I've left it rather late to take this blog off its winter hiatus, but then spring seems a little bit late in coming to the garden this year.
But now it's here, in both the front and the back yard. It started with crocuses, as it always does, but this year they looked just the same as last year. (Except for the additional mix I got at the grocery store last autumn. I have to say that was a waste of money. A poor showing of tiny, mostly pale yellow crocuses. I now understand why my "Ruby Giant" are called "Giant", even if I'm still not sure why purple crocuses are called "Ruby".)
We did also add plenty of early tulips to the garden last autumn, though, and that seems to have paid off well.
Early Tulips
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
The purple hyacinths are ancient (by the standards of this garden) and strong, and return year after year. The white ones return, but they are sparse and sickly looking. There are the light purple hyacinths under the gingko tree, which are the same colour as the periwinkle that is also blooming right now.
Hyacinth and Periwinkle
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
We also have dark purple hyacinths under the Camperdown elm. These ones are really striking in contrast with the hybrid daffodils that bloom at the same time.
Dark Purple Hyacinth
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Garden Under the Elm
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Hybrid Daffodils
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Over in another corner of the back yard we have other things going on. This time of year, with the snow cover gone and the hostas not yet grown, we get an interesting view of the base of the willow tree. This tree has character. And we love it (as do some of our neighbours) for the privacy it gives us.
Base of Willow Tree
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Under the willow, some flowers that will also eventually compete with the hostas that grow there: fritillaria.
Fritillary
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Now, I'm assuming, probably wrongly, that "fritillary" is the singular of "fritillaria", and that "fritillaria" is a real word. If you are a person well-versed in flower lore who knows otherwise, please educate me. If I am wrong, I'd rather not have it go on for too long.
Another flower that blooms at this time of year that's located nearby is the pasque flower. Here is one that is almost open.
Pasque Flower
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
It is Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rode Klokke' (Red Bells). I did have some nice purple pasque flower, but these are newer, planted in 2006. I think the purple ones died off (it grew to be quite a large plant, as seen halfway down this post) and only the red ones remain.
Moving back to the front of the house, the magnolia is once again starting its glorious bloom time. I'm afraid the Nootka is starting to invade the magnolia's space though. I don't like to prune evergreens, but removing the entire Nootka is not really an option, since it is part of a group of three, so I might have to remove some length from a couple of branches in order to give the magnolia some more room to grow.
Magnolia and Nootka: Close Enough to Kiss
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
In this final photo, however, you would never know there's a problem.
Glorious Magnolia Blossoms
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
...
Copyright © all rights reserved. All text and images in this post belong to kbgardenblog.blogspot.com.
But now it's here, in both the front and the back yard. It started with crocuses, as it always does, but this year they looked just the same as last year. (Except for the additional mix I got at the grocery store last autumn. I have to say that was a waste of money. A poor showing of tiny, mostly pale yellow crocuses. I now understand why my "Ruby Giant" are called "Giant", even if I'm still not sure why purple crocuses are called "Ruby".)
We did also add plenty of early tulips to the garden last autumn, though, and that seems to have paid off well.
Early Tulips
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
The purple hyacinths are ancient (by the standards of this garden) and strong, and return year after year. The white ones return, but they are sparse and sickly looking. There are the light purple hyacinths under the gingko tree, which are the same colour as the periwinkle that is also blooming right now.
Hyacinth and Periwinkle
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
We also have dark purple hyacinths under the Camperdown elm. These ones are really striking in contrast with the hybrid daffodils that bloom at the same time.
Dark Purple Hyacinth
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Garden Under the Elm
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Hybrid Daffodils
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Over in another corner of the back yard we have other things going on. This time of year, with the snow cover gone and the hostas not yet grown, we get an interesting view of the base of the willow tree. This tree has character. And we love it (as do some of our neighbours) for the privacy it gives us.
Base of Willow Tree
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Under the willow, some flowers that will also eventually compete with the hostas that grow there: fritillaria.
Fritillary
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
Now, I'm assuming, probably wrongly, that "fritillary" is the singular of "fritillaria", and that "fritillaria" is a real word. If you are a person well-versed in flower lore who knows otherwise, please educate me. If I am wrong, I'd rather not have it go on for too long.
Another flower that blooms at this time of year that's located nearby is the pasque flower. Here is one that is almost open.
Pasque Flower
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
It is Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rode Klokke' (Red Bells). I did have some nice purple pasque flower, but these are newer, planted in 2006. I think the purple ones died off (it grew to be quite a large plant, as seen halfway down this post) and only the red ones remain.
Moving back to the front of the house, the magnolia is once again starting its glorious bloom time. I'm afraid the Nootka is starting to invade the magnolia's space though. I don't like to prune evergreens, but removing the entire Nootka is not really an option, since it is part of a group of three, so I might have to remove some length from a couple of branches in order to give the magnolia some more room to grow.
Magnolia and Nootka: Close Enough to Kiss
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
In this final photo, however, you would never know there's a problem.
Glorious Magnolia Blossoms
Philosophical Karen © all rights reserved
...
Copyright © all rights reserved. All text and images in this post belong to kbgardenblog.blogspot.com.
