One day I will leave the Priory for ever. My fingers will be prised one-by-one from the greenhouse door frame and I will be dragged, yowling and shrieking, to a waiting white van. And on that day, I would like to think that one of my legacies to the gardens, will be the sheer number of spring bulbs. As well as thousands of daffodils …
The very first daffodil in the garden, February Gold appeared on 1st March. Tut.
… I have planted hundreds of snowdrops …
… and have ordered a further 400, to dot about and to continue this line along one of the outbuildings:
I’ve put in a few dozen cyclamen corms, as there were none …
… and several hundred crocuses as, again, there weren’t any when I started.
Ruby Giant (thankfully I made a crocus map when I planted them all)
There are eleven different varieties but I’m afraid I haven’t got photos of them all.
Ard Schenk
Some have been in since autumn 2008 and are beginning to spread.
Whitewell Purple – though looking here decidedly blue
" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2104" data-orig-size="3872,2592" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" data-image-caption="" data-image-title="DSC_0076" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0076/" title="DSC_0076" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-2104" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0076.jpg?w=676" />Whitewell Purple - here looking decidedly blue
Some are targeted by squirrels and faltering in their conquest of the gardens.
Barr’s Purple
" data-image-title="DSC_0157" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" width="548" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=201" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0157/" alt="" height="819" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=685 685w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=548 548w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=1096 1096w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=100 100w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=201 201w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=768 768w" class=" wp-image-2112 " data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0157.jpg?w=676" />Barr's Purple
They are ephemeral certainly and gone all too quickly. So get down on your knees, get up close and make the most of them.
Prins Claus emerging
" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2109" data-orig-size="3786,2458" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" data-image-caption="" data-image-title="DSC_0116" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0116-2/" title="DSC_0116" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-2109" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0116.jpg?w=676" />Firefly emerging
Eventually, I would like the bank below the greenhouse to be smothered in crocuses.
Snowbunting left and Firefly
" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2113" data-orig-size="3641,1729" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" data-image-caption="" data-image-title="DSC_0435" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0435/" title="DSC_0435" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-2113" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0435.jpg?w=676" />Firefly in flower, right, with Snowbunting
Though they will always deserve individual attention.
Prins Claus
" data-image-title="DSC_0061" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0061/" title="DSC_0061" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-2100" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0061.jpg?w=676" />Prins Claus
Arguably, my favorite is this:
Pickwick
" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2114" data-orig-size="1744,1724" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" data-image-caption="" data-image-title="DSC_0679" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0679/" title="DSC_0679" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg 1744w" class="size-large wp-image-2114" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0679.jpg?w=676" />Pickwick
A big, fat flower …
… whose stripey, plump form puts me in mind of a waistcoat; stretched tight over Mr P’s rotund stomach.
Bulbs aside, and also flowering now, is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise.’ I bought this three-foot shrub for a fiver! I was very pleased with myself. The scent is heady and makes me swoon.
The subtle, little flowers of Cornus mas are also out.
Cornus mas - wrongly identified by me originally as "hoary old willow' - it flowered and my good friend Andrew put me right
But some color in the garden isn’t at all subtle and has nothing at all to do with flowers:
A refugee from the recent pheasant shooting season – seeking sanctuary in the gardens
" data-image-title="DSC_0126" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/03/04/not-quite-thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-crocuses/dsc_0126/" title="DSC_0126" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg 1891w" class="size-large wp-image-2110" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/dsc_0126.jpg?w=676" />A refugee from the recent pheasant shooting season, he sought (and was granted) sanctuary in the gardens
Thanks to Stacy who’s recent post, prompted me to join in. You can too!
