This week in the garden it feels like I’ve looked away for a day or two and everything has completely changed. Flowers that were tight buds are in full bloom, seedlings that weren’t even above the soil are suddenly inches tall, and there’s blossom everywhere you look.
I keep grabbing the kids and saying things like “look, last time we checked this wasn’t here!”. I’m compelled to share the magic with anyone who’ll lend me their ear, and so this week’s garden update is a virtual version of me taking you by the elbow and dragging you around my garden. Here’s what I want to show you.
First of all, the seedlings. We’re completely overrun with trays of seedlings at the moment, the greenhouse on the allotment is heaving and the little mini greenhouse we have in the garden is packed too. Not traditionally something in the garden that you’d gaze at, but I do love all that concentrated growing power that you can see packed into these tiny plants – they’re just so alive.
ourgette seedling
Nasturtiums – or owl eyes to me
Purple sprouting broccoli
Basil with a tiny beak
Sweetcorn
Ipomoea (Morning Glory) disguised as butterfly wings
After all this gazing at plant life in miniature it’s time to bring on the blooms…
Early morning apple blossom
Clematis montana
Clematis montana
Not strictly a bloom, but such a shot of colour – Sempervivum (house leek)
Remember my tree peony looking a bit alien a few weeks ago? In the last week it’s gone from this…
to this…
with flowers almost as big as my head!
The photos don’t do justice to these blooms, they are completely over-the-top and wonderfully decadent, I can’t stop nipping outside to gaze at them and have a little stroke. The bees love them too, their pollen sacs are so full they can barely fly away! Last year we had about 8 blooms, this year there are over 20 and I’ve had to re-stake the whole thing because it’s so top-heavy with flowers. Just gorgeous.
With all this loveliness going on outside at the moment, this is where I’ve been sneaking off to whenever I get a chance…
My favourite spot for garden gazing
Having spent all that time and effort nurturing plants into life, you’ve got to sit down and enjoy them when they pay it back – don’t you think?
Joining in with Annie’s ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ series at Mammasaurus.
Those nasturtiums seedlings really do look like owls! 🙂 Clematis montana is such a favorite of mine yet I have none, must try and pick a cheap one up to climb over the garden shed. Your seedlings look great, very tidy – mine are looking a bit slug eaten 🙂
Definitely get a montana, they grow crazily fast and you’ll have masses of flowers before you know it. I really should have cut mine back hard last year, it’s got very tangled, but I let myself have one more season of overload!
I’m amazed at the rate of change in the gardens/parks at the moment. The nasturtiums really do look like owl eyes, haha! I’m looking forward to the weather warming enough to eat dinner outside so we can sit and have a proper look at everything 🙂
Ooh yes, outdoor dining is just around the corner isn’t it – so lovely to be surrounded by nature, I really miss it in the colder months.
Those flowers on the tree peony are just fabulous – a feast for my eyes as well the bees! You definitely deserve to sit and admire your garden!
I love the fact that something so beautiful is great for the pollinators too – if I had the space I’d have lots and lots more of them!
It all looks so pretty and fresh out there. I know just what you mean, too, as things seem to be blooming daily now, don’t they? I love it!
Yes May is such a great month, every year when it arrives I realise just how much better it feels being able to enjoy the outdoors in milder weather. No wonder we all perk up at this time of year!
No wonder you like to sit and gaze at your garden. Your plants are wonderful. The peony bloom is amazing!
I haven’t got much done this week, it’s fair to say!
lovely photos, we can only use our garden at night as it’s too hot in the day and i miss the lovely plants I’ve been growing in the sand pit
Ah shame you can’t enjoy them in the daytime too – although sitting here with pouring rain and black clouds outside I’m longing for a little bit of your climate!
wow your garden looks amazing. Such great photography too #MBPW
Thanks, after months of it all looking a bit bare it’s lovely to see everything really going for it!
I love the tree peony, have often thought about having one but never made the plunge. Maybe this year!
Oh definitely do it – mine is about 6 years old, every year the number of blooms doubles and it’s just glorious!
*Impressed face* That is all wonderful work and what a lovely way to say that it’s good to sit back and appreciate when they pay it back! I featured you in last week’s #MBPW and will be doing so again. Thank you for sharing – love this :))
Glad you enjoyed it – and thanks so much for featuring me! 🙂