Garden Diary – Good things come in tiny packages

Our wonderful weather continues to bring out the blooms in ever increasing numbers. And it really feels now like we’re in full tulip season, which when I’m pushed I do choose as my favourite flowers.

This year I’m growing miniature tulip varieties for the first time and I will definitely be doing it again as I’m thrilled with them.

Two pink varieties, one with a yellow centre ‘Humilis Eastern Star’, and one with an amazing blue centre called ‘Little beauty’.

An orange one called ‘Little Princess’ which hasn’t opened yet, and a white one with a stunning dark purple centre ‘Coerulea Oculata Alba’.

It’s turning out to be a year for miniatures, as a small primula that I’d taken a cutting of from a friend a few years ago, has suddenly taken off. I do love all the plants in the garden that remind me of people, especially those whom are no longer with us.

When I start to think of all plants with sentimental connections to people, either presents bought for me or supplied from friends gardens (beware the vigorous spreaders), cuttings or saved seed, there’re far more than I’d realised.

I nearly missed another delicate, tiny flower that had come out, an apricot Epimedium. I think it was just the fact that the wind was blowing it that it caught my eye.

The different coloured hyacinths are pumping out their fabulous scent around the garden. The deep blue ones are my favourite, followed closely by the white ones (you know where) up in ‘the white garden’.

Here too I have some pink ones that I was given years ago in a pot for one of my (many) birthdays.

The most unusual flowering bulbs are now in full bloom too, the fritillaries. Their checkerboard patterned, snakes head shaped flowers, bobbing in the wind.

They clearly love their position, multiplying each year.

The hellebores are starting to fade in colour now, having given me early pleasure and more importantly, the bees early food. I had the clever plan of putting a newly acquired one last year into a pot. Thinking that when it would be flowering it would be too cold to be in the garden, well surprise! It’s been one of the nicest starts to the year that I can remember.

Monday 31st March 2025

Gosh these Mondays come around extremely quickly!!! #MagentaMonday

This is the first year I’ve grown miniature tulips. This one ‘Humilis Eastern Star’ started flowering last week & has loved the sunshine 🌞💕 I’ll be ordering them again 🌸🌿#tulips #tulip #Flowers

Tuesday 1st April 2025

On #TulipTuesday say hello to ‘Coerulea Oculata Alba’, first time in my garden, but certainly not the last.

I absolutely love this tiny white tulip with its dark purple centre 🌿🤍💜🌿#tulips #tulip #Flowers #bulbs #SpringFlowers

Hello April 🌿You bring us some of the best blooms of the year! 🌿🌼💙🌼🌿

#TuesdayBlue #hyacinth #primula #April #flowers #SpringFlowers

Wednesday 2nd April 2025

This little Primula ‘Obsidian purple’, was a cutting taken from a friend not long before she died 💜 It has absolutely thrived in my garden 🌿

I have so many plants that remind me of people no longer here. Keep sharing! #plantsharing #memories #gardening #primulas #springgarden

Thursday 3rd April 2025

Morning, it’s fritillary time!

I grow these bulbs in a shady raised bed & they multiply every year, so I guess they’re happy 🤗💕🌿 #fritillary #bulbs #flowers #gardening #mygarden

Friday 4th April 2025

I bought this hellebore last year & decided to plant it in a pot to get the benefit looking out of the window on cold days. Little did I know how warm it was going to be 🌿☀️🌸🙂

#FlowersOnFriday #flowers #hellebore #hellebores #pinkflowers #pinkfriday #mygarden #gardening