A week of flowers: day 2

Tags

Ashridge Estate, blue flowers, bluebell woods, Brunnera Dawson’s white, Iris reticulata, Nigella Love in a mist

Iris reticulata

Cathy of Words and Herbs has presented a challenge to cheer us all up:

“From Sunday the 22nd through to Saturday the 28th let’s share a photo a day (or more than one if you like) of our flowers and gardens and brighten up this dreary time.”

These are my blue flowers for day 2

Nigella Love in a Mist

Brunnera Dawson’s white

Bluebell woods, Ashridge Estate

Click the link above to see more cheerful floral photos. 🌞D.

In a vase on Monday: 9/3/20

Tags

blossom, daffodils, in a vase on Monday, Iris reticulata, March, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', Narcissus ‘Rip-van-winkle’, Viburnum bodnantense dawn

My garden has been swamp like for what seems like months and months. So horrid. I have hardly been able to get out there. Today I squelched across grass that needs cutting to look for some flowers to join Cathy and her regular followers.

There are hellebores and daffodils, iris reticulata and viburnum. There is blossom on the plum tree and fresh growth showing on the Hemerocallis and those plants formerly known as sedums. Leaves are budding on the Sambucus and the Hydrangeas. Roses are budding their purple leaves. There is much happening out there.

I have chosen a small selection to put in my vases

Small scale vases.

This pot has Narcissus tête-à-tête and Rip van winkle. You can see they are mud spattered. The one with the orange centre came as a birthday gift box of bulbs from the Isles of Scilly. Highly scented these are always delightful, thanks Kay.

Iris reticulata are exquisite and I shall try adding some named varieties for next year now that I know they are happy under the chestnut trees. Behind is a twig of the delicate pale blossom of the plum tree.

A sprig of candy floss pink viburnum blossom and that’s my lot for today. Please take a look at other participants picked flowers, it is incredible how different they all are each week. Thanks to our host Cathy who always, without exception responds to our posts.

Have a good week, wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: Spring is out there

Tags

Anthriscus sylvestris, Barn Owl, cow parsley, February2020, Hedges, Iris reticulata, mixed variety hellebores, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', Primula vulgaris, six on saturday, storm Dennis, Winter weather

Dorris has had to take a back seat as my free time has been given elsewhere. I began a Six for last Saturday, without finishing, some of which are here now plus one or two others which have appeared despite the incessant winds, rain and snow.

Smattering of snow Thursday

At work I and my colleagues have undertaken the task of removing a dying and in places dead, hedge of Leylandii.

Planted as a wind break the hedges were kept tightly cut. Now removed they have been replaced with Taxus baccata, Yew.

Thankfully the hedge was not wholly all Leylandii. Inter planted between Buxus, here are the Yews in their new places.   Dennis has thrown his best and worse and I am pleased to confirm that they are still standing.

Other sightings to share are the signs of Spring

Tête-à-tête with cow parsley foliage

Iris reticulata

Primroses

Hellebores

It has been disgustingly wet weather, for what now seems like forever.  Despite this I did manage a walk this week across saturated ground where I caught sight of a white bird in flight. Its flight pattern caught my eye and to my surprise I realised that it was a Barn Owl.  For several minutes my friend and I watched in awe as the owl flew, seemingly effortlessly, across the field, hunting. I have only ever seen an owl fleetingly picked out by my car headlights.  Never have I had the privilege of watching an owl in broad daylight.  Alas my phone camera could not capture the sight well.

 

These are my Six on Saturday  

Wishing you all a good weekend wherever you are.  Thanks for reading.  D.

Please now wash your hands. 

Six on Saturday: 16/2/19

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.

Silent Sunday: beauty everywhere, you just have to look

Tags

Iris reticulata, purple, Silent Sunday, spring bulbs