least, Hellebores. These are unnamed varieties from Barnhaven primroses. They were purchased online as tiny finger sized plug plants from self pollinated stock. A cheaper way to purchase Hellebores with a sense of lucky dip. Patience is required as it has taken three years for them to flower.
Worth the wait.
Have a great weekend and do share your six via our host Six on Saturday . D.
digwithdorris.com 
Nice pics – it has been great to feel your fingers again in the garden hasn’t it? I even managed a cuppa out in the sunshine yesterday!
So did we! Still had coats on but it was the first this year, a reward for the hours we put in yesterday clearing up stuff! 🙂
Thank you and you can’t beat a cuppa in the garden can you. ( perhaps wine on a summers evening) you know what I mean
Celebrate! the signs of spring and warmth. Love that Viburnum.
Absolutely! Thank you.
I love your photos of these beautiful Spring flowers. 🙂
Thank you for reading 😊
I havr some Barnhaven Primroses. Thos photo’s are stunning
Have!
Thank you do much! Bet your primroses are gorgeous
Ooh, love those hellebores! 🙂
Thanks Cathy, me too
Oh yes, well worth the wait. The Hellebores are gorgeous.
I think all hellebores have a gorgeous charm
Beautiful iris and hellebores. Stunning. Isn’t this weather glorious?
So so nice. Do hope winter won’t be back to bite us!
Long may it last. Thanks for reading
What a lovely six. The blue of the iris is stunning, and the Sambucus migration is most intriguing with that almost black colour.
Thank you for reading. The Sambucus is a very handsome shrub, such a rich colour
Doris, I would love to add a viburnum like yours. I’m sure the fragrance is intoxicating. The blossoms remind me so much of my Daphnes. You were wonderfully patient to wait for those hellebores, and now you have your beautiful reward.
Hello. Thanks for reading. Daphne is a heavenly scent and you’re right, the flowers are very similar, I hadn’t noticed that before.
I agree the little irises are wonderful, they come in such jewel like colours. And you have such pretty hellebores.
Thanks Chloris
Iris reticulata seems to be blooming at the same time all over the place. They are uncommon here. We got only one batch, and the color is a bit lighter than it was supposed to be. I have not looked at the ‘Black Lace’ elderberry yet, but should not that I see yours.
I am so pleased with the iris I am going to try to add to them for next year. There are a good number of variations perhaps your paler version was mislabelled ?
It is difficult to say. I do not mind. It can be whatever color it wants to be. I have noticed that many iris are variable, and will be slightly different from year to year. The Iris pallida is like that, more lavender some years, and more rich blue other years. I have not seen it in a color that I do not like yet. The native San Francisco iris do the same. They can be lighter or darker from year to year, but are always really excellent!
‘Excellent’ As in 10 out of 10, best I get a few more
All lovely, Dorris – and I wonder why my Dawn flowere so early? It had virtually finished by Christmas. Gorgeous hellebores – I have just bought some more, some quite small but child’s hand sized rather than finger sized!