My Little Garden 8th April 2023

We had a lovely sunny start to the week ‘up north’, along with a touch of frost first thing on Monday. morning. I had two whole days of pottering in the garden before the rain returned, so plants have been planted, seeds have been sown, and grass has been mowed. I saw my first butterflies of the year: a Comma and a Brimstone, but both flitted through and didn’t stop for a photocall. How rude!

On Wednesday, it all went pear-shaped, there were no more butterflies, and I had to knuckle down to some indoor writing work. At least it puts me ahead of schedule ready for the start of a planting project next week. And yesterday was just a perfect spring day. A shorts and T shirt sort of day, in fact.

The garden seems very happy with the weather, and I have lots of tulips just opening. Exciting times, but my first choice for this week is still daffs, starting with ……

1. Yellow Daffs

Narcissus ‘Pipit’ is a sweetly scented jonquilla daffodil that’s perfect for pots. The colour fades to a more pleasing lemony yellow.

2. White Daffs

Narcissus actaea is also scented and very beautiful.

3. Tulip

The first for 2023 and I think it’s Ronaldo which generally wins the annual tulip stakes.

Thanks to the sunshine, I also got to see inside

4. Grape Hyacinth

I like to try different varieties of muscari and this one is called ‘Ocean Magic’. It’s pale and interesting, and I really like the colour. I like it almost as much as the one I spotted in the gardens at Dunham Massey, which I think might be called Grape Ice. I must find out because I really want this one for next year.

This is the one I saw at Dunham.

5. Pieris

A common shrub but when it has lots of new red leaves, it looks rather good.

6. Pulmonaria

An insignificant plant in many ways, whose leaves can look very tatty in summer. But from early March and into April, it’s a favourite with the pollinators so I’m letting it spread around one particular area of the garden. It’s always buzzing with activity and that makes me very happy.

Happy Easter weekend! I’m off to see a garden or two.