A Week of Firsts

Published on by Catherine

It’s been a week of firsts. The first full pot of Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ has bloomed and I’ve spotted the first spring blues in the borders. I’ve been waiting for my tiny Violas to bloom and this week they obliged. My first order from a newly-found herb nursery arrived, followed by a delivery of new pelargoniums. Here is my selection for this week’s Six on Saturday.

Six on Saturday

Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’. New bulbs, planted last autumn have flowered and they’re a joyful sight. Our house has a deep canopy that spans the front and is sheltered. I’ve recently realised that it’s the perfect spot to place pots of spring bulbs, particularly during a very wet winter. I just wish I’d moved the tulip pots there too. I didn’t foresee quite as much rain as we’ve had these past months.

Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ growing in a pot
Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’

New Herb Order. I was delighted with the efficiency of the delivery of my herb order. They were ordered one evening and arrived less than 48 hrs later. They were carefully packed, and oh my, when I opened the box, the scent was divine! The fragrance of Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ filled the room! The three plants aren’t for culinary use, I plan to place them at the side of the new patio or deck or whatever it’s going to be, and eventually in larger terracotta pots. I hope they will cope with the climate here.

Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ – a beautiful scent

Below are the new herbs that will join those from previous years that have made it through the winter. Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ in the background. Left to right: Garden Mint, Black Peppermint, Oregano, Chives, Curled Parsley.

Herbs, potted.

New Pelargoniums. I was potting on the newly arrived pelargoniums when one fell out of its biodegradable pot. The plant had no roots. I emailed and asked for a replacement but the reply stated that they were out of stock and a refund had been issued. I would have preferred a substitute but didn’t get the opportunity to ask. Oddly, they were still showing as in stock the following day. Hmmm… 🤔

Towards the end of May, the pellies will be potted into their final containers and moved to the steps at the front of the house, where they get the best of the sun, and under the canopy of the house, are sheltered from the rain.

Pelargoniums, mixed varieties

Forget-me-nots. Tuesday was the gloomiest of days. The wind had eased and was no longer that bitter North-easterly, but it brought the rain. The drizzly rain fell throughout the day, the type of rain you barely notice but leaves you soaking wet. The gloom didn’t lift and to cheer myself up I went to and from the greenhouse, potted up a few lavender cuttings, moved things from A to B and generally achieved very little. As the light faded around 5pm I headed back to the house and spotted this tiny speck of intense blue at the bottom of the garden, so tiny my eyes had missed it on those multiple wet trips up and down the path. The very first Forget-me-nots have arrived. They’re small, but shortly the flower stems will lengthen and I can look forward to swathes of blue in the borders.

The initial colour of each tiny flower is deep and it’s accentuated in the images, by the rain and the dark skies. At ISO 1250 I wondered if they would show any sharpness. They’re just passable, and that’s fine for now, there will be more photo opportunities and spring progresses.

Myosotis (Forget-me-nots)
Each tiny flower is filled with water.

Muscari (Grape hyacinth). After spotting the Forget-me-nots and taking some photos, I looked left and there they were – the first Muscari. It looks as though this one has been there for a good few days, but like the little Forget-me-nots, I didn’t see it. Others are sprouting all around and before too long they should add to the sea of blue I’m hoping for.

Muscari on a dark and dreich day.

Violas. The first of the violas, bought as a seedling collection last Autumn, have finally started to flower! The collection consists of five Viola cornuta ‘Tiger Eye Red’ F1, and five Viola cornuta ‘Antique Shades’ F1. I think they’re rather pretty!

Viola cornuta ‘Tiger Eye Red’
Viola ‘Antique Shades’

There you have it – my Six for this week. You can visit other gardeners’ blogs by going to Jim’s blog at Garden Ruminations Jim hosts ‘Six on Saturday’ and you’ll get all the detail you need on his blog as well as get an insight into what everyone else is growing.

I’m going to be away for most of today, so will catch up with you all on your blogs tomorrow – have a great weekend and happy gardening!

Catherine 😊

35 thoughts on “A Week of Firsts”

  1. These pellies are cute! Today I’m going to buy mine at the garden centre because I need to renew my large planters. Obviously this week, you spoiled us again with very pretty photos. And I also do liked the red colours of that Viola cornuta ‘Tiger Eye Red’

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        1. Those are two I haven’t heard of – but (of course!) I’ve googled and they are both very beautiful – the depth of colour on Purple Majesty is amazing. I need to take note of those two. It was a good day out for you!

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  3. I don’t know why but I didn’t get around to buying any more Violas last autumn. I regret it seeing yours – that veined petalled one is very striking indeed. Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ is a great little daff – I bought some more the other week. Those herbs looks well.

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    1. I don’t grow violas very often, Graeme, I find it too fiddly to deadhead them and then I feel guilty about neglecting them! But I like this combination of the two varieties – they’re mixed over two bowls. Now that more are coming into bloom – I could be converted!

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    1. There are different varieties of Forget-me-nots, Helen and I think this one was called ‘Sylvia Blue’ – or something like that (I sowed the seeds years ago). They will lighten as time goes on and the flowers mature. The rain and darkness also contributed to the deeper colour. More are beginning to flower in the borders now and will hopefully start stretching up as the little plants mature.

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    1. Thanks, Pauline. The two varieties of violas are growing in the same bowl and there are two bowls, so I’m hoping, as the plants grow and more start to flower, they’ll make a nice display.

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  7. The pots you bought your herbs from look most familiar Catherine – did they come from a nursery in Hampshire? Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ is always most reliable and so cheering. My tulips planted in the autumn are not looking too bright. I don’t think that anyone could have predicted the amount off rain we’ve had this winter 😢

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    1. Yes, Anna – they did indeed come from Hampshire – from Pepperpot Herbs to be precise. 😁 I’m very pleased with the quality of the herbs and speed of service. I would definitely use them again.

      I hope your tulips are going to be ok after all this rain. I added a lot of grit to my mix this year, so I hope they’re draining well. I expect we’ll all find out in time whether they have coped.

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  8. The tete a tete are beautiful. I have planted most of mine into the garden and this year a lot of the flowers have been eaten. So sad. I need to buy more herbs this year for the new herb beds, but I will wait to visit a nursery up near Bodmin. I’m trying not to use online companies if I can buy locally, sometimes you can be disappointed with what you get.

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    1. Oh it’s maddening when your plants get devoured! 😠 I’ve threatened to get ducks in to clear the garden of slugs ‘n snails! It won’t happen of course, so the battle continues.

      I’m often disappointed with my online orders and also with the after sales service when there is a problem. I buy at local garden centres, but they seldom have what I’m looking for, or are sold out when I get there. I’ve got to admit – I’m impressed with the herbs from Pepperpot Herbs; the delivery, attention to detail and health & size of the plants (and that Rosemary scent is amazing!!)

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    1. Thanks, Dock – I’m looking forward to seeing the violas in bloom when the plants grow larger. There are a couple more Tete varieties still to flower, I’m hoping they’ll look good too. 

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  11. Soon I will have lovely pansies in my bowl that I keep on the front steps. I had alyssum in as well last year and it kind of flowed over the edge of the planter to a nice effect. Spring will burst forth over the next 2 months around here.

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    1. The pansies and alyssum must have made a really pretty display. My violas need to do quite a bit of growing and I’m looking forward to seeing more in bloom. You must be looking forward to some ‘real’ spring weather.

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  14. So many lovely plants (and photos!) Catherine. Being able to get pelargoniums at that size is great – I have never seen them here and have to buy them when they are already flowering. They are such great plants for colour in our hot yard. The forget-me-nots are a sure sign of spring and I can imagine what a welcome sight they were after your soggy day. The herbs do look nice and healthy. Good luck with the rosemary… I often manage to keep them through the winter here but mine rarely flower. I do like to use it in cooking though.

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    1. Thank you. 😊 I buy the Pellies from a nursery that specialises in them, and they’re no more than rooted cuttings. It’s cheap to buy them like that, Cathy, as they grow fast and give a good display in summer. My basic rosemary (which has a smattering of flowers on it now) manages to get through the winter. ‘Tuscan Blue’ is new to me, but I shouldn’t imagine it’s any less hardy that other varieties. Here’s hoping!

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