I was just completing yesterday’s EOMV post when it occurred to me that the explosion in the garden at this time of year could be likened to a genie being let out of a bottle. I don’t know who said the magic word nor what it was, but my goodness it has worked!
Even since yesterday there are new joys to be seen, and more than one reason to yelp with surprise. The spring flowering Clematis alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’, one of those still to be moved, was beginning to open yesterday, reminding me what a striking shade she is – I will need to consider carefully where she will be moved to once the flowers are fading. I am fairly sure, however, that there were no blooms on the variably flowering Rhododendron ‘Cheers’ in the woodland when I rambled yesterday – today’s ramble most definitely elicited a yelp!
Likewise, I hadn’t spotted the more demure Cardamime heptaphylla ‘Helen Myers’ in the woodland edge border, which required another little squeal!
Buds on Hardenberghia violacea have been developing in the Coop for many weeks, but are slow to open and, being so tiny, haven’t yet made much of an impact, but if several were open at the same time they would be more noticeable.
It is impossible to overlook this random wallflower, positioned as it is in the corner of the border as we walk through to the cutting beds and greenhouse, and the blooms are so dark it will always make an impact – but it is such an ugly plant, so woody and ungainly! I have sown wallflowers before, but not to my recollection in this colourway, and it is surely time to sow more, in more appealing colours, to replace this one. Nevertheless, it will no doubt make its way into a vase or posy or two.
For some unknown reason, the pulmonarias have been wonderful this year, not just with their blooms but with luxuriant foliage too – just having a wet March doesn’t seem to a particularly logical reason. I noticed this one today, sadly unnamed, mainly for its distinctively dark and almost purple rather than blue blooms, unfortunately not captured correctly in the photo.
These six are just some of the contenders which had to be whittled down for today’s Six in Saturday, the meme hosted by Jim of Garden Ruminations. Why not pop over to his blog and see more from other bloggers?
Rambling in the Garden 
The wallflower is a lovely colour and they have such a delightful scent. I wonder whether your neighbours heard all the squealing and yelping this morning? They must wonder what on earth is going on!
Haha – makes a change from me instructing the wood pigeons in no uncertain terms to move on! 😁
So many joyful sounds coming from your garden today! With good reason – the colours are fabulous!!
Thanks Chris, it is such a joyous time of year!
Lovely clematis, you made me go and check on C. White Moth and it is almost flowering but not quite yet. I think your pulmonaria might be P. longifolia from the leaves, I have it here and the flowers are a very dark blue/purple.
Thanks for the prompt about the pulmonaria, Pauline – I will relabel it whilst it is still in my mind. It is such a distinctive shade, isn’t it? This clematis must catch the morning sun and the flowers are bigger than some other C alpina, and is very striking
Lovely colors! My yard is returning to white. Yes, snow has returned, since I awoke this morning. No colors, no squealing over here! More like a groan of displeasure as I am officially done with winter. Problem is, winter is not done with me! Thanks for sharing cheerful blossoms!
Oh what a shock that must have been – would you usually expect to have seen the back of winter by now?
An explosion is just about right to describe the speed that the Spring flowers and plants are taking off.
Oh indeed Rosie – and the early sweet peas in the greenhouse are visibly growing inches in a day…it’s astonishing!
Perhaps Six on Saturday needs a multiplier during the spring months. Six to Sixty?n
Haha, I was thinking something similar _ I could get away with sneaking in an odd extra one or so, but any more than that would be too obvious!
Perhaps an alphabet system starting with plants beginning with A through G for instance?
😁
Oh my goodness–so much happening in your garden! It’s amazing how everything explodes with blooms at a certain point in the spring, isn’t it? 🙂
Yes, a bit of wamth and sunshine makes a huge difference! 😉
It is good to see Hardenbergia again. It was a fad for a while, but then as quickly as it became a fad, it became scarce. Older vines do not last for long. Therefore, I do not often see it anymore.
Mine is in a pot in the Coop, and I have had it for about four years, so it is still young
I can see why you would be letting out yelps all round the garden! It’s been the same here, only on a smaller scale as the garden is still short on plants. The salvias are finally starting to flower though, and the lavenders are in fine fettle.
Your clematis is a real beauty. Is C alpina much earlier than the large-flowered types? I don’t grow clematis, and I get confused easily over the various species. I suppose I should try them, since there are desert-native clematis species also, specifically C drummondii.
Hope you have a lovely week!
I am so glad you are making good progress with your garden, Amy – you must be thrilled! C Alpina is a spring flowering clematis, usually April/May
Ooh, rhododendrons already! I expect there will be a good many yelps and cheers in the next couple of weeks as the garden now springs into action! (There was a squeal in my garden yesterday too – my first species tulips are opening!) The clematis is gorgeous. Is it always this early?
This Rhododendron will flower any time from November to spring – I think I actually bought it as ‘Christmas Cheer’ and sometimes it does provide some!! The alpina clematis are spring flowering, usually April/May, so this is quite normal
The wooooosh button has definitely been pressed Cathy – a combination of warmer temperatures and more daylight. Here it was bluebells that had me yelping today 😂 That’s a most fine looking pulmonaria.
Ah, it’s the whoooosh button, is it?! I wondered what it might be… 🤣 It seems years since pulmonaria generally looked as good as they are doing this year – is it the same for you?
The genie here is still just thinking about it! Lovely to see yours coming aout.
Perhaps he is frantically scrabbling at the neck of the bottle, trying to claw his way out….! 😉