Instant or seasonal gratification in the garden - Six on Saturday

We have had a very wet week, and garden cannot take any more. Some of the flowers have been bashed down by the heavy rain, and the lack of sunshine is taking its toll. However at this time of the year, expectation is high and the newly emerging plants bring intense pleasure, but still I am not immune to instant gratification.  Just reading Jim's anchoring post with all his Camelias and posts from other gardeners several in other countries will bring more Six on Saturday enjoyment.  

1. I ought to know better than visit a good local plant nursery, merely of course on the pretext of delivering a year's supply of the regional HPS leaflets, whilst having a bit of ready cash in my wallet!  I came away having spent some of my pocket money:  Crocus chrysanthus 'Romance' was placed in the garden, in a spell of 'non heavy rain' yesterday. The outer petals are paler but and when open all the inner petals are a lovely buttery yellow.
 

Crocus chrysanthus 'Romance'

I also picked up a snowdrop: Galanthus Sprite, it is a good virescent, which I happen to have in the garden which is nice and healthy.  As these specials are slow to increase, I wanted to establish some in another part of the garden, but the original clump is not ready to be divided. As well I bought four pots of Eranthes.  However I had picked up two pots of Eranthes from the garden centre at Rocky Mountain, where I did my weekly veg shop on the way.  Comparing the two suppliers, I am pleased to say that the pots supplied by Jackie Williams at Triffids Nursery were far far superior, having very good roots, whereas the others had barely started to root but showing shoots, I dare say the corms had only just been planted.  That reminded me of the lesson to check the roots before buying!

2.  I've not posted about this crocus which grows in the Conservatory border right next to Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor' out of sight to the left of this group.  I believe these are Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple'.  I've had it many years now and is a good returner each season.  These grow on the outer edge of the bed along the gravel path, so whatever the weather I can walk out a look at the spring flowers emerging, or even admire it from the conservatory.

3. It is the mixture of the Cyclamen coum that forms the fist strip of  Spring flowers which I look out on from the conservatory: this week it although not quite reaching its peak, it is already working nicely.. 

4. In that same border Galanthus 'Trumps' is sending up its easily recognised blooms, one gifted to me by Cathy: three flowering bulbs this year.

Galanthus Trumps

These  eranthes were planted in previous years!

5.  Whilst planting out some other plants,  I had forgotten that  the spot is where the Oxalis triangularis come up  each summer.  Having just come back from a friend in whose home I have admired several times this plant growing as a house plant,  several of these little rhizomes are going to be placed in a  pot of compost ready to grow into a new house plant.

Oxalis triangularis rhizomes accidentally uncovered

6. Still my favourite returner now in its sixth year in the garden, is Crocus minimus Spring Beauty. At a stage when as my gran would say: not quite enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers, the bees were out and the crocus obliged by opening.  Precious moments during this generally wet week with dark skies.

Crocus minimus Spring Beauty

When it dries out a little I have a few jobs to do, more tidying up and pruning, and a little seed sowing.