Happy Easter to you all. Saturday is the day when a few of us garden bloggers join together to share six things from our gardens, and join together over at Jim's, where should you choose to join us you will find guidance on how we go about it.
We have had a couple of glorious days this week when spending time gardening, or even just sitting with my beloved enjoying coffee in the garden wearing just a couple of layers has been possible.
1. Each time I go into the garden I am drawn to Ribes × beatonii, to admire its flowers: they remind me of the colours of the centre of a ripe peach when you remove the stone, colours ranging from peachy yellow to red.
 |
| Ribes × beatonii |
If it was good enough for Broadleigh Gardens it was certainly going to join the few shrubs I have.
2. I moved this clematis right up onto the gravel by the conservatory so that I can watch the many large bumble bees that seem to effortlessly fly straight to each hanging bloom. Clematis alpina Blue Dancer in its pot is a real beauty, and it came to me and grew from a tiny plant .
 |
| Clematis alpina Blue Dancer |
3. Henton Gardening Club gave members three daffodil bulbs donated by the Wessex Daffodil Society, and we don't yet know the name. If it remains cool and remains in good condition it may make it to the show on 12th April. Even so the club is having a little competition, and we are to enter a picture. Tomorrow I shall try and take a picture against a neutral background.
4. The Galanthus ‘x valentinei’ in the front garden are particularly good at forming large seed pods, and there is a little patch that catches all the Amelanchier leaves in the autumn, through which the little snowdrop seedlings emerge each year, and this variety seems to grow to flowering size within two years. As they ripen I shall move some of the seed pods there. From planting the first little pot of maybe two or three bulbs around nine years ago, a now have a good number of clumps.
 |
| Snowdrop seed pods |
 |
| Tulipa Whittalii Major. |
6. This week, we have had a lovely variety of butterflies and moths such as the Peacock, Brimstone, Orange Tip Butterflies, and surprisingly a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. This pair of Ladybirds are enjoying the softest of leaves on the Phlomis fruticosa Bourgaei and they were not the only ones!
Several SOSers may from time to time like to ask, to offer or to share seeds and bits and pieces from their gardens. This past week I was delighted to send and then receive packed in the same box a few choice additions to the garden, which have now been planted out. Many thanks to Phlomis Chloris for the Viola sulfurea, R. Brazen Hussy, a little piece of Veronica perfoliata and a bit of her precious dwarf iris from the Gargano in Italy. I look forward to caring and bringing on these choice little plants. This week I have planted seeds received such as Aquilegia and Marigolds and Rudbekias received last year.
Your clematis is beautiful. I didn't know bumblebees enjoyed it that much. It was already on my wishlist, but now I definitely need to get one!
ReplyDeleteSo far, it seems to be a great year for ladybirds - I've spotted lots of several different species already.
Hummingbird hawk moth, lucky you! Your clematis is beautiful. Have a great week, Sis x
ReplyDeleteEaster greetings, and may the sun shine for you this week too Sis x
DeleteBlimey, I don't have any Clematis in flower yet - although the monster Montana is about to bloom. Blue Dancer is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt was worth growing this one on, and I think it is going to stay in that pot one more year. I look forward to your 'monster' montana making an appearance soon Grahame.
DeleteI had a Ribes just like that called Ribes gordonianum or is it the same thing? Whatever its name it is a beauty. Ah, you reminded me what my Clematis alpina is called, I couldn't recall the name. I love the tulips. I have been called many things before but never Phlomis. Predictive text strikes again. And many thanks for my package of plant goodies.
ReplyDeleteYes Chloris, sorry about the mistake it was mine entirely, but makes me smile as I must have had Phlomis on my mind! Yes that Ribes has several names. It tickled me when I first looked into it as one of my handsome nephews is called Gordon.
DeleteOh yes, that Ribes variety is special! The color, as you say, is very attractive. The species Tulips you share are similar to some I had here--I don't remember the name. I think one still survives, so I'll have to include it in a future "Six" if it blooms. Re: the Snowdrops...thanks for the tip regarding the seeds. I've never collected them, but maybe I'll try that this year. I also need to divide a rather large clump of 'Flore Pleno.'
ReplyDeleteNice to hear that you have some good doubles Beth: Flore Pleno of course does not set seed, and does well for being divided. I think every four years is about right.
DeleteThe Galanthus ‘x valentinei’ seedpods are astonishing, Noelle - mind you, since I moved my specials to the woodland it would be nigh on impossible to spot any seedpods now, with all the other foliage that grows up around them! What a nice gesture to receive the daffodils from the Daffodil Society - do you think you might be able to name them in due course? That ribes is intriguing, not one I have come across, although I do have greenish white one whose name I can't remember offhand as it wasn't the one I was hoping to buy!
ReplyDeleteThey are Cathy. Several of the specials do not set seedpods. Yes we shall have the name for the Daffs, which they decided to withhold until the date of the competition for fear that extra competitive members would go out and buy more bulbs from which to choose their entries!!! Pas mois!!
DeleteI would love to see more lady birds where I live! lovely tulips...Happy Easter
ReplyDeleteI have a blue Clematis of a different variety ( Blue Bird ) with similar flowers and it's gorgeous, just like yours this year. Definitely due to the weather. Probably in next week's Six
ReplyDelete