Snow and after

Like most of the country, last week we had snow. Lots of it, piling up on the windows, and blurring the lawn, flower beds and paths.











It was a bit unexpected as I thought we'd seen the end of winter and were moving into Spring, but it's not unknown at this time of year.

What worried me most was the state of the flowers hidden beneath the snow - while irises held their own against the weather, snowdrops and daffodils 'flopped' over with the cold (minus 6 for a couple of nights), and were then covered by a snow blanket which crushed them to the ground.

At weekend the snow started to melt - and these daffodils weren't looking well. I didn't think there was much hope of them reviving so I pulled a few for vases in the house, and they seemed  to pick up.

 And as the snow retreated, so did most of those outside. Their buds even seem to be opening, so in a few days there should be a 'normal' display of daffodils.

The snowdrops too bounced back, and, strangest of all, crocuses had been growing under the snow, and as it melted they emerged in flower!








I hope we're now finished with dramatic weather and can move gently into spring!

Poppies and Irises

 Another lovely sunny day and stunning bright red oriental poppies and yellow irises came into flower

Just after Midsummer

 I usually try to post photos of the garden at Midsummer but I got distracted last week so took them yesterday 26th. The flowers seem to have taken over the old vegetable patch completely but hiding among them I still have quite a few veg growing.

 The blue-flowered and podded peas, blauwschokker

...the white Delikett mangetout peas  - their wigwam of sticks can just be seen to the left of the path in the photo above

and - can you spot the difference? - actual sweet peas. These are the first of this year's flowers on plants from homegrown seed and I'm hoping that not all the flowers will be white!

strawberries line the paths - I'm just waiting for them to ripen as they're a little behind the allotment berries which I'm already picking.

There'll be a longer wait for the apples but it looks like there could be a massive crop.







The irises I was given by a neighbour are doing well in their new spot

the oriental poppies were looking good till today's rain..

I have some new flowers in the garden. Grown from seed last year this is the first time they've flowered - Sweet Williams, above, and rock roses in a variety of pink and white shades

June in the garden - flowers

london pride

 June has come in with wonderful sunny weather and a garden full of flowers

enormous allium heads

iris

the 'rescued' violas starting to feel at home

welsh poppies

'backdoor' border filling out

drifts of forget-me-nots and aquilegias

oriental poppy

and aquilegias in almost every shade of purple and pink

May Flowers

This is the time of year when the garden looks fullest and most colourful. I have lots of perennials in the flower beds as they bloom year after year with minimal effort on my part, and most of them flower about May/June time.

















There are delicate drooping solomon's seals, bright brashy oriental poppies, irises, peonies and frothy london pride.






Unfortunately, after a hot dry April, May has turned showery and cool. The rain is undoubtedly needed but I wish I could sit outside more and enjoy the flowers.

yesterday's sunshine

very excited to discover a cream foxglove in the garden. had one several years ago but it died without re-seeding.

heuchera

lovely irises from a cheap, out of date pack of bulbs

more foxgloves spreading in the veg patch

london pride

flowering now

peonies

irises

and lilac