Let me just say the word 'finally', in the manner of an exasperated child at the end of a long car journey. 'Finally' they have arrived. Narcissus 'February Gold' has flowered in the woodland, not accompanying the snowdrops as they did last year, but running up behind.
The February Gold are ones I chose and planted myself. Many of the other daffodils in the garden were inherited from garden owners past. This tends to be where my imagination runs riot. Were they planted by our immediate predecessors, attempting to jolly up a dull looking garden in hope that someone would fall in love with the house and buy it? Or were they sprinkled through the lawn in front of the tell tale Conifers and Rhododendrons of the 1960s low maintenance shrubbery? Or where they planted by those dour looking Victorian ladies?
Since the Rose Garden now occupies this former lawn, some still spring up in the most inopportune places.
Whereas in the Orchard, where I have planted the jaunty miniature Narcissus Pseudonarcissus, my predecessors planted Van Sion.
I'm thankful though that many of my inherited daffodils are of the tastefully pale shallow cup varieties.
I've found daffodils to be a little tricky to paint in watercolour. My eye sees them as being very yellow, but it actually seems to need a little violet added in to make it just right.
Which is a clumsy introduction to my next two purple plants. Firstly a polyanthus/primula (would be grateful for info on the correct term to use) which was bought in a multi pack from the garden centre last year. I couldn't find any I wanted to buy this year. They were all of the short stem type, and I like these longer stemmed ones for a pot.
These Hyacinth 'Woodstock' were also from last year. They are looking a bit weedy, but I think that's probably my fault as I should really have given them a feed.
Purple Sprouting Broccoli is next on the list. I've just thought if I was very pretentious I could specialise in growing only purple veg to go with my purple flowers. I had a harvest from it two weeks ago of the central stems and it looks like the side shoots are ready now.
And lastly (although I hope you haven't been counting too strictly) I have a page from Gardens Illustrated magazine which caught my attention. It addressed the problem of what to do with your Prairie garden for Spring. It features a garden by James Hitchmough, Professor Emeritus at the University of Sheffield. It is his own, north facing garden; although he has recently moved to a new one. He describes how he has gone for a European Woodland floor, mix of plants that shouldn't mind being shaded in the Summer. So corydalis, pulomonaria, miniature daffodils, primroses and some South African bulbs are included. It looked stunning.
That's all I have for you this week. I must quickly touch on the weather though before I go, since I made reference to it in the title. It's been a bit dull. One day I got snowed on and then rained on between spells of sunshine, but mostly it has just been overcast. I hope for better things to come.
Don't forget all the Six on Saturday posts can be found on Garden Ruminations where 'Cornwall Camellia Jim' collates all our garden ramblings
My daffs have been late this year too, but now they have made a come back - I think that the rain helped.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably it. February has been so very dry.
DeleteYour last photo has been such an inspiration, I have just turned one of my beds into a late summer border and was wondering what to plant in it for earlier in the year, I will be busy with the bulbs in the autumn! Of course they will like the shade in the summer, should have thought of that!
ReplyDeleteThe article caught my eye for the same reason.
DeleteThat article too drew my attention, and I was further inspired to forge on with my plant for a mille fleurs effect in my conservatory bed. You made a very good point for stems on polyanthus, and will look out for a nice one for my posing shelf, and come to think of it, they would also look good as part of the mille fleurs effect.
ReplyDeleteThey would indeed.
DeleteI like this bench which should be a quiet resting place in a corner of your garden. And the daffodils right now complement it perfectly. Perfect colour of the dark primula (in a terracotta pot that must not be very young, right...)
ReplyDeleteThey are 19th Century pots I think.
Delete'February Gold' is very elegant. I have a few slightly weedy looking Hyacinths in a pot sitting in the previous year's compost. I must feed them this time round or plant them out. I thought mine were Woodstock but they're pink rather than that lovely purple so I wonder what I've got!
ReplyDeleteI'll give them a feed, but I'll have to buy new ones for a pot if I want some next year.
DeleteI love your woodland. Looking along that path amongst the trees is restful to eyes that are presently coping with harsh summer sun and heat.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely there on a hot sunny day. None of those here at the moment though of course.
DeleteBeautiful <3 I often wonder who planted bulbs and when. Probably the sheer volume of them would indicate the earlier plantings. Your purple broccoli looks quite scrumptuous and not at all pretentious! I grew loads or purple cabbage once and found them to be much stronger in flavour than their green cousins! Your purple hyacinths are quite fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking purple broccoli, purple cabbage, lettuce lollo rosso, radiccio, purple carrots, Black Russian tomatoes, sage, chives, black currants. I'll convincing myself now 😂
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