It starts each year with the blossoming of a few snowdrops and some lovely crocuses. I planted crocuses the first year I came to Québec from my home province of Manitoba.
I love flowers and since 2004 have been working on my border garden, expanding it, adding plants that were given to me or plants that I purchased and even some wildflowers were seeded here that I suppose flew in from the woods on the wind…like these woodland flowers.
This is a picture of the top of the garden from last year.
The next flowers to come up after the crocuses and daffodils are tulips. I’ve had a great bunch of colourful tulips come up two springs now. I’ve heard that tulips are finicky and will eventually stop blooming. I hope these lovely flowers come up for a few more years at least!
I guess you could say I’m an experimental gardener because I will try pretty much any plant and if it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t work. This garden is in partial shade, so it can be difficult to find things that truly flourish. Bleeding hearts seem to do exceptionally well. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of them this year.
Here is a closer look at the lovely purple tulips that are the amongst the first to show buds.
These fragrant orange tulips are not far behind in blooming. The gardenia daffodils have a really lovely scent as well.
Gardenia daffodils and Orange "Ballerina" tulips that smell like roses.
Here are the orange tulips again from a different view. The grape hyacinth came up nicely this year and the white flower that grows beside the grapes I do not know. I know I bought it and planted it and then moved it into a sunnier spot for it’s blooming time, but really don’t recall the name of it.
Peony tulips and mini daffodils
I wanted peonies and accidentally bought these peony tulips. Ha ha! They are a brilliant red and flop over because their heads are heavy. They sort of remind me of poppies.
I’m waiting for lilies and bee balm to bloom now. The oregano is thriving and I have a nice patch of chives.
A wounded butterfly took refuge in my flower box full of pansies and violas. Sadly, later on I discovered it had died.
I think this is called a Swallowtail butterfly. Look, it's wings are fuzzy on the inside, close to the body.
The underside. What gorgeous markings and subtle colours.
As a potter I realize that I just can’t keep my hands out of the mud! Thanks for walking through my garden with me.