Spring flowers 2012

Weather patterns are bizarre at the beginning of this year – blowing hot and cold – somewhat like the menopause, when hormones go awry before settling down into a new phase of life. Is the planet middle aged, I wonder? Or are we, as a species? Unsettled Nature is not particularly pleasant to experience but it was encouraging to see some Spring flowers emerging nonetheless – even if only to get their heads cruelly bitten off before time by another unexpected cold front …

But these rich-yolk-coloured tulips had the benefit of a roof over their heads!

Golden herald of sunshine to come ...?Golden herald of sunshine to come …?

Self-seeded forget-me-nots ...Self-seeded forget-me-nots …

The forget-me-nots must have come in as hitch hikers in a pot of something else. They are sturdy and prolific and have now spread very prettily all along the edge of the lawn. They look so innocent.

Rain washed clematis montana, sweet cicely, bluebells, sage, southernwood and a blue shirt left out on the washing line ...

Rain washed clematis montana, sweet cicely, bluebells, sage, southernwood and a blue shirt left out on the washing line …

I am pleased that our next door neighbours also hang their washing out – but for the rest, it seems to be a custom of a bygone age. Luckily, it would be difficult for someone to steal, say, knickers, off my line because there’s no easy way into our garden. Once, John ‘lost’ a lovely forest green cashmere scarf. I had put one of Gaia’s nametapes on it, as he is prone to losing good quality clothes, which might end up with somebody who doesn’t appreciate them for what they are. And some kind person might even try to track him down to return said lovely coat, gloves, hat etc.

Some days later, I noticed a man with this colour scarf in the bus queue in front of me. I spent a long time trying to manoeuvre, in the hope of turning up the nametape. It was difficult not to cause suspicion. I just thought it might be more difficult to do that with knickers.

Narcissi  -  pheasant eye ...Narcissi – pheasant eye …

A Spring bouquet ...A Spring bouquet …

Flowers lift the spirits, especially on a cold wet day in Spring. You don’t need an expensive bouquet – look for flowers in season and profit from two-for-one offers. I added the rosemary myself from the garden and the white jug was quite a bargain too. Expensive bouquets have their place but you can still enjoy flowers on a shoestring. Be inventive.

Though blue with cold yet an encouragement to the garden to grow and blossom ...Though blue with cold yet an encouragement to the garden to grow and blossom …

A royal flush of ancient paeonies ...A royal flush of ancient paeonies …

These paeonies are at least forty years old and probably sixty. They have lived here much longer than we have and still come up every springtime with no encouragement at all – just room to flourish and no pesticides. Like having a faithful retainer. I would like one of those too!

Close up of 'clematis montana'Close up of ‘clematis montana’

One of my more successful buys – from a Duchy plant nursery in Cornwall about seven years ago – it goes from strength to strength.

Anemones  -  the flower of AdonisAnemones – the flower of Adonis

The symbolism of the anemone is of transience. Venus apparently transformed Adonis into one of these flowers. The word ‘anemone’ comes from the Greek meaning ‘wind’ and white anemones, which come out later in Autumn, are also known as windflowers. The reddish purple anemones here, reminiscent of lifeblood, do not last very long once they have opened and suggest passion and inconstancy – easily blown away by the winds of change – but strong in spirit while they last. The colour is intense and draws you to them as to life in general with its inevitable transient nature.

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