Colour Wheels And Mice

The Crocuses actually opened today. Amazon the field mouse has chewed a fair few of them, but these three were untouched and unscathed. The brilliant gold and brown colours are luminescent in the gloomy day. I am so pleased they flowered at least once for me, after last years collapsing flowers.

I planted a pot yesterday with California Poppies and Cornflowers. I saw this colour combination today with the Crocus contrasting to the Blue Primula with the yellow eye. The two colours are nearly on the opposite side of the colour wheel.
I will buy more Crocus for the new garden as they are the first flowering Spring bulb in the garden.
My question is why mice love Crocuses so much.I have just read one Gardener trapped sixty mice in a growing season who were after his crocus!!

Green Sleeves And Leaves

The Alchelimia Molis regrowing with a raindrop caught in the middle of the new leaf.
I have been planting Alium bulbs, sowing seeds for Busy Lizzies, Pansies, and Snapdragons.
The patio by the kitchen door is covered by pots with Eryngiums, Calla, Roses, Honeysuckle from Cats garden, Garlic bulbs, a tree Peony...
Spring must be in the air. I tied the Raspberry canes to the mesh behind the plant.I also trimmed the Butterfly Bush to make it look neater.
All these little jobs help me reacquaint myself with the garden, getting dirt under my fingernails and on my hands.
I listened to music for tired gardeners, a collection of classical music inspired by gardens or by rural scenes.
My favourite at the moment is by the English composer Vaughn Williams Fantasia On Greensleeves.
The flowers, birds, bee's, and gardens have inspired composers over the ages. It was nice listening to it as I did the small garden jobs.

Wiche Hazel

A present to myself was this Witch Hazel, bought from Hampsons for ten pounds. I have wanted one for years after seeing them here and in Paris.
The Witch Hazel's flowers, fruit, and next years leaf buds all grow on the same part of the branch. The botanical name Hamamalis means "together with fruit". The wanderful yellow flowers give off a citrus like scent which is lovely to smell in the cold mornings.
The Flowers have the look of peeled oranges and lemons, with the fragrance to match


They are always sold like this in flower, so I can look forward to seeing the leaves appear then change in the autumn to fiery colours before they drop, and start the regrowth all over again.
I have been sat in the kitchen today watching the garden being blown around by some strong winds.
The spring bulbs seem to have had a growth spurt and the green strap leaves are all over the borders, and in the planter boxes. Masses of green spears thrusting up from the soil.
Buds are swelling on the Roses, Sambuca, and the Lilac Tree buds are unfurling. Even the Apple tree has some new growth from the bare stems.
Since I tidied up a few days ago there is not much to do in the garden except watch it grow, and wait for the spring flowers to come.
The Witch Hazel has dropped all of the yellow flowers now, so the leaves will come soon. I think they are magical tree's. Wiche was old english for pliant or bendable, and hazel as they were used for divining rods. I can see the witches using the twigs to divine water and ley lines.
The flowers look like magic as they drip from the dark branches..

Jews Mallow Sunday

One of my new plants this year is the gorgeous Kerria Japonica. Also called Jews Mallow or just Kerria. The bright double yellow flowers and light green oval leaves can illuminate the shadiest north facing wall or dark corner.
When I saw these before in a council display I did not know the name of it. I had the most comments about what is was, in all of Snappys Gardens blog posts.
This was known through the UK, North America, and Europe.
This plant will be moving with me in June. I will take a lot of the garden plants with me.
Each one has a story or a reason why I like them. Either the colour of the flower, or the scent of the pollen, or the shape of the plants.
I know people move houses, but do they always try to take their favourite plants with them to the new house?
The Kerria will defintely make the trip, along with the Rose Lady Emma Hamilton.

Anemone

The Anemone in flower today.I was tidying up today in the garden, and planting some bulbs.
Two white Lilys, one Stargazer Lily, three Eryngiums, and one Zantedeschia...
The birds were flying in to see what I was doing.I repotted the Kerria Japonica.
Things are growing nicely in the garden.I'm back at work tomorrow but will do a post about the music for tired gardeners....
I love this delicate flowering unfolding, it was a little cool for it to fully open.
The Anemone likes sunny days to open its flower..

March Sun

The Daffodils in flower illuminated by the sunlight this morning. I must have felt spring in the air as I have spent all morning tidying the garden.
Clearing winter casualties from their pots, trimming the Fuschias that might regrow. I swept up all the leaves and twigs from around the garden.
I have reorganised the pots, then took a few photos.
I saw new birds today high up in the tree's, and heard some new arrivals singing.
You can get used to the particular melody of your native garden birds. When new comers arrive you detect the new song!
I got a mixture of gardening and cooking things for my birthday. Seeds, a music CD called music for tired gardeners, Chilli Seeds and Tumbling Toms in pouches...
When the sun is shining and the sky is blue it is a pleasure to be outside doing little gardening jobs.

Birthday

Its my birthday today.Happy birthday to me.I went plant shopping last week and bought three bunches of Daffodils from Hampsons.These started to flower almost as soon as they went into Cats Vase.
I bought myself a Witch hazel for ten pounds after dreaming about one for ages.
My garden Daffodils are still green stems only, with the flowers a few weeks away.
Wordworth loved Daffodils, and many blogs use his poem about them waving in the wind.There is something about the cheerfull yellow faces and green strap leaves heralding the start of Springtime in the UK.
I remember all the grass verges around Cheltenham being planted with tens of thousands of Daffodils.They always look spectacular flowering and waving en masse.
I spent yesterday helping Cat move out of her house.Aching limbs today from moving boxes and bags.The Dafffodils need to be moved today.I will photograph them today.