Many of my spring plants and bulbs are starting to fade now, and I’m beginning to empty a few pots. When I look around the garden for colour – it’s mostly green, but that’s a sign of new growth, new plant life, and the march towards brighter, warmer weather.
The crab apple, Malus Evereste, will be in bloom soon, as will Amelanchier ‘Ballerina’. Acer ‘Bloodgood’ always puts on a good show in spring, especially in the early morning when the sun is backlighting its leaves. The tulips are pushing up to peek over the tops of their pots, and a few in one of the borders are almost ready to open. Hostas are stretching upwards, roses have new growth that will soon attract aphids in large numbers. Perennials are coming back to life, ready to add colour back into the borders.
The greenhouse is getting busy. I ran out of window ledge space in the house this week, so it was just as well that some of the seedlings were big enough to move into the greenhouse. I think the overwintered pelargoniums are going to have to be potted into their outdoor containers and moved below the staging to make room for all these seedlings. I always grow way more than I need, but the excess (if they all germinate) doesn’t go to waste – they’re usually passed on to family or friends. This year that might be a problem if we’re still in lockdown and restricted to our homes at the end of May.
Enough chatter, here’s my chosen six for this week. 😁
Forget-me-Nots
I don’t think I’m going to have that lovely swathe of vivid blue that’s been a feature of the garden in recent years as most of the plants have seeded at the wrong side of the border and not at all at the top border. But wherever they grow, they’re a happy, vibrant sign of spring. I’ll scatter some of the seed this year, then if necessary move some of the little plants around in early spring next year.
Heuchera
I adore Heucheras and have quite a few in various borders. Although the plants are just beginning to reveal their vibrant coloured leaves, Heucheras, otherwise known as Coral Bells (that’s such a pretty name) are little marvels. In this garden the plants are rather sad and tatty during the winter months, but now, some are starting to reveal their potential. I love their tall wispy flowers that look particularly good when they are planted en masse in a container.
Prunus Mikinori
The tree is now in full bloom and desperately trying to hold on to its blossom. Thursday, in particular, was very windy, and the garden got a real good watering with quite heavy rain. Neither the wind nor the rain featured on our weather forecast, which restricted gardening activities that day, but the blossom mostly held on. I think by next week it will be gone, so it’s probably time for it to say au revoir until next year. It’s been beautiful and I’ll miss it – but it will put on another show when it’s little leaves turn vibrant autumnal colours later in the year.
New Plants
Three more deliveries this week and there are a few more plants still to arrive. Orders are being despatched as each item become available and our postman must be wondering what we’re doing with all these ‘live plants’ boxes.
The first three shots here are plants that are heading for the front (and slightly neglected) garden.
New Planter
Made from some surplus pieces of wood, the planter has been painted to match the colours of the little ‘summerhouse’. I didn’t ask for it to be made, it just appeared. 😀 It would have looked good with some of the tulips in it, but it’s too late now, so I’ll have to work out what to put into it for summer. I’m thinking strong, bright colour, perhaps oranges with purple?
Astrantia
Many spring and summer flowering plants have leaves that are beautiful just on their own and some of my favourites are Geum, Alchemilla Mollis, Peony, Aquilegia, Heuchera and of course, the one featured here, Astrantia. Those that survive above the soil during winter, sport stunning new outfits of sparkling white when the frost arrives. Frost on the leaves of Geum and Alchemilla, in particular, are favourites, there is something magical about looking at the frost-coated shapes of their fading leaves.
But right now, the leaves of this Astrantia major are fresh, lush green and deserve to be photographed just as they are.
This Easter weekend most of us will remain at home, many without the company of family members who normally visit at this time of year. Undoubtedly it will be a difficult time, but the main thing for us all to remember is that it’s temporary – and if we all isolate ourselves we will get through it. Stay safe everyone, stay healthy, and stay happy in your gardens. 🌈 xx
If you want to join in with Six on Saturday around the world, here are the details:
ABOUT SIX ON SATURDAY
Six on Saturday is like a weekly journal. Take six photographs and post them to Twitter and/or your blog. You can get all the details from The Propagator who kindly set it all up. If you want to join in and see what everyone else is doing in the garden, just follow the link!
All photographs copyright of Catherine Wood unless otherwise stated.
Notes From My Garden 
It is difficult to get plants/flowers because deliveries take a long time. We wait 10 days minimum to be delivered and the plants don’t like that. The garden centers are open for the strict minimum and we don’t have access to the flowers, the shrubs… Just for tomatoes, courgettes and pet feed … Nice photos as usual.
Happy Easter Catherine
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Most deliveries here aren’t taking too long Fred, but despatch from the seller is taking longer. Plants are still available to order (all garden centres are closed) but many are having to apply a daily limit, so to place an order with some websites, you have to be online in the early part of the day.
Have a lovely Easter weekend and happy gardening.
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Foliage can be one of the most attractive parts of a plant, adding different textures and colours. The Prunus Mikinori blossom is beautiful and that planter is very nice indeed. Your husband is very talented. I have a few plants on order. I hope they arrive soon!
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I have another plant delivery on the way – but I doubt if they will deliver Easter Monday. That could be 5 days in transit, so hope they survive! Just some Geum plug plants and Heuchera but nevertheless, I don’t want them arriving wilted. Hope you get yours soon too!
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Forget me nots seem to go with everything. I always thing they’ve disappeared and then there they are like magic, just in another spot. I thought my Heuchera was Marmalade but now I see it is probably Blondie Lime.
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There is a Heuchera Lime Marmalade, Linda – could it be that? I’m suddenly remembering the taste of Lime Marmalade. 😂
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I love the Marmalade Heuchera too – and I have the Lime Marmalade as well – they have both suffered dreadfully in the wet winter but starting to come back now. I also had a few Tiarellas but they haven’t done so well, sadly, as the flowers are spectacular. Oh well, if there are gaps I can fill them next year. I have just done an order for loads of herbs which will hopefully be sent out at the end of April. No rush. As long as they arrive in good condition I am happy to wait.
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You had indeed disappeared down the rabbit hole! I’ve just found you in spam (strange!) and brought you back to the surface! 😁 Lime Marmalade is also a gorgeous Heuchera, perhaps one day I’ll get to add it to my little collection. Hopefully you shouldn’t have too long now to wait for your herbs – and I hope they arrive in good condition.
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Thank you for rescuing me! Hopefully now I won’t have any more problems on your site, but goodness knows what I did to offend Akismet! I think my herbs are due in May so time to rid the bed of the forget me nots taking residence.
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I’ll try to remember to have a look in the spam folder if I don’t see you around. 😁
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I must admit I am a forget-me-not fan too. I like heucheras but mine are looking rather sorry for themselves this year. I will give them a tidy up and good watering plus some feed tomorrow and see if they cheer up. Yours are very healthy looking.
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I’ve had to cut some of mine back quite drastically, the wet winter wasn’t good for them. They’ll get a good feed too and I’m sure in a short time we’ll both have some richly coloured specimens in our borders!
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I agree Catherine…some wonderful green fresh growth on those Astrantias.
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Thanks, Noelle 😊
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The forget me nots are lovely as is your photograph of them. I’d gone off them, but I think that is because the self seeded ones in my garden must be a very poor variety. I probably need to buy some decent seed. The Mikinori looks very lovely too.
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I’m fairly sure that mine are Sylvia Blue, though I can’t remember whether they were bought as seeds or plug plants. I think seeds…but the memory isn’t too accurate these days! 🤔 They’ve multiplied over time, and fill a lot of otherwise bare patches at this time of year.
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Your heuchera are doing so well! Love the colours you’ve chosen. That cherry is spectacular. I would love to have a planter-making fairy around here. How do you entice one into the garden?
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A planter-making fairy sounds such a good idea…I wonder where they sell them as I might might order one…or two perhaps! The cherry is shedding petals at an enormous rate – we had unexpected strong winds last night…and it was oh-so cold!
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We had that today. The cherry across from us is snowing petals all over the front & back gardens. Gorgeous.
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The pure pink blossom is spectacular when it falls, especially if there’s no rain following and it lies on pavements, roads and gardens.
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