April flowers

Epimedium x versicolor

I'm really happy with the way all the early flowers have flourished this spring. I think it is the result of building up the beds over the last years so they don't become a boggy marsh in winter. This year the wild violets are everywhere, and there are lots of wild celandine, so perky and shiny, and daisies in the lawn, and dandelions. I remember once, on holiday in Holland, we came to a field so full of enormous dandelions I thought they must be an actual crop. 

Wild violet

Celandine

Anemone blanda

I also have things I planted on purpose like Anemone blanda, (blue and white), snakes head fritillary, dog tooth violets (I wonder why they are so expensive?),  scillas and  grape hyacinths. 

Snake's head fritillary

Dog-tooth violet (Erythronium dens-canis)

I also have two splendid bergenias, a white one called 'Silberlicht' and a really dark pink one whose name I don't know. Even when they are over, their leaves provide a constructive  shape among the other plants.  And, of course there are the Spanish bluebells, which want to take over and I let them in some places because they are  such a gorgeous blue. 

      

                         Bergenia 'Silberlicht'                                       Unknown red bergenia

As for the edible element of the garden, I didn't intend to, but did  in the end buy ten seed potatoes (Desirée). They are not part of the perennial veg scheme, but I do love digging them up when they are ready. I put a handful of my own compost in the bottom of each hole, then the potatoes then covered them with wool compost and  covered that with a length of chicken wire. Next morning, the one potato not covered by the wire had been dug up by a squirrel. Nothing daunted, I planted it back in again and covered it with an upturned wire hanging basket. Ha!

This week I received a delivery of five plugs of a plant called Bacopa monieri or water hyssop. I once saw this at a friend's cottage in Ireland and wanted it. It has lush green foliage and tiny white flowers. It tumbles down rather like aubretia so is good for hanging baskets and raised beds. I unpacked the little things and was moved by their vulnerability. Then I saw the message on the box: 'Careful -  babies'. I have, very carefully potted them up and they are sitting outside under a large cloche and looking, I must say, quite happy.