Greenforks

Blue sky, Hellebores and a Bumblebee

easygardener — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:02:04 +0000

Temperatures have fallen again so the pond is frozen over.

On the other hand we do have sun and a blue sky.

Blue sky

More flowers coming into bloom.

Helleborus x hybridus (Yellow and Green)

Helleborus x hybridus Ballard (Blue)

And more insects appearing. In the greenhouse I found a large Bumblebee. Admittedly it was a very annoyed Bumblebee as it had flown inside, found the surroundings distinctly lacking in flowers and had to spend 5 minutes angrily buzzing till it found the way out.

Bumblebee

Things are definitely getting better. Now I need a warm sunny day so that I can start real gardening instead of half hearted pottering.

Blooming Friday: March, week 1 – sun glorious sun

easygardener — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:17:58 +0000

Welcome to Blooming Friday. We have had four days of sun and what a difference it has made.

The Crocuses have stayed open for whole days.

Crocus sieberi ssp sublimis 'Tricolor'

The Snowdrops have finally opened to show a number of variations on a colour scheme of green and white.

Galanthus nivalis

Galanthus 'Sam Arnott'

Galanthus nivalis pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno'

Thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

Visit her to see more Blooming Friday contributions.

Mr Pigeon – you need a new pair of spectacles

easygardener — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:41:10 +0000

I walked into the bedroom to see this imprint of a pigeon on the outside of the window. Eeeek!

Ghostly Mr Pigeon

I rushed outside to see if there was a body lying on the ground but there wasn’t. I am glad it wasn’t Mr Limpy who visits the garden most days. He was limping around the garden as usual today and he didn’t seem concussed. Not that a Pigeon with concussion would act much different from one without – they are not the brightest of birds.

This is the first time this has happened here so there must have been an unfortunate reflection that confused the bird. I would have thought the grime on the window would have been warning enough but apparently not.

So the Pigeon lived to fly another day – unless the cats stole the body of course – but I insist on looking on the bright side.

Blooming Friday: February week 4 – Hello Crocus

easygardener — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:05:02 +0000

Clumps of Crocus are starting to appear all over the garden.

Crocus (purple)

Crocus chrysanthus 'Zwanenburg Bronze'

Crocus sieberi ssp sublimis 'Tricolor'

I have just realised that I have no white ones. How did that happen? A visit to a garden centre might be a good idea.

Thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

Visit her to see more Blooming Friday contributions.

My secateurs come out – then in again

easygardener — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:35:49 +0000

I finally got out into the garden to cut down the foliage on my Hellebores. It will be good to see this year’s new flowers rather than the scrappy old foliage from last year.

Last year's foliage on Hellebores

It looks very bare after the chop but once the flowers open and new leaves appear it will look much better. There are also some spring bulbs scattered about and they should flower fairly soon.

After the haircut

The Hellebore flowers finally see the light of day. Should I do a final tidy now or leave it until tomorrow? It is getting a little chilly and gloomy. Tomorrow it is.

Hellebore in bud

Tomorrow arrives. I made a bad decision. It is snowing again and I am falling out of love with the white stuff.

Snow again

We need the sun – and that includes me

easygardener — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:00:28 +0000

One flower that needs the sun is the Crocus. Up it comes and and I get all excited. Then, for grey day after grey day the flowers sit tightly folded. “Hmm”…they say…”no way are we opening until the sun comes out”.

Crocus chrysanthus 'E A Bowles'

Then the sun comes out.

Crocus chrysanthus 'E A Bowles'

Suddenly the garden looks much brighter.

Crocus ancyrensis 'Golden Bunch'

There are slightly later varieties to come so I hope the sun keeps shining.

I need it too!

Blooming Friday: February, week 3 – Winter hanging basket

easygardener — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:02:25 +0000

I made up a hanging basket in October and filled it with Cyclamen and Violas for colour, plus a selection of evergreens. The shiny Sedum on the right was supposed to turn red during the cold weather.

Hanging basket in October

Then came winter. Now the poor Sedum looks dead and the flowers have gone into hiding.

February

Thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

Visit her to see more Blooming Friday contributions.

The corner where the tatty plants sit

easygardener — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I was away at the weekend staying with friends. They like gardening too, so of course we just had to visit a garden centre and this one was huge, big enough to get lost in. Whatever the size most garden centres have a “Reduced Section” where a pathetic huddle of sad looking plants waits for someone to take pity on them. I can’t resist checking them out and this was my reward.

Hippeastrum 'Intokasie'

Over Christmas I must have been one of the few bloggers without a Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) to post about. Now I have my own. She is a little battered at the moment but I hope to have her flowering again in December. Only 50 pence (75 cents) – what a bargain.

Blooming Friday: February, week 2 – The Rock Garden

easygardener — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:24:19 +0000

Welcome to Blooming Friday. This is my little Rock Garden. At the back you can see some yellow Crocuses.

The Rock Garden on February 11th

There is a broad mix of planting in a fairly small space so there is always something interesting to look at. This Sempervivum has survived the snow and frost without any damage at all.

Sempervivum calcareum 'Extra'

A clump of Snowdrops among the rocks. This is a late flowering variety that is at its best in mid to late February. It is fragrant, grows very tall for a Snowdrop (almost 30cm/12″) and spreads easily. At the moment the flowers are still closed so you are not seeing them at their best.

Galanthus 'Sam Arnott'

Finally, there is a Scilla, just breaking through the surface of the gravel. The flowers appear first, followed by the foliage. It looks so vulnerable without the protection of leaves.

Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana'

Thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

Visit her to see more Blooming Friday contributions.

Jack Frost – hanging around for far too long

easygardener — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:17:00 +0000

I think Jack Frost is reluctant to leave the garden. Just when I think he has gone for good, back he comes carrying snow flakes. This was what I found this morning.

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Compactus'

In the pond my poor dwarf Rush is no longer a bright ball of vivid green foliage. I’m also wondering if there are any frogs under the ice or whether they are still hibernating above ground. Jack is obviously not a frog lover.

Isolepsis setacea

Even when Jack vacates the garden he leaves traces. Not only the plants suffer damage.

Frost damaged pot

Frost proof terracotta pots…Hmmm!… I think they are only frost proof when they are empty of soil, and kept in the garage.

A crumbling alpine pan