SNAP HAPPY

Managed to get out and about yesterday so made the most of it and took a few photos. The first two were taken as I pushed Mick to the shops; a couple of sure signs of Spring. I'd love those blue Irises in our garden.
When we got back from the shops, although it has seemed slightly warmer the ice on the pond cover had still not completely melted.Though it hadn't worried the frogs who had laid a new batch of spawn.Looking around the garden I realised that we are now starting to accumulate a few different Narcissi which range both in colour and size. This photo is of our smallest and largest.
I know I've been trying to resist photos of plants that are just shooting through the soil; but had to take this photo of one of our Peonys....I love the colour of the red shoots.
The Pulmanaria is starting to flower; these blue flowers will fade into shades of pink.
The Epymidium flowers look almost jewel like
as do "Rubys"Our Camellia buds are swelling...not long now.......it is in the shadiest part of our garden, by the kitchen door and NEVER receives any direct sunlight.

Mick's Hack's Red is starting to flower, It struggles a little in a pot but seems to be doing well.

Our Pieris are in pots too...all that feeding last year with potash and acid feed has paid off.

Another "shooting" plant.....the pink Dicentra is already showing its buds
And this little bedding begonia that has been outside through two winters now has managed to survive the cold snap of the last week

Really couldn't resist another Pleione photo; the buds actually emerge from the soil.

and last but not least; isn't it incredible how plants will pop up where you least expect them. This Violet is growing in the gap between the wood of the trough.

As we have no visitors this weekend I'm hoping to get time to pot on some of the seedlings I have growing. When I sowed them I was short of compost so the seed trays are not full; I think the seedlings could do with some more growing space now.....I'm going to enjoy this job...even if I do have to do it indoors.

TIME FOR A LINGER?

It's been a little while since I had the time to invite you in for a sit down and a beverage and as the weather is so pleasant we may as well make the most of it and sit in the garden;

That's it...make yourself comfy.... and I'll tell you what's been going on in the seedling department.

The "Poor Man's Orchids" (Schizanthus) are really doing well
and so are the Alpine Strawberries.And talking of strawberries; the Strawberry Spinach seeds are already germinating....I only sowed them on 8th March.
The Great Pip Challenge pots are doing quite well

the Lychee has now sent up a shoot
all the orange pips have germinated
and the Avocado looks like it's going to be an attractive plant.
I'm not sure about the ginger though....Libby's is really shooting well but mine just seems to be sitting there and not moving at all.
I've got to repot the Bishop of Llandaff and Fascination Dahlias so while I'm doing that help yourself to an ice-cream

The Bishop hasn't been repotted for two years now; I've just been top dressing it so I reckon it deserves some fresh compost.

As my hands are dirty anyway I'm lifting these Carnations that have got quite woody. I could take cuttings but I think I'll just "drop" them; I'll dig a deeper hole and plant them deeper so that all those woody stems are beneath the soil; the stems will start to send out shoots and the whole plant will look far bushier...I've done this before with heathers too and it always seems to work.

If you look very closely this frog is eating a worm; would rather he had eaten a slug!
Some poor frog must have "missed" and has laid its spawn on top of this rock; I'll quickly turn it on its side so that the spawn is underwater.

I love the way that this daffodil holds it's petals so far back.

The hanging basket begonias are shooting well; I'll start topping the compost up soon.
Even the bedding Begonias are starting to shoot.
The freebie grasses I found in the paving cracks are looking happy
and quite a few of that VERY OLD packet of Sweet Peas have grown...they were well past their sow by date.
I'm glad I cut the Epymidium leaves off as the flowers have started to open. They are like miniature Daffodils.The Senetti are growing on well; I'll start sorting out some proper large pots for them next week. I don't want them becoming root bound in these modules.
Well I bet you're all itching to get back to your own gardens; see you again soon!

THINGS ARE STARTING TO MOVE!

Now I realise that as Spring approaches we are all going to be ultra busy in the garden and with our Spring Cleaning (ha ha). These long leisurely cuppas are going to have to be put on hold for a while. It's going to be a case of a quick flit in and out and maybe a comment if you've time....it's OK I understand...I'm a gardener too remember! I have also got to curb my desire to photograph every single plant that starts shooting up.............everything's on the move now and we would be here all night! So I will TRY to only publish photos of plants; only as they come into flower; anything that's new to me or anything I think is unusual or particularly interesting. Now remember I did say "TRY" so forgive me if the odd little "shooting" photo turns up now and again.

I'd already taken a photo of this Toad Lily coming through so this doesn't count
and neither does this Wild Garlic. OK I know some people think of it as a weed but we seem to have it under control and it's great to cook with besides having very pretty flowers.
I do so love crocus when they open their flowers to the sun
and who could resist Anemone Blanda in flower
This is a job I must do; the Epymidium leaves need cutting off. If I leave them too long I'll risk cutting off the flower stems too; and these old leaves will start to look tatty soon.Look you can see the flower buds are starting to emerge!
The Fritillaria Persica buds are already stating to form!!!....since yesterday!

And just spotted the white Dicentra is coming through at last.

See!....now wasn't I good. I didn't photograph the phlox, the dog's tooth violets, the aconitum, the delphiniums, the...............

Oh... just one more thing; the Rincinus seeds, that Libby sent me, are now in soak.
Oh and there's more...this evening I read for the first time a blog by a lady called Olive......she is 107 years old! What an inspiraion to us all. To see for yourself click HERE.