The Flowering of Spring

Some flowers in the garden are so fleeting that if you want to record them for posterity it is essential that you have camera to hand as soon as they appear.  Iris and Crocus are in this category.  If the sun comes out they open their faces wide and smile.  The effort it takes for them to do this must put a strain on the mechanism and they quickly go over. 


Iris reticulata

 
I mainly plant the small bulbs in pots as they seem to make more impact that way, unless you have hundreds planted in the lawn.  They are easier to photograph as well when they are raised from the ground.  I couldn't understand where the dozens of crocuses were, that I was sure I had, it turns out I had planted them out at the allotment.  Even keeping a blog isn't a sure-fire way of recording everything you do, you have to remember to include it in a post - which I haven't!

Crocus

Apart from the spring bulbs, there are one or two other early spring flowers coming into their own - the Bellis Daisies managed to come through the winter unscathed and it looks like the purple Aubretia is hanging on in there, although it is nowhere near flowering yet.

Bellis daisies

I am particularly looking forward to the tulips and hyacinths bursting into bloom and have been looking back at last years pictures hoping that this years display will be as good.  But it seems I have about a month to wait yet

7th April 2011 - ~Grape Hyacinths

26th March 2011 - Hyacinths

17th April, 2011 - Cowslips

10th April, 2011 - Tulips in window box

29th April, 2011 - Tulips and Forget-me-nots

7th April, 2011 - spring flowers mixed

As you can see from the dates on the above photos  there is definitely a month to go before the spring garden comes together as a whole.  After the bulbs will come the Alliums and Aquilegia, then the Foxgloves and Sweet Rocket - and the list goes on - everyday, something new to look forward too.  They will all flower when they decide to flower - meanwhile, I shall just have to be patient.