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| White on White. |
Only one of my snowdrop plants braved the unrelenting snow which just wont go away. I planted four new ones last spring, but they are still sleeping. Of the four, only two pushed up tender new shoots, but I am hopeful that they will all awaken next year. I truly believe in the old gardening adage:
The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. The one that is blooming, hesitantly, in my snowy spring garden is an old friend of several years.
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| Old and True Snowdrop Friend |
I arrived back in PA before England was enveloped by its own late snowfall, so if I want some spring cheer, I can browse through pictures of the blooms I left behind. A walk from my mother's home to the nearby church took me past snowdrops, crocuses, primroses and more ...
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| Essington Church |
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| There were masses of snowdrops under the trees. |
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| Crocuses covered in drops of dew. |
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| I found helebores under the hedges. |
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| Clumps of pink primroses everywhere. |
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| Pink ... |
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| ... and Yellow. |
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| Please, someone tell me the name of this English beauty! |
I couldn't leave England without visiting my favorite garden center, the Hollybush. Click
here for the first article I wrote about this fabulous place.
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| Spring plants abound in February at the Hollybush. |
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| Delphiniums |
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| Yasminum nudiflorum |
Jasmin is a deciduous wall shrub that I wish I could grow in my PA garden. It flowers on bare branches from November to February in England ...
I do love heather, and think I may be able to grow it here if I give it winter protection. I like the way it was used in planters at the nursery.
And of course my favorite English spring flower, the primrose, was there in abundance.
Now that I've browsed through photos from my trip and had my spring 'fix', I can go back to planning my own spring garden. Now, if it would only stop snowing! I WILL be able to get dirt under my nails soon, wont I?
Pamela x
PS. I have neglected my blog lately, and I search for inspiration to return to regular posting. As spring is the season of renewal I am making some changes to my blog. As a small step, I am using a more simple template. I hope you like it.
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| That's me. |
~~ I love reading your comments. I hope you leave one so I’ll know you visited!
I look forward to visiting your blog in return.
Hi Pam,
ReplyDeleteLate snow?? Lol, late blizzards!!! Some had drifts of snow 12ft deep; now that's deep; and I thought our 7inches was bad enough.
Anyway, the unknown plant is Begenia or elephant's ears.
Glad to hear you've had your spring fix here, and lucky you - you get to have spring all over again in a few weeks... Shame about your Snowdrops though... Flore Pleno did that to me this year, only produced one tiny little bloom :(
Hi there.
ReplyDeleteI love the new template, I do tend to find some blogs a tad busy so simplicity is the way to go I think.
Love your flower images. I've never been to that garden centre but it looks awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
Linda
Thanks, Liz, for identifying the begenia. I feel a bit embarrassed that I didn't know it, but decided to swallow my pride and ask. 12 feet deep drifts? Wow! Guess I left UK at a good time, and I AM lucky to experience spring twice -- just wish it would hurry up here. P. x
ReplyDeleteHi Pam...all of the flowers in your pictures from England look so pretty. Hollybush looks and sounds like my kind of place. I'm hoping nice spring weather shows up soon too.
ReplyDeleteThe arrival of Daylight Saving Time, even with the wintry weather that we have experienced since the official arrival of spring, has fueled the innate need to garden. These early spring flowers are wonderful ... even more enjoyable in the longer evening hours at this time of year. Late afternoon strolls in the garden make me anxious for REAL spring weather, and the gardening that I am so antsy to get to. From the warmth of the house, as the snow falls outside, I see holes in the shade garden that need some more hellebores. Can't plant because the garden is a bog. What to do when one cannot plant? Plan to plant, of course.
ReplyDeleteStay warm.
Nice to hear from you again, Pam. I have finally been posting photos from last spring, while I wait for the snow to melt... again. We are to have more snow everyday this week :(
ReplyDeleteI like your freshening up! Nice to do in the spring. And thank you for sharing your English flowers. We will have our turn soon I hope!
~Julie
I won't tell you how springy it is here in the Pacific Northwest. I'll keep my fingers crossed that sunshine is headed your way soon. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip, Pam. I would love to visit the Hollybush. Those blooms are delightful. I just finished decking my blog out in Spring colors, too! Therapy for my soul... I figure if I can't have Spring in my gardens yet, I certainly can have it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI love the new template! The English blooms look quite beautiful. So sorry you had to come home to snow! This long winter is very frustrating. I'm hoping Easter will be the end of all things wintery!
ReplyDeleteLooks like bergenia to me too or "Pigsqueak" the sound it makes when you pull your fingers across the leaves! I love the blog - must be tough coming from temperate old England back to your garden - when I visited it gave me such inspiration. The British are such wonderful gardeners.
ReplyDeleteWe've got snow here again, spring seems a long way off yet. There's an icy wind blowing too which makes it feel colder than it actually is. Primfoses are my favourite spring flower too, I love the simple native ones best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blog you have. I've enjoyed browsing and will certainly be back. I do love snowdrops and hadn't heard that adage before. Now I know why it takes so long for mine to bloom.xxxxx
ReplyDeleteGlad you escaped the horrific winter weather in England. The north of Ireland is pretty hard hit too. Feel so sorry for old people and the animals in the fields. Here in Roscommon it is very cold but no snow...so far.
ReplyDeleteBridget x.
Thanks for sharing your visit Pam. Always good to hear from you. May the spring be with you.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping we get a touch of spring by the end of the week around here. It's only really nice when the sun is out. Glad you're back!!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I keep thinking how it must be soon that I get to see my garden again (pretty pretty please). It hasn't stopped snowing all week and I'm really ready to be done of the white stuff. Not even a snowdrop in sight here (I do believe they will eventually multiply, hang in there)
ReplyDeleteHello Pamela, I've neglected my blog quite a bit too, but there's not much to post about but snow and more snow right now. What a welcome sight all the flowers you've showcased here are. I know Spring will come sooner or later, right?
ReplyDeleteHello, I've just come across your lovely pictures of spring flowers. The snow is starting to clear here, so I'm looking forward to enjoying my spring flowers at last.
ReplyDeleteMy first visit to your blog and I enjoyed my read!
ReplyDeleteI was able to id your mystery plant but obviously Liz beat me to it :)
Such a shame you arrived home to snow. There has been no let up has there. Here in Scotland it was the West Coast that has suffered this latest bout of bad weather. Here in Edinburgh we have had very little.
I do hope it isn't too long before things improve for you. Maybe if we all wish hard enough, someone will take pity and grant our wishes!
I noticed the template change right away and love it....I enjoy your visits to England...a place I so want to visit...maybe someday and wouldn't it be wonderful to visit with you my dear friend...I can dream. The snow stopped here and the weather warmed to the high 40s all week so the snow has melted and blooms are popping up fast...it will come your way soo!
ReplyDeleteDonna -- Right now my trips are all about the care of my dear mother. But one day I would like to visit England for the sole purpose of touring gardens there. Not only famous gardens but also some of the small English cottage gardens. (I belong to the Cottage Garden Society in the UK). And, Donna, you would make a wonderful companion for such a trip. P. x
ReplyDeletePam how is your wonderful mom? I am game whenever you find the right time. Touring the magnificent gardens in the UK with someone of your knowledge would be an honor my dear friend. Have a wonderful blessed Easter!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely having snowdrops out in bloom. I'm sure you had a wonderful trip to England. Their spring is ahead of ours.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, Sometimes I take my home in England for granted, but reading this post makes me realise how lucky I am. I've still only got one snowdrop though.
ReplyDeleteThe spring color is lovely. I can image your trip abroad was a wonderful visit. It is one I hope to enjoy one day.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and photos,I think spring has just taken a little pause and will bounce back soon
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks lovely Pam and the Spring photos have certainly done the blooms justice x
ReplyDeleteHi Pam,
ReplyDeleteI see you got your plant identified. I have a clump, too, and knew it started with a "B", but I was also thinking the common name may be pig squeak. I just looked it up, and see that is another name for it. It's Berginia, though, not Begenia. Look that up to see if that's what it is.
I have to admit I didn't notice the template change, but I do like it. I am pretty scatterbrained. I am one that can be busy sometimes. I change mine from time to time, too, and recently made it a bit more simple.
Thanks for visiting my last post. Spring is finally visiting, and even though Monday is only supposed to get into the upper 30s or low 40s, the other highs are supposed to get into the 50s and 60s.
I hope your snow is melted by now.
Love your photos of English blooms Pam. I just got back from England too and was amazed at the blooming daffodils everywhere. I have some daffs in my Texas garden and they don't appear to be close to blooming.
ReplyDeletePam, you left England when it was starting to look like Spring, and then Winter returned with vengeance. Here in Aberdeen it was much the same but not quite so much snow as many parts of the country. Your makeover is as refreshing as clear mints.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post with beautiful flowers. I love the combination of plants in that pot with the heather...so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love your closing photo. Less miles burnt up for our green gardens!
ReplyDeleteI share your love of primulas I grew up in Sydney where they were a staple. But here in Kansas, they are an annual with a short window of relevance. Enjoyed your blog.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Patrick
Hi Pam! I'm not sure what that pink flower is, but you're right. It is a beauty. What a beautiful walk to the church, with all these colorful blooms along the way. I hope you can get your hands dirty soon!
ReplyDeleteI love your spring photos, especially the primroses, they are so pretty and cheerful. I just love snowdrops yet I have none in my garden, I really must do something about that! That little container with the conifer and the heather is pretty - that would make a really nice winter display. Thanks for your post Pam, it's been quite timely for me :)
ReplyDelete