There may have been orange tip butterflies in the gardens of Hexenhäusli Device earlier this year, but this one is the first I've seen (I've seen several up at the allotment and surrounding fields, though). And there are plenty of black ladybirds around here, but the 'eye' markings on this harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) are the first I've noticed.
Anyway, that's the new fauna out of the way. Now for the flora!
On Thursday, I took The Mother to Hadfields garden centre in North Walsham. I wanted a cherry tree, some 8ft canes, seed trays, and plant pots of the right size (as Jon pointed out, all the plant pots one has at home are "never the right size"). While I didn't get plant pots of the right size - does no one have them?! - I did come away with some 'extras':
Back left: Fuchsias 'Delta's Sarah', 'Dark Eyes', 'Wendy's Beauty', 'Marinka' and 'Dancing Flame'
Back right: Salvias 'Amistad', 'Cherry Lips', and 'Plum Crazy'
The four trays at the front are The Mother's cosmos and snapdragons. In the middle is an agapanthus she bought a couple of weeks ago (at the back is a pot of narcissus and a horse chestnut).
Then yesterday I had a delivery of Hosta 'White Feather' and Batflowers (Tacca integrifolia and chantrieri) which I potted up straight away (unlike last time). Hopefully this time they'll actually grow!
And finally, from the allotment:
The first water hawthorn flower.
Well, there's another out of shot but they both came up at the same time.
Conference pear blossom - which is not dissimilar to the water hawthorn
(pear blossom stinks, though - well, this one does!)
Apple blossom from the tree I moved from the garden 2 or 3 years ago.
Apple blossom from the nicer existing tree
(I seem to have pruned the other one a little too vigorously as there are barely any flowers on it)
And a bit of colour to finish. These primulas aren't new, but with the forget-me-not growing between them, they're very pretty. I tend to ignore them up here at the allotment so as they're spreading rather rambunctiously! Once they've finished flowering I might take some to the garden for some extra spring colour next year.
What a weird pattern on that ladybird...
ReplyDeleteYou and your mother shop like I do at a garden centre! "Do we need another one of those? Or more of those?" "YES!!" Nothing exceeds like excess, that's why I have bought more shelves and stands, so we can accommodate as many plants as we can cram in.
Jx
PS Blossoms and primulas are glorious!
Well, The Mother was all "Oh, I suppose we could get a salvia. But where would we put it?"
DeleteAnd I retorted "A salvia? They're three for £12 - we have to get three! And I'll find room." And I did. Although I think I'm going to have to find another gate or something to put on the wall to display the extra fuchsias...
Nooooooooooo! I was going to post photos of the Orange Tipped Butterfly!!!! I still might. However, my blogging mojo works in fits and starts and I have been distracted this week.
ReplyDeleteSx
Oh, yes, do post your orange tip! The more butterflies the merrier.
DeleteWhat has been distracting you, Ms Scarlet? The sunshine? (You have had sunshine, haven't you?)
Yesterday was our first proper day of sunshine, although there were a couple of brief rain showers in the morning.... I have run out of heating oil, Mr Devine, and if the sun hasn't been out then it's been very cold! So I have been sulking, plus it's difficult to type when wearing mittens. The price of heating oil has doubled since January and the quote for 500 litres was over £700! No way. Not paying that. Good job I have a wood burner.
DeleteSx
My sister is in the same boat, oil wise. Except that she's spending as much time as possible in bed!
DeleteI spy an orange tip at yours. I shall be there forthwith!
Oh, what a joy this is. I might have the pots you need (they‘re not the size we need).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mitchell. If Broom were more reliable, I'd hop on and come and collect them. However, I wouldn't trust Broom to get me over a bathtub nevermind across the Channel and all the way to Fuengirola!
DeleteBroom would have to get you even further. All the way to Córdoba. I don’t know how it does over dry land.
DeleteI'll all for a rambunctious spread of colour.
ReplyDeleteI have several packets of spring bulbs to plant/pot-up. Also have rumbling thunder and big fat raindrops. Would not harm the bulbs, but I'd get muddy and cold! Also, waiting on bigger tubs from bro-in-law.
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