colours of spring

Early spring flowers have been rather late here this year. Winter abounded with heavy frosts and strong, cold winds, and this really seems to have affected the mill garden. I have been particularly concerned about the camellia near our front door, whose leaves, after storm Eowyn, began to yellow and crisp up. Were its buds affected too? Last week, when I was in Sussex, admiring many beautiful flowering camellias, I rang Tom to ask him whether the buds had opened. “What’s a camellia?” he asked, but later confirmed the buds looked pretty healthy though there were no flowers – yet. I was very happy to see the camellia looking much happier when I got back to Kintyre, and today – at last – its first flowers began to bloom. Hurrah!

My resilient camellia gives me an excuse to celebrate more of the lovely colours that are now appearing here in the mill garden (thanks to Tom, who may not know what a camellia is, but who really does know how to photograph one)

I planted small pots of muscari at the front and back doors, and particularly like the snow-capped “mount hood” variety.

I find these vivid blues very cheering.

Bran likes them too.

I’m a big fan of saxifrage, and planted several varieties last year, which are now making my rockery look very jolly indeed.

This one is ‘white pixie’

I think this one is “peter pan”

and I’m not sure what this cultivar is, but its striped pink petals are just delightful.

I love the way these delicate, mauve-hued wood anemones open, each in turn, as sunlight crosses the garden from east to west

. . . flowering, in a shady area, alongside other anemones, in their gorgeous purple-blues.

. . . and pink-purplish dog’s-tooth violets also illuminate the shady understory, with their eye-catching spikes and curls.

The mill garden’s hellebores, were, like the camellia, somewhat held back in March, but are now really looking at their best

as are these beautiful white fritillaries.

I’ve been so excited about all the narcissi popping up, since I planted two varieties: the elegant and striking “Pheasant’s eye”. . . .

. . . and the completely ridiculous “Casanova,” with its over-the-top blousy bi-coloured blooms. Casanova has been especially prolific, and I’ve cut several for the vase.

Both of the varieties I planted work very well with the garden’s existing narcissi . . .

. . . the majority of which seem to be of the two-tone type I particularly enjoy.

The trumpet of this last variety is a single shade, but has Casanova-rivalling blousiness – I just love it!

What a joy it is to see the hundreds of tulips I planted (through grass, and in pots) now in bud – I am really looking forward to their colourful display.

But this is the bud I’m probably most excited about – Fritillaria Persica “Magic Bells”. I planted three precious bulbs in a sheltered, sunny spot, and am so happy to see them doing ok, despite the winter’s cold!

What colours are you enjoying in your spring garden?