My Little Garden 20th Feb 2021
In the last seven days we seem to have gone from one extreme to another. From freezing temperatures last weekend, to some very welcome warm(ish) sunshine during the course of the week. And now the wind and rain have returned with a vengeance.
Despite a busy week, I have been able to spend a little time in the garden and I’m really happy that all the bulbs seem to be breaking through as they should be. But I’m going to start my ‘six things’ this week with a rather sorry sight.
- Poorly hellebores
During the torrential rain of January and the ‘big freeze’ of early February, this valiant little hellebore has battled through and recovered very quickly. At no time have I ever seen it flop down quite like this, and I really wasn’t sure it would stand up again.
But shortly after the ice melted it rained and within a day this very same plant was looking none the worse for it’s traumatic experience. Talk about resilient!
2. Bulbs in pots update
About three weeks later than last year, but as soon as the temperatures rose the first of the iris opened. Katharine H won the race but hopefully Alida will join the party very soon.
3. Bulbs in the ground update
While we’re on the subject of Iris, I had completely forgotten where I planted Iris ‘Painted Lady’ after it finished flowering in a pot last year. I like a nice surprise though and there should be more flowers soon. It’s a pretty little iris, but I don’t think I like it as much as Katharine Hodgkin.
The purple crocus also opened at last.
And the snowdrops and cyclamen are still looking delightful. I think I will plant more of both for next year.
4. Wallflowers
This perennial wallflower looked exceedingly sorry for itself after the cold spell and unlike the hellebore hasn’t perked up since.
It is such a pretty one that I think I will have to replace if it doesn’t survive. Here it is last spring and I can’t wait to see the garden looking like this again.
5. Kitchen windowsill
Hyacinth number three, from that well known supermarket with pretty cardboard pots, has been in full bloom this week and smells gorgeous.
6. A few spring bedding plants
At the beginning of the week, I treated myself to a couple of things from the garden centre. Some little bellis for a pot in the back garden that will have fritillaria as it’s centrepiece in due course.
And some primula to cheer up the pots by the front door just before the Narcissus ‘February Gold’ open. Hopefully I’ll have some golden flowers for next Saturday.
And that’s my ‘Six on Saturday’ for this week.
For more ‘sixes’ take a look at the blog of The Propagator who is the creator of this weekly collection. As always there are many more excellent photos and blogs on twitter under the hashtag #SixonSaturday
