Friday was misty and remained so all day despite the sun trying to burn it off. But the duller day helped me take some photos of flowers that had proved difficult to capture in the brightness.
As April wends it way to the end, it has to be said that this must be the most unusual April I, and everyone else, have ever experienced. This week here in the south-west there was a couple of dull days with overnight rain, badly needed I must say, with the result that the flowers are looking very cheerful. Every day I go into the garden and do some weeding. Chickweed, bittercress,bindweed and cleavers are all making a come-back. And my mini mini-meadow has more common daisies than ever! Some of the Camassias appear to have flower spikes so I am getting increasingly hopeful. I just hope nothing nasty comes along and eats them. And yes, you, Mr Snail, hiding in the tulip flowers. I am talking to you!
(1) The last of my Narcissi to flower is commonly known as the poet’s narcissi or pheasant’s eye, Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus is a late-flowering daffodil with white, swept-back petals that curve at the edges and surround a yellow, flattened cup fringed with red. Best grown in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil they are easy to grow, perfect for naturalising and growing in long grass, where the intense fragrance that emanates from the flowers will waft on the breeze. Well there is always plenty of breeze wafting here, but I haven’t noticed the scent yet. I planted these in the new woodland border under the trees which gets plenty of sun at the moment.
(2) Another of the rockery Narcissi has finally flowered, much later than all the rest who have now gone into the Wild Garden area to die down, before I lift them ready to replant in the autumn. This is Sundisc, white with a yellow cup, though mine look to be pale yellow and for some reason very difficult to photograph! I keep taking photos, but they always look over exposed. Still it is a pretty little thing for all its reluctance to appear in this blog. I can see why they have their name.
(3) Back to new border under the trees. This is where the Bay tree grows, well shrub really and I have had to cut it back quite hard as it was obstructing the pathway. I am trying to encourage it to be a hedge! Many of you might not realise that it does have flowers, though they are so tiny they are easily missed.
(4) And under the contorted or twisted hazel tree is an Epimedium. I didn’t manage to get a decent photo of the tiny orange flowers a few weeks ago, but here is a photo of the lovely new leaves with their pretty patterning.
(5) Moving away from this bed to the raised Herb bed which is sadly lacking herbs at the moment, though an online order has gone in so I am hopeful for a delivery next month. Meanwhile two pretty Aquilegia were planted here last autumn, A. caerulea Spring Magic Rose and A. caerulea Spring Magic White, they are supposed to be different colours, one white and one pink, but they look the same to me.
(6) The final flower this week is one that lives in the Belfast sink planter. This is a Pasque Flower / Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rubra Red’ with a lovely bright yellow, stamen-filled centre. It didn’t flower quite in time for Easter, but it is a beauty all the same. I also have a purple one but no flowers on that one yet, though lots of pretty feathery, grey-green leaves with the silky hairs.
Another three weeks in our temporary retreat from society before we know how or when things will change, no exit strategy seems to be forthcoming any time soon. I sincerely hope that everyone is keeping safe and well. It’s a heart-sickening situation and we are the lucky ones to have our gardens to tend and share. On Wednesday there was the loveliest pink sunrise (06:00) which extended 360 degrees around my house. With sights like these (header photo) I am almost happy to #StayAtHome.
As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to our host, the lovely Jon, AKA ‘The Propagator’ where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world.
Take care out there!
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
A lovely selection, I particularly like the white aquilegia and the epimedium foliage. We are so lucky to have our loved of gardens gardening at any time, but now it’s more important than ever..
Very true. I wish I had got a pink Aquilegia though. Maybe I’ll contact the nursery and let them know. They might send me a replacement 🙂
Your last miniature daffodil is just as pretty as the rest you’ve shown. I’ve enjoyed seeing all of them.
Thank you HB. The miniatures have been a great success. I hope they will come back next year. I will leave them in their pots and then replant in September with fresh compost and see if that works. Sundisc is actually one of the better ones though the Tête-à-tête are lovely especially the white one.
What a beautiful sunrise. I must get a Pasqueflower flower for next spring, they’re so beautiful
Only one flower though which is a little sad. I might try lifting them and put into deeper pots, though I have read they hate having their roots disturbed.
Lovely photos, Jude. I’m glad you have your garden to keep you happy and busy during these troubled times. Australia (and NZ) seem to have avoided the bullet for the moment, but I’m wondering if there will be a second wave.
Skies definitely cleaner here and some glorious sunrises and sets, but I can’t help but notice increased waste from people buying takeaway, and discarding gloves. Who knows when this will end. Stay safe.
Well I see clear skies anyway so not much change here. Just much quieter in the small supermarket I go to which at this time of the year is usually where the holiday-makers visit. I see you can visit your beaches again, I hope we can visit ours soon too. I am itching for a bare-foot walk along the shoreline.
It’s all been a bit surreal recently.
Like living in a dystopian novel or a vampire movie!
Is that pollen on those beautiful petals of the Pasque flower? Every time I see your garden I wonder how on earth you survived when you didn’t have one! Are you cultivating chickweed etc? Joe’s latest passion is the post-fire cultivation of weeds and exploration of their properties.
The Pasque flower is rather lovely with a soft sheen on the petals and silky hairs on the leaves. I hope the purple one flowers. As for chickweed it just seems to have arrived from nowhere! It is edible I believe and the flowers are rather pretty 🙂
I have those pheasants eye daffs. they look like they are experiencing a very windy day. I have never noticed a fragrance, although they are a long way down for me. I also notice this year that less have returned, so they are anti-spreading for me at the moment, I wonder why?
I have noticed the perfume now more of them have opened. I’ve only got 10 bulbs so I will see how many come back next year. Hoping that we don’t have such a wet winter as this last one.
Looking good. Keep saying I’ll add pheasants eye then don’t end up getting hold of them. My aquilegia are just getting towards flowering. They’re mostly self seeded so have reverted back to mucky purples and pinks. I’m growing a few lime green varieties to liven them up a bit.
I have admired the pheasant’s eye on several blogs so decided that this year I had to have some. They seem to be very happy under the hazel tree and swaying in the wind. Good to have a later flowering one as most of the others have finished now.