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I had clematis alpina in my old garden, the one I worked in and planned for 26 years, and since moving to the new and at first very empty garden I’ve been planting a lot of my old favourites again, this one was a must have. I love everything about it, the shape, size, colour and the fluffy seedheads when the flowers have finished.
Amelanchier canadensis (above) is one of the several trees I’ve planted, in fact I probably have too many trees, if that’s ever a possibilty. The flowers don’t last very long but they’re worth having, very delicate looking and pretty, I’ve planted another specimen by the back fence but I think I might grow that one as a large shrub, hoping it’ll become nice and bushy.
I’m fairly sure that the blossom in the photo above is apple, but then again it might be plum. Whatever, I’m just chuffed that several of my fruit trees are flowering for the first time since I planted them three years ago.
The photo of the ornamental quince above is a bit blurry, sadly this one doesn’t have the fab scent that the apricot coloured one in the old garden had. I’m still trying to track down a specimen of that one.
Below is a wee anemone, it survived the winter well and I’ve bought some more of them for the front garden.
Fritillaries, I love them, but quite a few of the flowers have got holes right in the middle of the petals, it looks like something has chomped its way out of the buds. These ones are fine though.
The auriculas below are plants that I’ve never grown before, I had always thought they wre too delicate and tender to be left out over winter in Scotland but these ones are thriving and will need to be split up when they stop flowering, which won’t be for ages. There was quite a craze for these plants, especially amongst the French Protestant Huguenots who fled to Britain to avoid persecution from the Catholics in France.
If you want to know a bit more about the plants and the Huguenots have a look here.
On a wet and cooler day in Philadelphia, gardenless, your lovely photos cheered me up. The checkered fritillaries always amaze me!
Joan,
I’m so glad the photos cheered you up!
Gorgeous! I have added two amelanchiers to the garden here both of which I think will be shrubs rather than trees. I like that they offer us something in most of the seasons. That clematis is beautiful. I’ve inherited a large clematis tangutica (I think that’s what I mean) and I’ve added another. Masses of yellow flowers with wonderful thick petals like lemon peel followed by the seed heads. Yours is much more delicate. And I’m envious of those fritillaries; I’ve never been able to grow them anywhere I’ve lived.
It must have been such a wrench to leave your old garden after giving it such care. But how satisfying to see this one evolve đŸ™‚
Sandra,
In some ways it was quite nice to have a blank canvas but I do miss the mature trees. I actually went to the trouble of sending away for clematis tangutica (from the Guardian) years ago but it died – fast. Maybe I would have better luck with it in this garden, I hope so as I love it.
I’ve always liked the Flowering Quince/Japonica/Chaenomeles japonica – I have a couple of those in my garden, so cheery in the very early spring.
The Fritillaries are such quaint-looking things, aren’t they.
Lovely to see more of your garden – thank you.
Valerie,
I also have a white flowering quince which I’ve never grown before but it seems to have rather drooping way of growing. I’m wondering if maybe I should have planted it against the fence, for support. The fritillaries look like they’ve been hand-painted by fairies!
Your garden is looking lovely! I have a flowering quince (edible) that I planted two years ago but it has yet to flower though it leaves out and looks to be healthy and growing. Your ornamental one looks pretty.
Stefanie,
Years ago I read that the ornamental quince fruit wasn’t edible, but recently I saw a recipe for making jam with them, I’m going to give it a go this year, the apricot coloured quince fruit smells delicious anyway.