Wednesday 18 April 2012

April Blossoms and Grey Skies


Another spring, another April. After weeks without rain, the skies have at last turned grey and some good, heavy April showers have fallen on the parched land. There is not enough to refill reservoirs and replenish supplies of groundwater, so drought restrictions are in place across Southern England, but it has been a relief to see fields, gardens and commons looking green again.

On Saturday, I walked around the garden under grey skies, but blossoms and spring flowers brightened the day. The air was full of birdsong and the hum of bees.

Celandines have been in bloom for weeks, but close their star-like, yellow flowers when the sun is hidden by cloud.

Blossoms on the cherry begin as deep pink buds and each flower pales almost into white as it opens, fades and lets its petals fall.


Vivid orange buds of the Berberis. The flowers are loved by bees and the fruit will be devoured by hungry blackbirds in late summer.


Forsythia.


Pear blossom - white against grey sky.



The Amelanchier has bloomed its best this year.



Magnolia stellata......


....Lenten hellebores in the shade of taller trees.........


....and a self-set bluebell underneath an oak.


Narcissi......



....and Old Dog, still pottering around the garden.


The sweet, heady scent of Viburnum carlesii .......


...and one of my favourite daffodils, delicately coloured in lemon and white.


A patch of lovely Forget Me Not, well named, which seeded from plants originally brought from my late parents` garden.


Tulip against green fronds of emerging tansy.


Viburnum against bamboo, underplanted by Nature with the ever-present Ground Elder!


...and pale blue flowers of Rosemary, waiting for the bees.


13 comments:

Jan said...

Beautiful pictures! We too are in a severe drought here in West Texas and are only allowed to water with a hose once a week. It doesn't look like we will have April showers or May flowers!

The Weaver of Grass said...

I love pear blossom - my favourite of all.
I wonder if old dog also rejoices in the coming of spring and all the new life. If only he could tell us.

Rowan said...

Lots of beautiful flowers and I'm glad to see that Old Dog is still going strong. As for the rain - I know we need it but I've definitely seen enough of it for the moment!

kirstallcreatures said...

A lovely round up of spring colour

Anonymous said...

Such lovely images, thank you.

Down by the sea said...

Beautiful pictures of spring you have shown some of my favourite plants! We do the need the rain just wish it wasn't so cold.
I have never seen a daffodil like that it is so unusual.
Sarah x

Bovey Belle said...

Your garden looks beautiful. I am now learning the successful positioning of shrubs - a bit too late for this garden though, as we hope to leave it.

I am glad Old Dog can still enjoy pottering around whilst you garden.

Your "underplanting" of Ground Elder made me smile. We have it too . . .

thelma said...

The joy of ground elder, you can eat it now but it never ever goes away, used to have a whole bank of it.... Lovely photos of spring shrubs by the way.

Ragged Robin said...

Lovely images of the Spring blossom and flowers in your beautiful garden. I particularly love the daffodil.

rachel said...

Drought? Not here; it may not rain for a bit, true, but oh my, how it makes up for it later!

angryparsnip said...

Lovely !
You have the most beautiful views around you.
I am amazed that we are overwhelmed by all the Prickly Pear Cactus filled with blooms and new growth. We did not have enough winter rains again (2nd winter in a row) this year and our spring short and lacking. We are in the drought predictions area. Not good !

Thanks for the lovely walk around your garden. My sweet Old Dog Watson has the same greying eyes too.

cheers, parsnip

ChrisJ said...

Beautiful flowers. If I could take anything home from your blog, I would take Old Dog! I haven't come across Gordon Beningfield. I'll have to google him. I love Thomas Hardy's countryside description though his novels tho' memorable are a bit depressing. I love your blog with all your walks. Make me quite nostalgic.

Anna at the Doll House said...

Isn't nature a miracle. Thank you so much for these beautiful pictures which have brightened-up this rather dreary day, here in the North. I can hardly wait for the trees and plants here to wake-up again after their winter slumbers.
Anna