April Flowers

I think I shall just let the pictures do the talking today.

Yellow flower with dark foliage in the foreground is Ranunculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy'.  Amongst the flowers of Bellis perennis behind it is the emerging foliage of two beauties from Quercus Plants, Fife two years ago: Astilbe 'Straussenfeder' and Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' both of which are yet to fulfill their potential.

In the tub, Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete' has begun flowering a few weeks after those that are in the ground.

The daffodils by the swing are Narcissus 'Fortune'.

A closer view of the Narcissus 'Fortune' by the swing.  In the background is the water butt collecting from the potting shed roof and the beginnings of what will become a bug hotel using an old nest of tables as the framework.

Two kinds of Tulipa fosteriana have opened in the last couple of days: 'Orange Emperor' to the front and 'Purissima' to the rear.  Unlike some tulips, these can be left in the ground without losing their vitality.

The blue flowers are Muscari azureum, a less invasive form of Grape Hyacinth and the foliage doesn't overwhelm as much either.  These are sitting in front of the prostrate Juniperus squamata, the divided foliage of Geranium purpureum (Little Robin - or is it Geranium robertianum Herb Robert?), and the shiny foliage of Fragaria chiloensis 'Chaval.'  The silver foliage at the left edge belongs to Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter'.

I don't know what kind of daffodil this is.

Or this.

Or even these.

But I do remember that these are Forget-me-nots that are just coming into flower: Myosotis 'Spring Symphony Blue' which were grown from a packet of Suttons Seeds.

The first Snake's Head Fritillary of the year has also come into flower: Fritillaria meleagris - a very exotic-looking British native.  In the pot behind is the fresh red-tinged foliage of  the Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum 'Patriot'. I keep this in a pot as it requires a lower pH than that offered by my garden soil.

Though not yet in flower, the light gives even our common bramble a certain beauty: Rubus fruticosus.  But there, I have given an opinion when I said I was going to let the pictures do the talking.

Moral: Don't believe a word I say.