Every year of 31st March I walk around our garden and make a list of all the plants in flower or with flower buds.
This year I have made a table of the surveys for the last five years. It is interesting to note the variations from year to year. Spring 2010 followed a long, cold winter, with snow falling on 31 March.
March 2013 was very cold, delaying the flowering season.
The most recent winter was very wet, but rather mild. As a result new species appear on my list.
Y indicates that Yes, a species is in flower. Bud and over need no explanation.
Plant 31 March | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Snowed on day | Cold March | Wet winter | |||
anemone | Bud | ||||
bluebell | Bud | ||||
comfrey | Y | Y | Y | ||
crocus | Y | Over | Over | Y | Over |
daffodil | Y | Y | |||
elephant’s ear | Y | Y | Y | ||
flowering currant | Y | Y | Y | ||
giant grape hyacinth | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
grape hyacinth | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
heather | Y | ||||
honesty | Y | ||||
hyacinth | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
miniature narcissus | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
narcissus | Y | Y | Y | ||
pansy | Y | Bud | |||
periwinkle | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
pink saxifrage | Y | ||||
polyanthus | Y | Y | |||
primrose | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
primula denticulata | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
purple hebe | Y | ||||
rosemary | Y | ||||
saxifrage (red) | Y | Y | |||
scilla | Y | Y | Y | ||
skimmia | Y | ||||
snowdrop | Over | Over | Over | Y | Over |
tulip | Y | Y | Bud | ||
tulipa tarda | Y | Bud | |||
wallflower | Y | Bud | Y | Y | Y |
winter jasmine | Y | Over | Over | Over | Over |
Elephant’s ears are Bergenia – their leaves are very large, hence the common name.
Giant grape hyacinths are Puschkinia scilloides or a similar plant. (Not grape hyacinths at all and more like Scilla. This is how wrong information is passed on!)
A few years ago a neighbour offered us some red lilies, which had been thriving in his garden. We like lilies and were happy to accept the offered plants. The bulbs and leaves looked rather suspicious to me. We planted them and now have a good few clumps of crocosmia “Lucifer”. It seems to be a case of “the devil being in the detail” – intentional pun!
I am linking to this week’s Writing challenge about time travel. I have been able to use my records to remind myself of years gone by. (My records go back for longer than 5 years, but for the purposes of this post 5 years gave a range if weather conditions and enough data to be going on with.)
Sounds like you have an amazing variety of flowers in your garden and 2014 is set to be a bumper year!
I love growing flowers but sadly they don’t like me! Any tips would be gratefully received!
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I mostly choose bulbs and perennials. Then I leave them to their own devices! Sue
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What a beautiful garden that must be. And it sure sounds like you know your flowers very well. Thanks for the great post, Sue.
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The flowers are rather sparse at present. The best months are May and June. Sue
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Hi Sue – that’s great that you’ve kept a record .. and it will be a fascinating reference resource for many a year ahead .. and to people in the local area …
We need to check our facts or gifts don’t we .. lilies for crocosmia .. some difference – oh well .. cheers and this was an interesting ‘glance at’ I’m afraid! Cheers Hilary
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In our local area many gardens are up to two weeks ahead of ours at this time of year. Altitude and aspect make big differences! Sue
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Your garden, which is full of various kinds of beautiful flowers, seems to be in a warmer place than ours.
— I didn’t know there is a flower named “honesty,” and I am wondering what it is like.
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I have a photo of it in another post https://suestrifles.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/honesty/
I am enjoying your a to z and other posts Sue
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That’s a nice selection of blooming plants, so I bet your garden is beautiful, especially late spring and summer. 🙂 That’s a great idea you have, noting how your plants are coming along on the same date each year.
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Thanks for following Sue’s Trifles and for your kind comments. Sue
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