Not a great deal has changed since last month - has a month really passed already??!!!
Of course the Irises and Crocus have begun to open but in terms of perennial growth very little obvious changes have occurred. I have noticed a few more perennials showing first signs of new growth but it is so small it is almost not worth posting photographs of.
I've noticed the first of my Coneflowers has begun to grow, we also have small growth on Sea Holly, Hollyhocks, Veronica… The only really noticeable growth is by the Foxgloves - which don't ever seem to stop growing.
I fear the only victims of the harsh winter have been my young Verbena Bonariensis, they are not looking at all healthy… I have faith!
The seeds I sowed around the 3rd have begun to come up, we now have Cosmos, Cupid's Dart, Tomato and Sweet Pea seedlings. It didn't take them long at all, less than a week to begin breaking through the soil.
Here comes the point where you get yourself a cup of tea/coffee and wade through the masses of photos…
Of course the Irises and Crocus have begun to open but in terms of perennial growth very little obvious changes have occurred. I have noticed a few more perennials showing first signs of new growth but it is so small it is almost not worth posting photographs of.
I've noticed the first of my Coneflowers has begun to grow, we also have small growth on Sea Holly, Hollyhocks, Veronica… The only really noticeable growth is by the Foxgloves - which don't ever seem to stop growing.
I fear the only victims of the harsh winter have been my young Verbena Bonariensis, they are not looking at all healthy… I have faith!
The seeds I sowed around the 3rd have begun to come up, we now have Cosmos, Cupid's Dart, Tomato and Sweet Pea seedlings. It didn't take them long at all, less than a week to begin breaking through the soil.
Here comes the point where you get yourself a cup of tea/coffee and wade through the masses of photos…
Our first Bee!
Solitary Bee or Honey, which do you think??
Two types of Iris in the Garden, 'Pauline' and 'Harmony'
Anemone
Lupin is beginning to put on real growth
The magical Rose's bud is still with us, and I do believe another is appearing on the left…
Brachycome flower, I've been hardening them off outside over the weekend… Unsure how long to wait before planting.
A Daffodil… I think??? I don't remember what I planted, in the end with the mixes I got I just planted anything anywhere!
Allium 'Purple Sensation'… Getting excited now!
Side of the house, I think I'll sprinkle lots of seeds along here and leave them… I have other areas to concentrate on. Although… Once the Rhubarb has grown, you can barely walk down the path it's so large! The only reason I've left it, because it's better than nothing. Once I have the other areas sorted I'll begin concentrating on the side and front.
Irises 'Pauline' and 'Harmony' together, the only pot left where they grow together… I used to have lots like this, I wonder what happened…
Winter Jasmine
Sea Holly, I want to plant this in the new border… It was only planted in a pot as a 'temporary' arrangement… Mmmm
I'm enjoying the Crocus far too much, they're beautiful!
The Hoveflies quickly found the Crocus as they opened…
'Blue' Hoverfly is still alive and still in my garden! Very surprised… They must stay in the same areas…
Another Hoverfly, this one was smaller than 'Bluey'.
I think I must be the 'insect whisperer'... They allow me to get so close!
22 comments:
So much spring beauty, but most beautiful of all is that bee with all its bee parts covered in fluffy yellow pollen!
Happy Bloom Day, Liz! Stunning pics from your garden there. Loving the crocus myself just now. Fantastic to see your first bees and the hoverfly at the pollen already! Wishing you a good week :-D
Oh my goodness, Liz! I can't decide which photo is the best...they just keep getting better and better! Your photography skills are really excellent. The closeup of the bee with the pollen stuck to it's little legs...are your kidding?!?! WOW!!!!!! I do really like the purple crocus, though...I have a thing for purple/yellow AND crous, so...! I just found out about the Macro Flowers Saturday meme and the Gardening Gone Wild monthly contest...you should definitely submit some of your material!
Great photos! How do you get the bee to stay still?
Happy bloom day
Beautiful photographs Liz. I love the flowers, but I especially like the bees. I can't believe you found the same blue hoverfly again!
aloha liz,
you have alot of beautiful blooms coming from your garden today and it looks like alot of sweet smelling blooms also...thanks for sharing....i love all the amazing macro shots you presented today - gorgeous!
Hi Cyndy,
Thanks, I do love Spring and seeing not only the plants emerging but also the wildlife!
I just hope Winter is now definitely behind us, and there are no more cold snaps around the corner…
Hi Shirl,
Happy Bloom Day to you too, it looks like many of us participating were enjoying Crocus blooms… :)
I’m shocked to learn that the Hoverflies must be hanging around, especially the one with blue on it… Perhaps my garden is like an oasis for them at the moment, I don’t imagine many others have much blooming either.
A worry, and a shame actually if my garden is the only one nearby with any food source for them.
Hi Kimberly,
Ha ha, I’m glad you liked the photos :)
I really do think I’m an insect whisperer, they all seem to allow me to get far too close, the last images were taken as close as my lens would allow focusing, so I must’ve been literally inches away from the Hoverfly.
The same happens with Butterflies during summer too… Now I just wish it worked on the Birds too…
Thank you very much for checking my blog out, it’s much appreciated :D
Hi TM,
I didn’t get it to stay still…. Lol, they were too engrossed with getting food to pay enough attention to me.
I guess this proves to anyone with insect/Bee/Wasp phobias – they’re not out to get you!
Crocus amungus! I love them! I have a very dear friend in Sheffield and visited a couple years ago - we went hiking in Derbyshire on the Edges etc - I had no idea it was so beautiful there, just never happened to visit that part of England before. I love visiting British blogs, makes me a little homesick. BTW both verbena bonariensis and - boo hoo! - sweet peas are invasive here, so I don't grow them. I did grow sweet peas but then they started escaping, and they grow all over the country lanes in our county, which is pretty but rather unfortunate.
Hi Liz.
Your crocuses and irises are just so pretty. It is wonderful to see things growing again. Beautiful shots!
Lona
How wonderful to see a bee.....winter will soon be forgotten, nothing but a distant memory.
An insect whisperer.....so funny, but then I suppose you could be. Why not!
Lovely to see all your blooms and new growth. I expect the sap is rising in you as well as the garden!!
I do like those irises Liz - mine chose to open today - too late for Bloom Day :) Maybe the recent wet winters have resulted in you losing some as they like being sun baked in summer. Great photos as usual!
Beautiful flower photos Liz, it is so good to see colour at last after the long Winter. How interesting that the 'blue' Hoverfly is still visiting, I hadn't realised they are territorial but I suppose they are the same as any other creature. The last but one photo is particularly stunning and reminds me of one of those old fashioned pilots with goggles :)
Hi CV,
Thank you very much :)
I’m still very surprised to discover they clearly stay in an area, normally you’d simply never realise whether it’s the same one or not would you?
No doubt food sources are playing a major role in where they stay at the moment.
Hi Noel,
Thank you very much for visiting my blog, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos :)
I’m thoroughly enjoying the spring bulbs at the moment, they’re looking very pretty filling my pots up by the front door and on the back. We’re even getting them flowering in the shady front now, although it’s unlikely they will ever fully open as they don’t get sun, the purple and white are really brightening things up!
Hi CM,
I’m glad you enjoyed Sheffield, there is certainly plenty of wonderful countryside a stones-throw away from the city centre in the form of the peak district.
Of course there’s also the no doubt world famous Chatsworth House nearby too which is always worth a visit!
Although, coming from Scotland I imagine you are well used to beautiful scenery… I do miss the Highlands myself, I’ve been visiting pretty much every year of my life… Last summer we were unable to go but I do hope to pop up again this year…
Argh, imagine being unable to grow sweet peas or verbena?? That would be a nightmare, as both are must-haves in my garden! I wouldn’t be able to endure a summer without the constant scent of sweet peas in a vase :(
Hi Lona,
Thanks :)
We have a large pot by our front door, which I crammed full of bulbs last Autumn (it was already full, but I crammed more in) and now I must have 20/30 Iris flowering… It looks wonderful and I cannot help but stop to look at it.
It’s a shame during summer I know there will be very little in there… I didn’t plan it too well ha ha.
Hi Anna,
Oh, such a shame your Iris were a little late! Not to worry, you can always sneak them into the end of month view, or even next GBBD, no one will ever know! ;)
I have a feeling mine have been lost due to carelessness, squirrels, foxes and slugs/snails… I’ll have to remedy that for next year, especially the crocus issue. I planted 200 crocus in Autumn but not enough variety and wish to have more prinz clauus next year. The ‘snow buntings’ have been truly stunning and I may be tempted to get more…
Hi Cheryl,
I know, I was very excited when I realised we had a Bee flying around the Hellebore rather than a Hoverfly!
There was no way I was missing the photo opportunity – even if it was still early morning and the light was poor.
Well, you hear of horse and dog whisperers… haha, there’s no other way I can explain why Butterflies, Bees, Hoverflies and such all allow me to get literally an inch or two away from them. It would be nice if the birds followed suit though…
Yesterday was so wonderful in the garden, even once I arrived home… Normally by 4/5pm it’s beginning to get a little too chilly to potter around for too long. I plan on really getting started with the seedlings over the next week or two, especially your ragged robin, red Campion and range of poppies.
Oh, sad news… The fleabane is almost dead. I don’t know what happened :( There’s a little bit of life left but…. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Hi Jan,
Thank you for the lovely comment Jan :)
How are things going in your garden? I hope your old blossoms will be coming out soon! My Autumn Cherry is flowering now… After missing flowering actually in the Autumn! Perhaps they have alternate years off as such… I know lots of trees tend to have a rest every other year and then flower profusely the next.
Perhaps it knew something we all didn’t!
Maybe one day I’ll post the Hoverfly image at full crop, then you’ll be able to see the detail in the thousands of ‘eyes’ they have… Usually I don’t manage to get such detail!
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