Welcoming some new friends

Like any gardener, and as a collector of plants, it is always good to see old friends return for another year of flowering. But more exciting still is the joy of making new acquaintances.

Muscari Touch of Snow (main picture) was picked up from a garden centre just before we had to stop being out and about.

But more usually my purchases come in the form of bulbs or seeds requiring patience (or lots of patience) and of course a sense of anticipation.

Two sets of bulbs have repaid the waiting this week.

This spring, new friends include the tiny Muscari atillae (above) and the deep dark Muscari commutatum (below).

March 28, 2020 0

It may be a grey day but…

The wind was cold, the sky was grey, but one woman in the east was standing in her garden smiling…

Lovely to see this old favourite back again. Muscari racemosum looking unusual among the blues and purples and smelling gorgeous.

New to me this year, I hope Pseudomuscari chalusicum goes from strength to strength.

And finally the result of a trip to the garden centre last week, now showing off about the reason for its name, Muscari armeniacum Touch of Snow.

March 15, 2020 0

Here’s looking at you…

This evening, while checking my photos, I noticed Muscari armeniacum Esther apparently looking back at me! I often see something new when I review a days photos. But I don’t think I’ve ever spotted one of my collection staring back at the camera before!

Muscari armeniacum Esther – 7th Mar 2020

March 7, 2020 0

Back to buds

A lovely sunny day in the garden. Sadly I was mostly in doors painting the living room. But there is always time to do a bit of plant appreciation… Today I am loving the early buds and flowers.

Muscari latifolium – Muscari pulchellum Muscari anatolicum – Muscari Pink Sunrise

March 1, 2020 0

Pseudomuscari coeleste

So it took most of last year and two house moves, but my little collection of bulbs is finally settled in to a permanent new home and is now getting on with the business of being beautiful.

Pseudomuscari coeleste once again is the first to open a bud in the February sunshine.

Lots of green leaves and a few spots of colour as the usual early suspects begin to stretch.

It’s good to see some colour in some leaves too.

Muscari parviflorum is giving a tiny bold display of red flushed leaves which I have not noticed in previous years.

It’s also really exciting to see seedlings from last year putting on more growth in the greenhouse.

I’ve been very impressed with the germination and development of a number of seeds that I purchased from Plant World Seeds including these Pseudomuscari chalusicum.

Looking forward to the next few months… and looking out for any local snails!

Deb A 🙂

February 9, 2020 0

Wonderful, marvellous, amazing…

… surprising and awesome.

Well this is how the Latin word ‘mirum’ is defined on the pages of Wiktionary

Muscari mirum is a pretty little plant and I suspect by its colouring is more closely related to its Leopoldia relatives than its name suggests.

Along with one of those relatives, Leopoldia neumannii, it is bringing to an end the flowering season for my little collection this year.

I have loved both meeting new species and welcoming old friends. So while the bulbs might be heading for dormancy, I am not. The obsession continues!

For me it’s time to hit the books, do my research, learn more and order the seeds and bulbs of some of the many wonderful, marvellous, amazing, surprising and awesome plants that I have yet to meet.

May 26, 2019 0

Never mind the flowers…

Everyone is revelling in the beauty of spring flowers this weekend and some plants in my collection are still only just thinking about opening their buds. Others however, like Muscari adilii , Pseudomuscari coeleste and Pseudomuscari azureum are busily developing their seed capsules which have a beauty all of their own.

April 21, 2019 0

Bellevalia kurdistanica

Bellevalia kurdistanica revelling in a spot of spring sunshine.

April 5, 2019 0

Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’

Lovely distinctive pale blue flowers with white lobes, Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’ was named after a distinguished British Horticulturalist.

Valerie Finnis was a specialist in Alpine Plants and was associated with the Waterperry Horticulture School for Women for over 28 years. The site is now known as Waterperry Gardens a private business which opens the 8 acre garden to the public.

April 3, 2019 0