We have flowers !
In case you're thinking that I've been busy in the garden, nope, planted these last September. They've been outside all through the winter, and have just burst into full bloom.
And these were also planted in September. If you decide to give it a try this autumn, make sure you plant large established plants. In previous years, I've used small plug plants in September, and they just don't survive the winter.
Did you know that we are about seven growing weeks behind in the UK at the moment ? And it's only about eight weeks to Midsummer's Day, after which the nights start drawing in. Just saying.
And on that happy note, how about a topical tip: I got a free garlic bulb with my groceries the other day. Now I like garlic, but alas, garlic does not like me. However, all is not lost. You see, roses absolutely adore garlic. It protects them against aphids, mildew and blackspot. And, as far as I know, it doesn't give them indigestion either. So I will be dividing the garlic bulb into individual cloves, and planting them close to each rose.
Totally off topic, I thought I'd share a little more Sheffield news with you. Don Valley Stadium, an athletics stadium built over 20 years ago, on an old steelworks site where my father used to work, is to be demolished. Very sad, I know, but it's yet another casualty of austerity cuts. Apparently, the local council can't afford to maintain it anymore. And what will they build in it's place, you may ask ? Why, a sports stadium, of course. Obviously made of self-maintaining materials that haven't been invented yet. Can't fault forward planning.
We've been having a lot of April showers recently, resulting in one of my favourite weather phenomenons; love rainbows.
And finally, following on from my last "guess the plant" post. By the way, the last one was a Tree Peony. Here's another one for all you plantaholics:
Now come on, easy peasy.
Give you a clue, this is a summer flowering shrub. Now that narrows it down, doesn't it ?
Your spring planters look very bright and cheerful. The weather has definitely put us behind this year. I've no idea what the shrub is under snow; I was going to guess rose tree but now that you've said shrub nothing comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteThere's a shrub rose planted just in front of it, so you're very close, I suppose.
DeleteYay! Spring at last! The rainbow is pretty and I have no idea about the mystery plant.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see everything coming to life at last the planters are so colourful.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have no idea what the shrub is, but your planters are looking beautiful. I love violas, so bright and cheerful.
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Your tubs are looking great, I am also a fan of planting up containers in late September. Shame about Don Valley Stadium, if your council is anything like ours you will be waiting long enough for the affordable!!! replacement. Guess the plant! come on give us a break, well (A Snowberry Bush)..
ReplyDeleteWell it is a bush under the snow, but not quite a Snowberry Bush, sorry.
DeleteThe hanging basket outside our front door that has been bloomin' away since the autumn with Violas has been demolished by the starlings seeking nesting material....grrrr
ReplyDeleteCan't resist a competition....is it a 'snow drop' get it? Snow drop...lol (tumble weed moment!)......
Well yes the snow did drop, but err......
DeleteAre your starlings into interior decorating then ?
They must have the most colourful nest in the neighbourhood if it's full of violas.
How lovely! All those colors sure do sing a song of spring. I love violas and plant them in the fall to get the color in the spring, too.
ReplyDeletePięknie Ci bratki przetrwały zimę i kwitną. Z czosnkiem dobry pomysł. Nie mam pojęcia co się ukryło pod śniegiem. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteThese beautiful pansies survive the winter and bloom. The garlic good idea. I have no idea what is concealed under the snow. Yours.
I agree about plug plants...I bought some last September, primroses and pansies, some of them have just started to flower! Most of them survived the winter but still...My garden is also 5-7 weeks late, I hope some things will catch up eventually but I have my doubts.
ReplyDeleteAs for garlic, I love it too, but my stomach doesn’t so I use garlic paste, that my stomach can tolerate, have you tried it? Taste the same in cooked food.
The shrub looks like my acer before it gets leaves, but that’s not a flowering shrub so I guess that’s not what it is?
There's a an acer growing nearby, so you were close.
DeleteI love violas - yours are lovely. I also love garlic, I'd probably suffer the indigestion rather than give up my daily dose. Thanks for the tip about garlic and pests.
ReplyDeleteI do love your planters, they look very healthy. I can't get these to grow well in my garden. I might have to reconsider planters as you have shown your off beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't begin to guess what shrub it is. I'm not so good with shrubs I don't grow!
Thanks for mentioning the nights drawing in - some of us are still trying to nurture frost-damaged plants back to health! Is it a Philadelphus on a long stem? Or some kind of late-flowering broom? Oh I give up. Has it survived the snow? Now it's going to niggle me all day.
ReplyDeleteDon't mention it.
DeleteJust thought that with everyone getting excited about spring, I'd mention what's just around the corner, so to speak.
A very cold Fuchsia?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, a winner.
DeleteFuchsia Tom West to be exact.
Just checked it out, it's just coming into leaf bud, so it's survived the winter.
Hello, your planters look beautiful; I love the colours of the spring flowers. I wouldn't have known the fuchsia, but I'm glad it survived all that snow.
ReplyDelete