Garden Diary – I thought the tulips were over, then 2 princess’s came along

It’s been an amazing tulip year, thanks to the weather playing ball for a change. But all good things come to an end, at least I thought.

Just as I was feeling a bit sad the season was nearly over I found a pot hidden behind some larger pots and it was full of little orange tulips called ‘Little Princess’, what a lovely surprise!

Then in the woodland border I found a couple of ‘Princess Irene’ tulips had popped up. So the princess’s were making a fashionably late arrival.

The garden continues to produce sentimental blooms, coming from the dicentra which I took a cutting from an elderly friend donkeys years ago and she is still with us aged 103!

The foster rose we are looking after for a friend that moved house, has started flowering this week and is looking healthier than ever despite being 25 years old, the same age as their daughter who’s birth it was bought to commemorate.

My orange azalea ‘Gibraltar’ has to into bloom and finally has a decent amount of flowers after not looking too good in recent years. My dad was posted in Gibraltar during the war and had such affection for the Gibraltarian people.

We started eating the kale I’d grown over winter, two new varieties this year. The one tasted just like purple sprouting broccoli which I forgot to sow last year.

The pulmonaria is finally coming to an end after flowering since February. The bees absolutely love it and I’m pleased to say that my brainwave of putting some in a pot has been a great success as it’s increased the bees on the patio.

So as April moves to May, we say goodbye to the early flowers and get ready for the next phase, bring it on!

Monday 5th May 2025

When yesterday’s glorious sunshine dipped down in the sky, not all of the tulips closed up, a sure sign that they are on their last legs 🙁

But it has been a fantastic tulip season!! 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

& there are plenty still doing well 🌿😊

#tulips #gardening #mygarden

Ok, so not exactly magenta 😄, but a few dark pink/magenta veins through my Fringed Bleeding Heart, dicentra eximia 🌿💕💕💕💕

Such a tough easy little plant, quite a spreader!!

#MagentaMonday #pinkflowers #gardening #mygarden

Tuesday 6th May 2025

Joy is… finding a small pot, hidden behind a large pot with beautiful Tulip ‘Little Princess’, flowering their little heads off 🌿🧡🖤💛🧡🌿

#tuliptuesday #tulips #flowers #tulipseason

Wednesday 7th May 2025

My foster Rose opened her first flower yesterday 🌿💛🌿

She is now 25 yrs old, bought in commemoration of a friend’s daughter’s birth. She will be returning to their garden at some point, but in the meantime I’m enjoying her beauty 🌿🌼🌿

#RoseWednesday #roses #YellowFlowers #yellowflowersforfriendship

Thursday 8th May 2025

Putting some of my pulmonaria in a pot on the patio has proved as popular with the bees as in the borders 💕🐝🌿

Great to sit & watch whilst having a cuppa ☕️

#InsectThursday #bees #savethebees #plantforbees

Hello May, the rhododendrons have opened to welcome you 🌿🤍🌿🤍🌿🤍🌿🤍

I just love the speckled colouring on the inside 🤍🧡🤍

#MayDay2025 #rhododendrons #plants

Kale. Picked, washed, shredded, added to a stir-fry & now in my tummy 😋🌿

#growyourownfood #kitchengarden #gyo #growyourown #kale

Friday 9th May 2025

This vibrant Azalea is called ‘Gibraltar’ 🌿🧡❤️🌿

I was looking for an orange azalea & as someone I loved was posted in Gibraltar during the war & never stopped talking of how kind the Gibraltarians were to them, I had to have it!

#FlowersOnFriday #plantassociations #Flowers