The joy of spring
Today is a big one for the blog because this is post number 100! To celebrate I will write very little but just post some photos of some of the plants in bloom today, some of which I will detail more in the coming days. The day has been dry (hoorah – or – thank the lord) but the wind is brisk and cool. Frost is forecast for tonight so I had to rush round and take a few photos of the magnolias in case they are reduced to brown mush by the morning.
Magnolia x soulangeana – common but deservedly so
The nodding blooms of Tulipa sylvestris planted in the lawn – I hope they naturalise
Tulip ‘Joanne Woodward’, as good for its leaves as its blooms
Tristagma ‘Jessie’ – yes i know you thought it was an Ipheon – more on plant naming soon!
Rhododendron x fragrantissimum – much nicer in the flesh when you can enjoy the delicate perfume
Abutilon ‘Giant Berry’ – a really ‘in your face’ plant with huge blooms
Iris bucharica – my favourite ‘Juno’ iris and the easiest to grow outside
Primula vulgaris – the common primrose – what could be more beautiful?
Camellia ‘Brushfield’s Yellow’ more interesting than beautiful perhaps
The fertile stems of Equisetum arvense – common mare’s tail – not something I want in the garden but definitely curiously beautiful
Prunus ‘Victoria’. The plums planted last year did not make huge growth but the warm summer has helped set lots of buds – I hope the frost tonight is not too severe or the crop will be lost
Tulip ‘Tom Pouce’ in full bloom with ‘Light and Dreamy’ just colouring up among purple wallflowers
The Biking Gardener 
lovely Geoff just lovely as malc would say you take brill photos
thank you 🙂 It helps that all those bulbs are starting to bloom and the sun came out! Its the second dry day in a row – I hope it lasts a bit longer!
Talking of bulbs (or corms or whatever), which way up does one plant dahlia tubers? Mine were delivered today and I’m already confused, I’d like to give them the best start and planting them upside down isn’t my idea of a good start!
You can plant dahlias straight in the ground so the tops are about 8cm deep or start them in pots. You should be able to see the old stem from last year and tubers growing ‘down’ away from this. The new shoots will grow from the area where the stem meets the tuberous roots. I will have to do a post about this! Incidentally, if any of the tuberous roots break off they will not grow into plants, they are purely storage organs. Check back for a post on planting tubers soon 🙂