Sunday, March 15, 2009

GBBD - March

The 15th of each month comes around with such speed. And so it is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Thanks, Carol!

I think Spring has at last arrived properly now. The sun is out, the days are stretching - soon I'll be able to potter about the garden after work.
The crocuses are nearly over. The anemones are basking in the sunshine.
Daffodils trumpet out that spring has arrived, and tulip buds are starting to show amidst the succulent leaves. I make no apologies for the number of photos of the daffodils - so much of their year is spent hidden underground, only remembered when you accidently spear one digging a planting hole for 'just one more' herbaceous perennial, then a brief fanfare of yellow, followed by a couple of months while you bemoan their untidy leaves. So, bring on the trumpets!





The trees and shrubs are just full of latent energy ready to explode into new leaf, such as my beautiful Acer 'Sango kaku'.

But, hiding their beauty by demurely facing down are the stars of the garden at the moment - our hellebores. The centre of each flower is a glorious confection, like a tiara or an exploding ivory firework.






23 comments:

VP said...

I don't blame you for showing off your daffodils. They seem to have peaked at just the right time for Blooms Day this year!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

I'm totally in love with your Hellebore girl ! .. of course your other flower treats are so pretty too .. but Hellebore are driving me to distraction .. I must have more Hellebore !! : ) Joy

Anonymous said...

Hi Happy, so much to be happy about in your garden! The leafing out of Sango is much anticipated here, I will go check on mine for it was purchased already in leaf last year. The anemones are so sweet, the daffs a delight, and the hellebores get a hooray! Sorry for that. :-) You have such a good variety, they deserve ample study of the number of freckles and coloration difference. Ah, spring.
Frances

Yvonne said...

I'm impressed/jealous of all those lovely hellebores. Still waiting for ours here in southern Ontario, Canada.

sweetbay said...

Those anemones are lovely basking in the sun. Beautiful daffodil and hellebore pics.

Anonymous said...

You have a wonderful assortment of Hellebores. The colors are just beautiful! I'm adding these for the first time to my garden this year. Happy Spring!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

No need to apologize for the Daffodils, they're wonderful! You have such a great variety of Hellebores. I love them all.

Anonymous said...

Very nice. I love the daffs.

Gail said...

Happy, I think your photos are delightful~~and the anemones are lovely...Is there a secret to getting them to grow? I planted them but see no evidence they survived! I have declared this Hellebore Year...and love the variety of color and type yours display. Gail

HappyMouffetard said...

@ Gail - no secret I can impart with the anemones, I'm afraid. I just chuck the corms in the ground. I believe some people recommend that you soak them prior to planting, so that may be worth a try.

Thanks for the comments - it has been a very good year for the Hellebores. The sun is still shining here, and I've just come back in from the garden after my first afternoon gardening in a tee shirt for this year!

chaiselongue said...

Yes, daffodils make the most of their few weeks in the sun, don't they? Impossible not to smile when you look at them. Your hellebores are beautiful. I've never grown them. I wonder if they would survive our dry climate...

Helen/patientgardener said...

Seeing your hellebores in their dish reminded me that I meant to pick some today to do the same, but its dark now!! Lovely blooms

Anonymous said...

You have some lovely hellebore - I like the double one.
It was such a great day today for being the garden - so warm, fingers crossed for a better summer than last year.
K

Anna said...

Those yellow trumpets certainly deserve their own special fanfare for surviving all those near misses. You have some beautiful hellebores there and as you say they are the star of the moment :)

Town Mouse said...

Love those hellobores! Amazing photos!

kate smudges said...

What gorgeous Hellebores you have! I love your collection of daffodils. They are a beautiful sight!!

Trisha xx said...

Very pretty!

Shirley said...

Oh yes, the daffs are great to see. Oh yes... I adore hellebores :-D

Ah... but the plant that caught my eye this time were the anemones. Oh... it has been a long time since I've grown them. I think I should rectify that for next year! Happy GBBD :-D

Les said...

Just wanted to thank you for stopping by my site. Your Hellebores are spectacular!

Silvia Hoefnagels . Salix Tree said...

Your hellebores are stunning!
I was growing some for the past few years, but they seem to have dissapeared, maybe the shady spot was too dark. Must get more someday.
Happy daffs! I love them.

HappyMouffetard said...

Thank you for your comments. It's so nice to be able to go out into the garden in the evening when I get home now it's getting lighter. I spent 10 minutes just lifting up the hellebore blooms and admiring them this evening.

Rosemarie said...

I love the photos of your hellebores. Lovely!

Anonymous said...

Anemones, daffodils, and hellebores...all plants I'd love to be able to grow. The first two I've tried and they didn't come back. Just too hot here in Austin unless I want to treat them like annuals and replace them constantly.

Thanks for sharing photos of flowers I can only dream of.