Garden Diary – Lets catch-up on Spring!

Have you ever heard anyone say that they don’t like Spring? I haven’t.

I’d say it’s most people’s favourite season, it’s just such an optimistic time of the year. Not just for us gardeners, but especially for us gardeners!

All those, not very attractive bulbs we planted in the autumn are bursting into flower. And making us glad that we bothered now that we’re rewarded with bright colours. And this week saw the first tulips arrive to the colour party.

I’ve gradually been planting more hyacinths into the borders and they’re perfuming the air as I get into the garden more.

I have them in a pot for at least one year, then move them to one of my different spring colour zones.

At one end of the woodland border the colour starts with pink, then moves to burgundy, onto mauves and purples and finally blue. All inter-planted with the main colour of spring, yellow, which suddenly feels like it’s everywhere, including the marigolds in the pond.

I’m particularly pleased with one part of the woodland border full of purples. I’ve gradually been moving more plants in, and I’m especially pleased with the mini primulas as they were a cutting from an elderly friend that’s no longer with us.

As the season progresses this colour co-ordination goes out of the window as a mixture of colours appear.

This is the first year I have planted anemones in this border. I’d left them in pots until they looked strong enough to go in. The day I was planting them a ladybird- of which we have dozens – didn’t want to get off, but once I’d got him on my hand was determined to get up my sleeve. I finally re-located him to the strawberries.

One of the anemones is the deepest blue and called ‘Mr Fokker’, he has definitely stolen my heart and I can’t stop taking his photo, ogling him more than the tulips which have always been my favourite at this time of year.

The anemones have also brought grans dolly tub to life, it’s never been so colourful.

My other love lives in the pond – well apart from the ‘gardens mate, obviously! – in the form of the newts. Of course I love the frogs too, but the newts did arrive first and they’re so tiny and cute.

We both spend much happy time standing watching them as they break the surface to breathe.

I’m always conscious of the first flying insects as early as February as the winters get milder, but I’ve never known butterflies so early. I had to do another rescue from the greenhouse of a Brimstone the other day.

The greenhouse has been packed over winter, not helped by the big bundle of asparagus wrapped in a tarpaulin. I got such a surprise when I started to tidy up and open it to see if there was any chance it may have survived. You could have knocked me over when I discovered it was sprouting. I need to find it a new home ASAP!

The seedlings are coming on so well, with the aid of so much sunshine, I’ll be on regular re-potting very shortly. Delicious homegrown food, here we come!

Monday 16th March 2026

I absolutely love these ‘Woodstock’ Hyacinths. And they smell amazing too 🌿💜🩷💜🩷🌿 #MagentaMonday

Another lovely day gardening, although a bit chilly if you stopped for long 🪴

I dug this asparagus crown, ‘Purple Pacific’ up last autumn as I’m altering the kitchen garden. I wrapped it in a tarpaulin ‘temporarily’. Unfortunately I haven’t yet sorted out its new home, but it turns out, it likes living in a tarp! I give you, pink asparagus! 🩷@GardensHour

Tuesday 17th March 2026

I think it’s fair to say, that I’m in love 🥰 with ‘Mr Fokker’, my blue Anemone 💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜

I bought the corms Oct 24 & had hardly any flowers last year. Worth waiting for though!

“Become a gardener, learn patience” #tuesdayblue

Wednesday 18th March 2026

I found a ladybird on an anemone I was moving. I tried to relocate him to my strawberries but he said he’d rather stay on my sleeve 🥰 He got off eventually 🐞🍓🌿 #wildlifewednesday #insects #wildlife #ladybirds

The first tulips came out yesterday 🌿🤍💙🤍🌿

Tulip humilis ‘Coerulea Oculata Alba’, bought last year & looking just as good this year 😊 #tulips #TulipTuesday

Joy is… spending your lunch break watching newts break the surface of your garden pond to catch flies 🥰🦎☀️💦 And the icing on the cake, beautiful warm sunshine. Heaven!

#WildlifeWednesday #newts #pond #pondlife

Thursday 19th March 2026

This unseasonably lovely weather is not only speeding up the blooming of flowers & bringing the harvests on, but means the garden is filled with life once more. Gardening with friends 🐝🐞🦋🐸🦎🕷️🪱

#InsectThursday

Friday 20th March 2026

Spring has definitely sprung this week, with all the beautiful sunshine 🌿💛💙💛💙🌿 #flowersonFriday

Had to do a ‘Brimstone’ butterfly rescue from the greenhouse. I saw it in there yesterday but felt sure it would find its way out, unfortunately it was still in there today. Free now 🦋💛

#butterfly #brimstonebutterfly

I’m so pleased with this part of the woodland border after moving things for the past couple of years. I think I’m finally satisfied 🌿🩷😊💜🌿 #flowersonfriday #springflowers

Saturday 21st March 2026

Granny’s dolly tub & it’s mate, have never looked so good, so early, & it’s all thanks to the anemones 🌿💕💙🌼💜🌿

The first yellow tulips have now joined the blooming party. #sixonsaturday

Sunday 22nd March 2026

What an amazing weather week for the time of year! Especially ’up north’!

The garden has loved it, the wildlife’s loved it & so have I! 🌿💛🌿🌼🌿💛🌿🐞🌿🐝🌿🌞 #SundayYellow #sevenonsunday #SpringFlowers

I love this time of year, as the greenhouse fills up with seedlings 🌱. Pricking out is one of my favourite gardening jobs. The promise of all those harvests to come 🍅🫑🌶️

#homegrown #gyo #growyourown #seedlings