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Spring Plants

 

I am fond of all Euphorbias, this one I have had growing for a couple of years.  This year (2003) was the first time it produced flowers.  Euphorbia mellifera is not hardy in all locations, but in a sheltered spot or against a south wall it is usually successful.  
The flowers do have a scent very reminiscent of heather honey.
Auriculars are a favourite of  my elder sister, she bought this particular one at the Harrogate Spring Flower show in 2000.  It has produced two more sprays of flowers this year after she has carefully cosseted it for the last 12 months.  It is called 'Greenpeace'.
This tulip 'Blue Heron' seems determined to have a bit of everything.  It has two shades to the petals, the edges are fringed, and the anthers were actually dark blue.  They really were something special.  I have not seen them for sale again since then.
Tulipa viridifloris - Spring Green. I grew these tulips in a pot in their first year.  Since then they have been in the garden.  I do not have a lot of success with tulips in the garden, I think they succumb to slugs and the wet clay in winter.  Even if I feed them then lift them and replant in autumn they do not do as well the second year.
Erythronium. I grow these in a pot.  To prevent them getting too wet in winter I keep them in my plastic tomato house.  This cultivar is 'Pagoda'. 
Narcissus 'Rip van Winkle'  These are very pretty small double narcissi.  These are about 3 years old and still going strong.
Akebia quinata also known as Chocolate vine.  This climber took a couple of years to establish but has been worth the wait.  This year 2003 the whole vine has been covered with flowers and the scent is fantastic.
The leaves are blue-green, palmate and have between three and five 'fingers'.  The vine produces two flowers shapes, one male and one female.  It has a lovely scent and although it is called chocolate vine, I would say that the perfume is more like nutmeg.		  
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Sissinghurst White' This is a very pretty plant with the characteristic spots on its leaves.  It was one of those plants that was very 'in' at one time but is now considered a bit naf if you sing its praises.  I still like it anyway.  Mine unfortunately is suffering a bit as it got some wood preservative (see Mr. Bighead) spilt on it.  I think it will survive!  If it doesn't it's back to my sister to scrounge another piece.
Tulip 'Queen of the Night'  This tulip is such a gorgeous colour, purpley-black like a bunch of grapes and with the sort of soft sheen on the petals that makes you want to stroke it. 
I'm never quite sure whether these colours look good together or not.  The purple plant is Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'. It is at it's best in May but does go a redder shade in Autumn.  It has exploding seed pods which means there is never any shortage of seedlings.  
After a while though the plant can become weakened s it is very susceptible to mildew.  Mine has now died off and I need to buy a replacement.
Euphorbia X martinii - there isn't a Euphorbia that I don't like.  This one would probably appeal to those who aren't such avid fans.  The stems and nectaries are bright red, the 'flowers' last for a couple of months as well.
This cardoon has proved very much a talking point in my garden.  It eventually attained a height of 2.5m with a spread of 2m.  It produced more than 15 flowers which the bees love. Really too big for my garden, but what the heck.  A lot of people mistook it for an artichoke (Cynara scolymus) rather than a cardoon - Cynara cardunculus.  Again grown from seed - very easy although the snails do like them.  It took two years to reach the flowering stage.

2003 - the cardoon now aged about 5 years is past its best.  Although it does still produce some flowers the plant is weak. Time to start a new one from seed.  This plant has now been taken out.  The wooden sculpture now stands in its place.
Tulip 'Scarlet Baby' planted in a pot with Crocosmia. Wonderful seen like this with the sun through the petals.
Hyacinthus orientalis 'Delft Blue'.  Grown one year in a pot and since then flowered well in the garden.  Put perfumed bulbs near a seating area in the garden so that if you are tempted outdoors on a mild day you will catch the perfume.  (Is it me or do blue hyacinths always smell the best?)
This is another plant donated by a friend, it is an Epimedium, possibly Epimedium X perralchicum.  The leaves are attractive as they have a coppery hue to them especially when young.  The flowers are so delicate and quite low growing you need to check regularly or you miss them.
Marsh Marigolds or Caltha palustris.  Such an amazing bright yellow early in the year.  Grows in damp boggy soil an pond margins.  This is the native species, it can also be obtained as a double cultivar, 'Flore Pleno' or there is a lemon and silver specie Caltha leptosepala.
Mixing with roses and a Jasmine on the pergola is Clematis alpina 'Columbine'.  It flowers very early, sometimes with a smaller show of flowers in September.  The seed heads last well into winter.
Euphorbia polychroma - a good Euphorbia with bright sulphur yellow bracts.  Is also evergreen so gives year round interest. (Picture here a.s.a.p.) Allium fistulosum also called Welsh onion.  Long tube like stems (they are hollow hence it's name!) with greeny white flowers on top in late spring.  Produces lots of nectar so a good one for attracting insects.(Photo to follow)
Most Euphorbias grow without any bother in my garden,but this is an exception.  I think this is my third plant and it still isn't thriving.  It is Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'.

Any suggestions as to where I'm going wrong?
The strappy leaved plant with the white flowers is Libertia grandiflora.  This picture is not too clear I will try to get another next spring. It is very similar to a Sysirinchium but much larger. To it's right are the leaves of the Arum, and the flower head at the extreme right of the picture is Allium fistulosum.