Surprise bloom...

These sweet Soldanella alpine blooms greeted me the other morning .  They are tiny , I planted them  under   'Sunshine' the Himalayan Jasmine, In a container .  I worry tiny plants seem to get lost in the winter . And better to  see them raised up . 

Last chance…again

Fritillaria persica …why will you not bloom? I planted five bulbs …not cheap $ 23.50 in 2011 .  Every year they look promising , but no, never a bloom . Last year I decided to dig them up and move them around. And here is one clump. It's looking heathy , to be honest I love the foliage; and if it never blooms , I won't really mind.

Blooms in Februrary ...

Every year I buy these  grocery store miniature Iris  pots. They never last long indoors.Then I pop them into the garden.
Happy bloom day ! 

Mowed..

I had a brilliant idea of how to clear the front garden, the mulch mower ! I set it at it's highest setting and off I went. It was done in no time, and I've just left the detritus for the birds and worms. 

I did have to avoid a few plants . The only damage I did was when  I went back over  it with my pruners ; and sniped a small Choisya down….

Too much of a good thing ….

My shaking Cerinthe major plants all over bare patches last year really worked ….  many, many new plants,. Too many , I think even the for-get-me nots will find it a tight fit this year. 

This is after I'd begun to pull the mushy ones out. 

I'll  leave these by the fence line. Quite useful ground cover.

A rethink in order.

Crocus chryanthus 'cream beauty'...

There is something to be said about a good late tidy up . Found under what was  a mass of mushy Cerinthe major.