It was lovely!
Lilies are opening up. This is the view from where I sit in the morning with my coffee.
The gazanias are loving the sun, too! This is a two year old plant, and is truly enormous. Grown from seed, and is just stunning.
Gazania close up shots. The little white specks make me think of bird feathers.
Hope you have had some sunshine, too!
Things here are far from normal. I’d prefer not to go into detail, but hubby is again very unwell. Nevertheless, I found a way back into the gardening groove. I’ve done a lot in the last few days, without even getting near the years-old stash of seeds.
Wrong time of year, I know, but I planted the rest of the gladiolus hubby bought me last year (it might die, but it will certainly die if leave in the house another year). I also planted snakes-head fritillary, some ordinary lilies, three spider lilies, and about four other types of bulbs he bought for me last year. I’m almost glad he isn’t well enough to be shopping right now as I have hardly any room left! All these seed packets of potential life are kinda breaking my heart. I need about five more acres of land…
I have had a few happy surprises from older plants.
My peony has a bud! Just one, and it is soooo tiny. Today I saw that new shoots are coming up about 4in from the main plant, too. I think she is happy here!
I have an asparagus! One. Ah, well.
Celeriac? I tried some from seed two years ago, no joy. This grew in a poor bonsai that himself bought me – bonsai died (one of the things I’m not good at). I dug it out and moved it to the Stupid Girl raised bed. Hope it keeps going as we have discovered that celeriac is delicious.
Bluebells! Gift from his uncle.
I am pretty sure these gladiolus are coming up way too early. Also shown is the world’s tallest gazania, still going strong. Tallest according to Ark, who should know; they are native to South Africa.
The head of one of the red and black lilies I’ve had for years now. I love how they grow in an anti-clockwise spin.
Ash tree that decided to grow in one of my containers. There aren’t any ash trees nearby at all! One of two I have. They take up a good amount of space, but I have a friend who wants them both for his very wooded property. He is welcome to have them – I figure if they like me, they will like him, too.
My one and only tulip. You can’t tell here, but this is about the size of the top joint of my thumb. It is wee! I dug them all out last year and planted them nice and safe in sunshiney pots… I got one. Oh well! There is always next year.
Mystery things. Look orchid-y with the purple spots, but the stems are just a straight solid shoot. May be another blow in? Garden is now plagued (in a good way) with native orchids.
Rosemary back to its flowering tricks again. Second most neglected herb I have growing in a pot. I’m afraid to let it loose after what the oregano and sage have become (triffids, I’m not kidding).
Who doesn’t love these?
One for Ark – I rarely see grasshoppers here. This one is so tiny, that white thing is a dog hair. Poor thing was also missing one vital back leg. I ushered it into the grass, maybe it will have a chance there.
Usually not much is growing this time of year. But this has been a warm winter, mostly, and my plants are jumping ahead of schedule.
No surprise to see these fellows, though.
Snowdrops! Lots of them. I love how they spread and need no tending from me.
I’ve rather forgotten what these are. Bluebells, maybe? Hubby’s uncle did give me some last year.
Daffodils are really coming along, too. Ugh, so much clean up still to do!
For Ark – the cold hasn’t phased the monster gazania. For reference, that pot is about 45cm square. I couldn’t even get them all in the picture.
I moved all my tulips last year. Or, I thought I did. Missed this sneaky one. Seems happy there, however.
Fall-planted garlic is going gangbusters, too.
As is the clematis in the grey willow.
And my azalea is covered in flower buds! I think it has sorted itself out, almost. Was it last year or the year before that it bloomed in November, the silly thing?
I still have roses.
The leaves on the blueberry bushes are just stunning.
Best of all, I have new gazania. Really tall gazania! These grew from seed this year, and I popped them into a pot with gladiolus. That might give you some idea of how tall they are! All of my others are less than a foot tall – these are heading toward three!
Unfortunately there hasn’t been enough sunshine for the blooms to open fully. Shame as they are just gorgeous.
Yesterday there was a bit more sun and this one tried to soak it in. Blurry as it was also windy as heck yesterday!
This is what my gazania look like when they have finished blooming – yuck. I don’t think I’ll be getting any seeds.
Some of you are, anyway. Not here! But it’s a good excuse for me to do a post on hot red or orange blooms.
Crocosimia ‘lucifer’ in three stages of blooming.
And an orange variety, maybe montbretia? Had it for years but this is the first time it honoured us with flowers.
Rudbeckia! Comes back every year so far.
The thing that isn’t rudbeckia. Something with a G? Man I’m terrible. Grown from seed a few years ago now, it also come back.
Edit: it’s Galliardia!
A new one this year! This time I haven’t a clue due to a packaging mis-label, because this is NOT gladiolus callianthus. Oh well.
Gazania!
Red and black lilies, more of Aldi’s pixels mix. I should be the Aldi bulb spokesperson!
heretherebespiders 