My Little Garden 17th April 2021
The major highlight of the week has been nothing to do with gardening and all about getting my hair cut. Trivial in the grand scheme of things but I feel ridiculously happier for the experience, not to mention very light headed after discarding four months worth of growth.
On to gardening matters though, and there have been some very frosty mornings this week, resulting in some exceedingly droopy flowers. Fortunately they all recovered as the day warmed up, but I really can’t remember so many consecutive days of frost here, even in the middle of winter. I’m itching to start sowing seeds outdoors, but I’ve had to be patient and just get on with other jobs instead. Maybe next week will be ok if the forecast is good.
When the weather turned milder mid week, the first flutterby visitor of the year arrived. Technically, I have seen others including a Peacock and a Brimstone but they just passed through without stopping. (Very rude of them when I have plenty of butterfly treats in the garden!) It’s only fitting then that this very important visitor gets first place in my line up for the Six on Saturday parade.
1. Butterfly
Orange Tips are quite rare visitors to the garden and in fact last year was the first time I spotted one on the forget-me-nots and managed a quick snap. This time, one took a fancy to a drumstick primula and hung around for a while so I could take some photos.
2. Forget-me-nots
And talking of these pretty little blue flowers much loved by the aforementioned butterfly, it’s great to have them in the garden in spring, but I wouldn’t want to let them seed around too much. These are next to the new birdbath which is proving quite popular and constantly needs to be refilled.
3. Amelanchier
The blossom seems to have stood up to the frost pretty well, but it’s just starting to go over now anyway. The berries that follow look very attractive as well but the blackbirds soon finish them off.
4. Tulips
Every frosty morning the tulips bow their heads to the ground and I wonder whether if they will ever stand up again.
But as soon as the sun comes around you can see them start to recover.
Ok, I know these are different tulips but I promise you the first lot did as well.
And by late morning, all is well. It’s early days for most of my tulips but in the sunniest spots they are providing a lovely touch of colour.
5. The last daff
Bringing up the rear in the daffodil stakes is Narcissi Bell Song. I like to have one variety that hangs around to greet the tulips.
6. Crab Apple
The blossom is almost open on my little crab apple tree. Isn’t the colour of the buds just amazing.
And there we go for another week. I’m looking forward to my first visit of the year to Bluebell Cottage Gardens next week to pick up rather a lot of plants (not for me), and hopefully the weather will be kind so I can take a few photos in the garden.
In the meantime, to see what’s happening elsewhere take a look at the blog of The Propagator who is the creator of this weekly collection. And as always there are many more excellent photos and blogs on twitter under the hashtag #SixonSaturday
https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/
Have a good gardening weekend!
