Spring seems to inspire new projects, new plans, it injects ‘une joie de vivre’ like no other season. Ts
Louisiana Iris are a beautiful addition to any garden; the flowers life 'short and sweet', but oh so worthwhile to grow.
When the sunlight glitters winter is dead; Ts
Reflection in the herb garden;
'Salvia my Love' Salvia Fallax planted a few weeks ago shows its first flowers.
Fallax is one of the 2m evergreen Mexican shrubs of robust growth with pretty pale blue flowers late winter onwards. Its name might be more correctly roscida.It doesn’t like much frost so not a good choice for very cold areas though it can be grown in a protected area.It can be slashed around Xmas if you want to keep it smaller.It may seed a bit or can be grown from cuttings.The closest plant is polystachya, also a pale blue flower but slate blue, and autumn flowering rather than winter on a less upright plant. (from i Garden)
Salvia 'Mystic Spires' just started flowering in its second year.
The first daylily to flower; Cosmic Hummingbird, a smallish flower, very floriferous.
A new addition to my Salvia garden; Salvia Canariensis.
Bright silvery-white, hirsute foliage and stems, makes a fabulous highlight in a sunny, dry garden. In a single season growing into a nice bush with an upright habit crowned from Summer to autumn with spikes of rosey blooms held in rich violet-purple calyces. It’s best in well drained soil with some compost added. Cut back in winter.
I planted mine in a pot, as I am a bit reluctant to plant it out, as we can get such a lot of rain in summer. As soon as I can make some cuttings I will plant one out and monitor its success.
Coriander in the herb garden; it seeds itself. every spring I immensely enjoy its dainty flowers and foliage, plus its quality to add some Mexican flavour to certain dishes. Peter does not like its taste, but I enjoy it.
Spring is the time for all to empty old cupboards, shake out old dreams; turn upside down and watch the grass grow. Ts
Geraniums love spring in the subtropics, show their best behaviour at this time of year. I have made many cuttings from this one, now these softies peep out from everywhere in the garden. I read once that planting habits like this make a garden.
This one grows since many years in the same wall pot. From spring into summer is looks brilliant, fed and watered... Later it will start to sulk and show withdrawing symptoms; which I ignore otherwise it would have found itself on the compost.
This one is a much darker pink than this picture shows.The flowers are big and double.
A new addition to the bulb garden. Ornithogalum; Ornithogalum thyrsoides 'Chesapeake Snowflake'
A fabulous spring show of large flower heads made up of clusters of small white flowers. As a cut flower, Snowflake has an incredible, extra long vase life.
Planting
Plant in a full sun or part shade position in free-draining soil with a bit of mature composted material added if necessary. Ornithogalum grow from a bulb which naturalises in the ground, so you never have to lift the bulbs.
Watering
Begin watering in autumn when first shoots appear. The plant goes dormant over summer, so there’s little need to water at that time.
Fertilizer
Use a good quality controlled-release fertiliser but avoid applications of high nitrogen fertiliser which will encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning
Remove old stems by cutting off at the base. Don’t remove foliage until the plant has died back, which will occur in summer as the plant goes dormant.
Believe it or not:
Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb
©Photos my garden/Text Ts Lavender & Vanilla;
