In my own garden there are still plenty of delights. The skimmia buds have burst into flower and fill the air with their exquisite perfume.
The Rhododenron 'Christmas Cheer' is full of candyfloss blooms that are attracting the early bumble bees, although I seem unable to capture one on camera!
The front doorstep is alive with the wonderful tiny purple flowers of Aubrieta.
I love these tiny delicate narcissi which where a mixed batch of drying bulbs languishing in my dad's greenhouse - we just stuck them in the ground when we moved in and hoped for the best.
The Japanese Quince seems to have appreciated last years heavy pruning and addition of supporting wires and is now heavily laden with bright red flowers.
And then lastly I have 2 mystery plants which we inherited when we moved in. Firstly this spikey tree and its heady scented blossom that reminds me of the scent of orange blossom that fills the air of Northern Mallorca. In the summer the tree bears small fruit like tiny plums but I have no idea if they are edible. Any suggestions are welcome. The leaf is much smaller than a plum tree has.
Then there is this tiny delicate alpine or rockery plant which looks dead all winter and then burst into life in spring. Does anyone have a name for this?
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Hiya Nina,
ReplyDeleteThat's what neighbours are for :
Lovely magnolia. Can't wait till the one in our neighbour's garden is ready to be photographed :-)
Strangely enough, I just bought one yesterday in our local little nursery. It's a saxifrage of some sort. There was no lable on it. Mine is a mix of colours from deep rose to white. Hope it becomes as healthy as yours.
How lovely to have so much colour in the garden at this time of year. They all look wonderful too, but I think my favourite is the rhododendron.
ReplyDeleteLovely color in the garden, but my favorite is the magnolia. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I was trying to photograph some bumble bees busily zipping about our Ceanothus thyrsiflorus yesterday. I am now convinced that bumbly bees are bashful! There were hundreds in the tree, and every time I'd get close, they'd move higher up the tree!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers by the way. I find magnolias to be absolutely charming, your pink rhodie is gorgeous, and that quince definitely pops!
The purple aubrieta is a mass of cheerfulness, isn't it? I don't know what the little white flowers are, but they are adorable.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have a neighbours magnolia, one of my favourite spring flowering trees. I was lusting after some at a garden centre in west sussex earlier today. Balked at splashing out on £80 each tho'...
ReplyDeleteThat all looks so fresh and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy bloom day!
wow, a riot of colour!
ReplyDeleteOh I love magnolia trees. It's just a shame that the flowers stay around for such a short period of time...
ReplyDeleteHi everyone and thanks for all your comments. It's so interesting that everyone has different favourites! I think my favourite is the magnolia but the rhododendron comes a very close second. I have always wanted a magnolia tree so I love being able to see this one but it is true the flowers don't last long enough at all.
ReplyDeleteDear Curbstone Valley Farm, I am sadly mourning the loss of a ceanothus. It was beautiful this time last year and as you say, covered in bees. It didn't seem to like the harsh winter and has completely died but I hope to replace it as it is so good for bees. And yes they are impossible to catch on camera!
ReplyDeleteForgot to say that the other mystery is probably a shrub called sloe, (as in sloe gin :-), Prunus spinosa.
ReplyDeleteI have used it for dyeing wool, others use it to flavour their gin. Often part of hedgerows, you must be able to see it everywhere at the moment, surrounding roads and fields. It is indeed a form of plum.
As for losing entire shrubs this winter: I lost four huge fuchsia bushes as well as my favourite small tree from New Zealand. Sad business.