What the garden gets up to when I’m not looking.

For the Victoria Day long weekend, we decided to do a road trip to my parents’ place in Saskatchewan (more on that soon), and when we came home, I could not believe my eyes!  We’d had some heat and rain while we were gone.

Ferns that were just fiddleheads when we left are almost two feet tall.  Hostas that hadn’t even emerged from the ground, are starting to show off their beautiful foliage.  Everything had finally begun to wake up, but what really caught my attention was the riot of colour from the tulips.

There’s something about these spring bulbs that makes it seem perfectly acceptable to break every “rule” in the book.  No worries about carefully placing the short and the tall in just the right spot.  They all demand your attention.  Even mixing pink and red (gasp!) seems to work.  The garden is growing and it’s time for colour!

Triumph Tulip ‘Chansonette’

 

The addition of two-tone tulips is fairly new for me.  They add a little exotic flair.

Triumph Tulip Affaire

I’ve lost track of this beauty’s name.  So lovely, with the variations in soft pink.

 

Tulip ‘Blue Parrot’, one of the few double tulips in my garden.

Another name escapes me and my horrible record keeping.  The lemon yellow is still pretty.

There are times I almost hate to leave my yard.  As we were packing up the car, I looked at all of the flower buds just waiting for the right moment to burst open.  I hate to miss anything!

This Double Flowering Plum (or Flowering Almond – Prunus Triloba) was loaded with dark pink buds when we left, and was in full bloom for our return.  In fact, some of the flowers have already started to fade.  Soon, the ground beneath will be covered in soft pink petals.  Until then, the bees are working hard gathering pollen from one of their spring favourites.

Quickly filling in the spaces in the shade bed is Lamium ‘Nancy’ with it’s variegated leaves and pretty lilac flowers.

The only two Primula or primroses that managed to make it through the winter this year.  This plant isn’t fully hardy to Zone 2b, but try telling that to the one with white flowers.  This is it’s third year in the garden.  I’m working up the courage to divide it one day.

The little one with the red and yellow flowers looks like a little baby, nestled up against it’s mamma for protection from the big bad world.  Nothing to fear, little fella.  Get growing!

My final offering is one of the little volunteer violas scattered all over the yard.  Whether I find these rascals in the actual flower beds or among the wood chips of a pathway, the Johnny Jump Ups make me smile and get to stay wherever they find a spot.

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Please note that it is only through a combination of some very specific camera angles and a bit of careful cropping, that I managed to avoid showing off the other plants that have put on a show of their own. The weeds! They liked the heat and humidity, as well.

Please excuse me.  I’ve got work to do.