Temperatures have risen over the last few days (15C.....62F). The first butterfly of the year arrived. This little Comma warmed herself on the brickwork. It looked as if a bird may have caught her, as part of the wing was missing. She appears to have had a lucky escape.
Mr P brought the obelisks home. I asked for two, he made four, gorgeous man that he is. The metal will rust as the structures have not been treated. The two at the front will have golden hops climbing them. The two at the back, clematis and English honeysuckle.......against the rusting metal, the plants will blend well. What do you think??
A few years ago I planted shrubs and spring blooms at the side of the garage. Sadly I have neglected this area, and rarely open the gate and take a look. Today I did, and found this beautiful hellebore in full bloom. The ferns and shrubs also look good. Last summers rain obviously helped the poor plants, I always forget to water.
The Lenten rose is quite a connoisseur's plant these days. The spotted ones and deep mauve-purple cultivars are especially sought after. 
Once established, hellebores hate being moved, but do self-seed.......move the offspring while they are small.......
Lesser Celandine has appeared in the beds.....I love this wildflower. In a month the flowers and leaves disappear, as if by magic.
Rip van Winkle......
Pulmonaria........
Pulmonaria........Primula drumsticks.......
Cherry blossom.......have all opened in the last few days.
I was delighted to see spider webs appear in the garden this week. Everything seems to be waking up.....and the forecast is the warm weather should stay for the next few days.
Enjoy your garden...............
41 comments:
Hi Cheryl, I had to come by to rest in your beautiful and peaceful garden~~What ever magic you weave over here is good for my spirit...your words have a calming effect. After looking around and breathing deeply I am renewed!
The obelisks are indeed wonderful...I adore rusted metal in a garden...these will be lovely with the vines...
Now back to work...thank you Cheryl~~gail
Cheryl, I am in awe of the beauty in your gardens. Everything looks so fresh-even the spiders web has a glow to it. This year I had vowed to have hellebores blooming in my garden, but didn't remember to plant any last fall. Will have to write myself a big note. Yours are gorgeous. I love the dark colors and the doubles.
Mr. P is indeed a dear! What lovely garden art to grow your vines on. Does he ship to Illinois? :)
Thank you for such a beautiful garden tour. Like Gail, I feel refreshed.
I have to agree with Gail...your garden is peaceful.
You seem to be a few weeks ahead of of us for spring blooms. Will be outside tomorrow to see what's popping up.
Hi Gail.....thank you for your lovely words.
I cannot wait to show you the obelisks when they are covered in blooms, and leaves.....
I love watching the scene change as spring weaves its magic web......
Hi Beckie....you must get hellebores to plant this autumn.....I will give you a gentle reminder when it is near the time........they really are gorgeous......
We are waking up to mists in the morning....I think this is why the garden looks fresh......
Ship to Illinois....if only it were possible Beckie......
Hi Patsi....you must let us know what is popping up......it is always interesting to know what is blooming in others peoples space......
Lovely photos Cheryl, Spring most certainly appears to have arrived! :D
Hi Cheryl, how lovely to see all that colour after the dark days of Winter. Your plans for the obelisks sound excellent and the Honeysuckle will smell glorious, especially on warm summer evenings.
Everything in your beautiful garden seems to be more advanced than ours, I think your temperature is just a little warmer. My Drumsticks are definitely behind yours.
The Spider's web photo is delightful.
Everything is so fresh and bright and full of promise in the Spring. Lovely blooms--even in your "forgotten garden". I am always in awe of spider webs...they have so much symmetry, grace, and beauty. Thank you for sharing the awakening of your garden.
Oh what a wonderful awakening it is..We don't have that much yet..but we will
Smiles, Deena
Your garden is wide awake compared to my garden Cheryl. My garden is barely peeking out of the ground. A few more days like today though and we will catch up with you. Unfortunately it is supposed to go back to more normal temps.
The fairy looks so comfortable sitting there under the warmth of the hellebore.
Those oblisks are marvelous as is MrP. You can tell him I would like two also. tee hee... I know that wouldn't work for me but hey, a girl can dream.
My darling husband has been cleaning out flower beds for me while I was at work today. I too feel blessed.
Happy St Patricks Day.
A lovely Comma inspite of the torn wing, and your garden is a welcome spring sight.
Hi Shysongbird....I love honeysuckle....it also attracts moths into the garden. I have bats in the loft, so it gives them a food source.....everything has a reason.....
I love the warmer days, but do worry if perhaps they have come a little early. Everything is pushing ahead......
Hi Morningglories.....I love spiders web especially in the autumn. They are a sign of a healthy garden.....
Hi Lisa.......if you lived next door, I am sure Mr P could make a couple of obelisks for you.
I count my blessings everyday and Mr P is one of them......
Happy St. Patrick's Lisa....
What an uplifting post. Spring really will come, won't it?
Cheryl, Gail has expressed the feelings all of us have when visiting here. I've been working more than usual lately and have been feeling a little stressed out--your garden is the perfect place for meditation.
All your spring blooms are delightful; I like the little fairy hiding under the blossom, too. Mr. P is so thoughtful; I can't wait to see flowers climbing up those obelisks.
Enjoy these wonderful sunny days!
Hi ncmountaingirl....hang on in there, spring will soon come your way......
Hi Rose....sorry that you are feeling stressed....all work and no play.....
I to cannot wait to see the plants climbing the obelisks....I am hoping with all the underplanting, it will look great.......you never know with these projects.....
Hope the sun is shining on you.....
Dear Cheryl,
It is wonderful to see butterflies again! Your gardens are full of delight.
The spider'e web is beautiful...she is the best weaver and spinner...So many beautiful flowers.
Your husband is a gem! The obelisks are fantastic and with your vines they will look wonderful.
It is an exciting time of year. Happy Spring!
Sherry
Dear Sherry......it is a delight to be with the butterflies again....a peacock fluttered across the garden today.....
I cannot wait to see the obelisks covered in leaves and blooms....I have a vision....
I love the artwork of the spider....there is always much beauty in her designs.....
Happy spring....
Such a beautiful space I have just discovered in your blog! Thank you for letting me daydream for a moment of what's to come in a few weeks.
Even though my business is faux flowers, I certainly LOVE the real thing and nature's critters as well.
Donna
I know!! I know!! The earth is waking up! ;) I'm dancing, I'm singing.... Hear... hear! Can you see them? Where there is joy, laughter and color fairies are found! ;)
Oh Cheryl, I worked on my garden today, it was finally warm and sunny and I so loved it! ;) I hope you can participate in our Spring Party!
Hugs
cielo
Hi Donna....tku for dropping by, welcome.....
Glad you enjoyed viewing some of the plants in the garden.....
I love flowers of any kind....they all have something to give.....
Hi Cielo.....
I hear you my friend....yes spring is here....glad you were able to feel the earth between your fingers again....
May the sun shine on you......
As always your garden is a beauty to behold. You inspire me to try harder for the wild life in my garden, although sadly I will probably never see Mr & Mrs Duck walking through, but maybe I can do my bit for the littler insects, and butterflies and bees!!
this time of the year brings so much hope. i love all the new life in the garden with the blooms, wildlife, bugs and such. your images remind us of how wonderful things in the garden waking can be.
your hellebores are so lovely...i need to plant some next year.
do you plant them from seed? when is the best time to put them in the ground? how long do they bloom?
enjoy all your new life.
Dear Libby....while the ducks are a bonus...the insects are far more important...particularly bees....I am sure if we all did just a little bit, wildlife would have an easier time...
tks for dropping by....
Hi Marmee.....tku so much...
Hellebores......I always buy small plants, as they establish more easily.......now is the best time to plant.....they like a woodland setting....some shade and damp will suit them well....leaf mould is a perfect soil but any will do, just add some rich compost to it.
Once they are happy and established they seem to flower forever. I have had hellebore in bloom since mid January and some are just coming into flower now. A nice long season, when the weather is dull......
I do hope that you can find some small plants and put them under your lovely trees......
Enjoy......
Absolutly `Beautiful`....
and Cheryl I have to apologise for not
`Wishing you a Happy Birthday` ...
So sorry I missed that...
It looks like you had a lovely Time tho....TFS
Have a lovely Thursday:)♥
I really loved your pictures...
In this time of the year, comma's are often look damaged: the comma's you see now, are born in autumn, and have slept between dead leaves during winter, and are waking up now. But since they are already old, they wings are often more frayed than usual. (In Dutch, those butterflies are called 'gehakkelde Aurelia', which can be translated as 'frayed Aurelia')
That spiderweb is just a masterpiece of nature, isn't it? I just started with hellebores. Gorgeous flowers!
Brenda
Everything is waking up! And prettily too! How nice to watch your garden come to life. I am glad your temps are continuing to be warm.
I feel sorry for the poor little butterfly with the torn wing. I hope it mends.
Your spiderweb is elegant. I haven't seen one since last fall. It seems like such a long time ago!
Mr. P is a sweetie! I think your vines will look enchanting over the rust obelisks; as if they've been there for ages and ages.
Happy Spring!
Such a wonderful web! Your obelisks will look great and weather into the landscape...I know we could use some vertical structure in our gardens. You have many nice blooms now...I like the soft look of the Pulmonaria colors.
Having scrolled back a couple of posts to catch up again, Cheryl, I discovered you have had a birthday...many congratulations! I could have guessed you were a Spring baby. You exude the enthusiasm and joy that Spring brings. I am too, though in April :)
I love all the signs of Spring in your garden...the comma butterfly warming itself, the birds nesting, the spider's web... :)
I may have said it before...but I love your header with the precious bee :)
As ever, a joy to be here...I feel refreshed and ready to begin work in the garden now. I am gathering moss, twigs and my hubbie's thick hair (I've been cutting his hair for 40 years now) to place beside my log pile...and watch them all being taken away for nest-building :)
Happy nature-watching, Cheryl :)
Hi Anne....thank you for so much information regarding the Comma. So very interesting....you learn something new every day.....
Have a lovely weekend.....
Hi Wendy....I am looking forward to see the obelisks covered in vines.....I am hoping they will draw the eye to the pathway between them....this will lead to saplings and newly planted shrubs....
Have a great weekend.....
Hi Chris....our garden is very flat, so I am trying add some interest with various structures around the garden, for the plants to scramble over. The thing is knowing when to stop!!!
Dear Wildlife Gardener....tku.....my husband, son and daughter are all spring babies to, so this time of year is special.....
May you have a wonderful birthday in April....
I love the bee header to....it is great when you take a photograph that pleases the eye...
How enchanting.....what a lovely idea....your husband is so lucky to have thick hair. Dear Mr.P has not got much left.....bless his sweet heart.....
Have a peaceful weekend
Love the obelisks, hellebores, and especially the spider web. Yay!
Happy Spring! Yes it certainly has come to your world! Ahhh..that poor butterfly..he has been through something!!!
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