The few flowers there are in the garden at the moment at very precious to me as a sign that spring is on the way.
Teucrium fruticosa flowers continuously from November through to April so though the flowers are small, they are profuse so they add a blue haze for many months.
Teucrium fruticosa
Euphorbia rigida is the first to show signs of the acid yellow inflorescence that proclaims spring is here!
Euphorbia rigida
First pink colouration appears as the ‘buds’ swell, then they open to reveal bright, acid yellow/green.
Euphorbia rigida
These small Irises are one of my favourites, they don’t last very long and it can be easy to miss seeing them at all, but they don’t cost very much so I’m prepared to indulge myself.
Iris Purple Gem
Iris Purple Gem
Next
Lonicera fragrantissima
Lonicera fragrantissima has the very best perfume of any plant I know! It doesn’t flower for as long a period here as it does in the UK, it needs some cold to trigger the flowers.
Viburnum tinus is mostly tight pink buds with just a few open to revel the white flower inside. This is another plant that does not flower for such a long period as in the UK where it flowers for maybe 6 months of the year. My plant has not fully recovered from the burning winds during the summer and a couple of large stems still seem to be dead. I’ll prune them out later in spring if there really is no chance from them recovering.
Buds of Viburnum tinus
Opening buds of Viburnum tinus
Arabis
Arabis, grown from seed is full of tightly closed buds, but a few are braving the cold nights.
A surprise is that one Phlomis sufuiticosa has buds that are nearly open, while another plant, perhaps a metre away, doesn’t even have any buds yet!
Phlomis
I planted these yellow Crocus Ancyrensis last autumn, I love their sunny colour.
Yellow Crocus Ancyrensis
Rosemary continues to attract bees to its masses of blue flowers.
Rosemary
But best of all are the dazzling flowers of Anemone Sylphide; I’ve never manages to grow these before and they are one of my favourite cut flowers too so now I’ve had some success I’ll plant lots more next year!
Anemone Sylphide
Anemone Sylphide
Anemone Sylphide
Not only are the colours stunning but the flowers last a long time, I showed the buds just before they opened for last GBBD and this is one of the flowers that was a bud then – I am impressed because we’ve had frosts many of the nights and heavy rain and terrifyingly strong winds and still the flowers are beautiful. Others I planted under the Mulberry tree are slower to flower but that will only extend the season further.
A very happy Bloomday to all gardeners everywhere. Thanks to Carol for hosting.
