Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Around the Garden, Weeds and All !

I have put a few plants into the 'Mushroom Garden' (see HERE), and having had some rain in the last few days, I hope they will get established.  As you can see, the grass is growing well around the bed, but it is too damp at the moment to cut.  
I have put in lavender, and some succulent-like plants, as the bed is in full sun and does not get watered as much as the vegetable garden, so I hope these species will be suited to this drier environment.

Apple blossom

 Camellia

 Choisya Ternata (Sundance)
This shrub was only bought last year and we hope it will grow quickly to hide a neighbour's wall.
The quince tree is just coming into flower

This tulip opened in the sun just before the last few days of rain

 but this 'black' tulip is keeping me in suspense

The white bells are already out

The bluebells are not quite ready yet which I am happy about,  as I do not want the white and blue to cross pollinate.

Also plentiful in the garden are the uninvited flowers, some pretty, and I am happy to see like the violets, but others like the clover I can do well without.
I think this is ground ivy, it is very widespread!

Celandine 

Buttercup

I believe this to be one of the speedwell family

 
 Daisy

 Common dandelion 

 I am not sure about this one, and I cannot relocate it in the garden to check the leaves!

 Violet family, this one was quite dark; others are much lighter, but we have quite a carpet of them.

Finally a mystery new arrival; the flower is very tiny, barely 5mm (1/4 inch) in diameter and the plant is spreading rapidly!! 

89 comments:

  1. Diane, your flowers and all look beautiful! You are way ahead of us with flowers blooming. We have cut the lawn a couple of times which we've never done this time of year but now it has turned much cooler and is below normal. Good luck with your lavender! I love it and have tried to grow it many times. Evidently, it is just too cold in the winter here for it. Have a great rest of the week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I keep thinking of you and Nigel, just finishing your first winter and quickly flowering your way into spring. Beautiful flowers. I do hope you are both enjoying the big change to your lives. I can only add....wish I was there. Susan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great flower photos, your Black Poppy looks like a Tulip to me. Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice to see your Mushroom Garden again Diane - I see on Sky News that some parts of England are experiencing a drought - is it the same in France?

    ... and the Poppies ... are they Opium poppies or a different variety?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pam the only lavender plant I had in the garden before, survived the winter here this year and we went down to -18 in my neighbour's barn so I hope that these will also do well. I love it because it brings the most wondrous insect life and gorgeous butterflies with it. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Diane:
    This really is the most wonderful time of the year with so much promise and everything, as you show here, looking so pretty and fresh despite an absence of much needed rain everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Susan I do not think that either of us has got used to it yet. Once spring is fully here, and more and more work appears in the garden, I think it may sink home that I have some help this year:) We can also cycle more I hope. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Horst, slip of the hand and mind, corrected immediately :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  9. Graham, we had a drought last year and this year the farmers are already on restricted days for watering. So far we have not been effected, but it could well happen. The last few days we have had about 20mm all-together but I suspect that is about all we will get. It has just made the lawn too wet to cut. Drought is certainly expected again.
    As for the poppies, a slip of the head! they are tulips, now corrected :) No not opium LOL. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jane and Lance, we have had a little rain over the last few days which has perked everything up but I do not expect it to last. The farmers in our area are already on restricted days for watering. So far no restrictions at homes yet, long may it last. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  11. Everything looks beautiful! Your mushroom garden is most charming, and I can't wait for everything to grow up and fill the space.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh I so enjoyed the stroll around your garden! LOVE that mushroom garden it really looks like a gaint mushroom - but prettier - what a great idea!
    Mary x

    ReplyDelete
  13. All those lovely spring blooms Almost make me wish I wasn't in the high desert. I won't see flowers until at least May at the canyon. Your gardens are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've just been pondering your mystery plant and I'm not too sure. It's not a form of chickweed is it? The tulips look great. In the strange weather we've been having this year, our tulips have flowered early and looked lovely. Sadly, that's not true of all the bulbs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your flowers are gorgeous. I hope your new flower bed does well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What delights there are in your garden, Diane.
    I love the mushroom garden, a wonderful idea. Now I have a tree stump just like that ....

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Diane! I am sure your garden looks amazing with all the lovely colours! I have a lot of work to do on mine yet:)
    ~Anne

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your garden is blooming wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Everything looks beautiful in the garden already!

    ReplyDelete
  20. It is all starting to look good Diane, even the dandilions, we keep them for the guinea pigs :) x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Rosaria I am also looking forward to the mushroom garden filling up with colour. Think I may put a few random flower seeds in as well and they will have to take pot luck. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  22. Torviewtoronto thanks for your visit and comment. Hope that all is well with you Diane

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mary Mum's Kitchen, I was really pleased when the guy who took the tree down suggested the mushroom, I also thought it was a great idea. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  24. Gaelyn, Mat is right around the corner and you have those stunning views instead to look at :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a stunning mix of flowers, I'm quite unlucky, anything new that I've put in has died a death and never popped back up. But I've cleared a little area to try to plant up a mini white Sissinghurst.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Phil in the Kitchen, I have just looked up chickweed in the two books I have. One has no picture but the description sounds close. The other has a picture of water chickweed which is very similar but these are growing in a very dry spot!! I think you may well be right but I still have to be convinced:)
    I had a lot of bulbs rot when we had the very cold spell here, and then it was so wet when all the snow melted. My crocus have come up but there is not, as yet, so much as a bud on them which I find odd.
    Thanks for the chickweed idea, I will look into it further. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  27. Words Of Deliciousness hope the bed does well also it has had a good start with the last few days of rain. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  28. GaynorB I have to say the mushroom looks very much more attractive than a mere stump :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anne there is not really a lot of colour, just the odd bit here and there. Hopefully next month I will get more seeds coming up, then there should be some colour. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  30. Leon and Sue, I love that expression. Bet you are getting excited now :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  31. Joyful, there are many blank patches in the garden, but I hope that the annuals will soon pop up and give colour in those spaces. Take care Diane

    ReplyDelete
  32. Karen too far for me to send the dandelions to you, perhaps a should buy some guinea pigs LOL. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  33. Tabitha, generally most things seem to grow for me, the problem is always the bugs that eat them!! I white garden will be beautiful, I hope it grows well for you.
    Thanks you so much for your visit and kind comment, much appreciated. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  34. All your posts are alway lovely, bu I have to admit - walks around your garden are my favuorite. And this one just hits the spot. Come warmer days of spring and summer, no doubt you will spend many happy hours there. Just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Boye By Red I try to cater for all tastes with food, home, garden and the French countryside. So long as you enjoy one of them then I am happy :) Yes I am looking forward to getting out in the garden, especially the vegetable garden, but at the moment it is damp and chilly, not my idea of fun gardening! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  36. Spring has definitely sprung! Such lovely photos, they take my breath away! It looks like you have a lot of fun in your garden!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Diane, your mushroom garden is soo beautiful and I'm hoping that you'll keep us posted with its growth. Have a great spring..

    ReplyDelete
  38. The Café Sucré Farine I am not sure if it has completely sprung, the temps are dropping over the next few days and we could yet get some more frost!!! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  39. MARCO PASHA I sure will keep you posted as to how it does. I am quite looking forward to seeing it with some colour :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  40. A lovely glimpse into your garden, I like the new bed you have made. Our quince is also just coming into flower this week.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks Linda, maybe we will have fruit at the same time if the bees do their job. There are still very few around, and it has now turned much colder again so they will not be out me thinks!! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  42. These flowers are amazing. I love flowers and we have little room to even put in a small patch of them I am glad, I can come here to appreciate them.

    ReplyDelete
  43. bookcasefoodie thanks for the visit and for the kind comment. I hope now that summer is on its way there will be more and more garden posts. I also love flowers, one and all.
    BTW Waldorf Salad is my favourite salad, yum yum. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  44. Amazing yard! I love your mushroom garden - so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Pam I also love my mushroom garden, I hope it will son be full of colour:) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  46. Le printemps dans un jardin joliment fleuri: c'est magnifique!!
    J'aime particulièrement les fleurs du pommier! La Véronique est la Véronique de perse, tres jolie petite felur d'un bleu très doux!
    Bonne fin de semaine à vous.

    ReplyDelete
  47. lejardindelucieBonne, Merci pour votre visite et vos aimables et encourageants commentaires. Fin de semaine à vous aussi. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  48. Diane your new pic is so pretty. Love the hair. Beautiful blooms. I love the mushroom garden and how you placed the tree stumps around the perimeter. You have a lot going on in your gardens.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Becca thanks for the kind comment. You are right there is a lot going on in our garden especially on the weed front :). I am looking forward to the mushroom garden being full of colour. Have a great weekend Diane

    ReplyDelete
  50. The "black" tulip actually looks deep purple, and should be fabulous. All of your flowering plants and shrubs are beautiful. I hope that one near the neighbor's wall spreads quickly for you.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Marjie the tulip is deep purple but they sell them as 'black' tulips! The neighbour's wall, is in fact only a stone barn, but it is somewhat unsightly as part of the wall at one end he has extended it with corrugated metal!!!! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  52. Merci de mettre le printemps à portée de main. magnifique!
    See soon

    ReplyDelete
  53. Diane - A very pretty post! You have an amazing array of flowering plants. Enjoy the season and have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  54. The flowers are beautiful. I have one little blue flower so far!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love seeing all the spring flowers, even the dandilion, we don't have that here in Florida. Our spring is different, but we do get the orange blossoms in March and my mango is finished blossom and tiny little mangoes are all over the place. The Jasmine is in full bloom and smells as good as the orange blossoms did. Thanks for letting us take a walk in your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Diane, these flowers are beautiful as are your photos of them. I love your new profile pic too! I have some lavender bushes doing well and tried to plant some more but our weather has just been all wrong for lavender this season - too much humidity, rain etc and sadly when I checked this morning all the new plants had died.

    Denise

    ReplyDelete
  57. Nadji, C'est le printemps bonne est ici. Merci pour votre visite. Bon dimanche. A très bientôt. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  58. chcmichel, thanks the garden is picking up, but it has a long way to go after the hard winter we had. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  59. Sarah my garden is very slow this year thanks to the very cold, though short, winter. I am still hoping that some of my shrubs will recover but they are not looking good. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  60. Lyndsey your garden sounds similar to what my folks had in Zimbabwe. Mangoes and Avocados both of which I loved. Orange, papaya and lemon trees were always laden. I still dream about that garden! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  61. Denise I hope my lavender copes in the mushroom garden. My neighbour struggles to grow lavender here, but the only one I have planted to date is doing extremely well and has survived the very cold winter well. I am keeping my fingers crossed :) Diane

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi Diane .. beautiful photos and thanks for posting names for the plants .. most I know - but can't help with the others.

    I'm sure your mushroom bed will fill out very quickly as the Spring toddles on!

    Thankfully we've had some rain - probably not enough, but something for the gardens ..

    The choisya is amazing isn't it - and I know that it fills out and provides a healthy leaf and flower cover .. that wall will disappear in no time ..

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hilary I am looking forward to the mushroom garden filling up with some colour.

    We planted the Choisya early last year so now it is established we hope this year it will grow well. I will give it a bit of fertiliser to help it on its way:) Keep well Diane

    ReplyDelete
  64. oh Diane I love all these flowers look amazing!! I love camellias !!
    wonderful pics!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Fernando Santos (Chana), Saudações, obrigado pelo comentário. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  66. Gloria I also love Camellias and this year they have been wonderful. This is the best since we bought here in 1955. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  67. Comment sont des fleurs délicates. Les couleurs du printemps doux de la nature. Le plus beau moment de l'année. Sincèrement, Peter.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Your garden must be looking lovely with all of those very pretty flowers you have there. I really love your mushroom garden - very unusual - I hope everything in it grows well for you.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Happy Spring to you! Here is Autumn!

    Ciao
    Alessandra

    ReplyDelete
  70. petrolin50 yes it is a beautiful time of the year, but I like it just a little warmer :) Take care.

    Bonne semaine à tous. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  71. Ellie I am really looking forward to some colour in the mushroom garden. I just need it to warm up a bit, very chilly this morning and a strong Northerly wind! Keep well Diane

    ReplyDelete
  72. Alessandra I am glad that it is you heading for winter we have had enough of it now :) Take care Diane

    ReplyDelete
  73. Beautiful European flowers, I love the buttercups. lavender and succulents will be fine in a hot dry spot.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Diane b I also love the buttercups each time I cut the lawn they get cut but pop back very quickly! I hope the lavender does well, it attracts so many butterflies and insects. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  75. The blossoms are amazing... very colorful...

    ReplyDelete
  76. ogyep yummy mellow thanks for your visit and comment Diane

    ReplyDelete
  77. I can practically smell their aroma!
    Blessings!
    Ann
    PS I like older churches most too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  78. Ann thanks for your comment. I guess if the building is a place of prayer, what it looks like really should make no difference. I just have this feeling that the older buildings are far more spiritual. Just my opinion which I am sure is completely wrong. Keep well Diane

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love the idea of a mushroom garden, brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  80. chubskulit I am really happy with the mushroom garden, I just hope it grows well. Keep well Diane

    ReplyDelete
  81. hi diane, i love seeing all these flowers, they are all so pretty especially the apple blossom..you're quite good identifying the flowers, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  82. Lena, I have to look the flowers up in my book and I don't often remember them!! I must actually make a note of the names! Take care. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  83. Really awesome post from you...well done!!!!!

    Heated Towel Rails | Gazebo | Patio Heaters

    ReplyDelete
  84. Gray, thanks for your visit and comment. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  85. My dear Diane
    Your photos and your garden are beautiful!!!
    You have everything!
    Many greetings and kisses

    ReplyDelete
  86. Magda we love our garden, I just wish the weather would improve so we can get everything planted out. Best wishes Diane

    ReplyDelete
  87. Your garden must be even lovelier now, heading into summer. I am finally catching up with the posts I have missed over here on this blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  88. Dolly we are way behind this year, the very cold winter has set everything back and there looks like we are going to get very little fruit this year :(( Diane

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to visit and pass a comment. Every comment is appreciated and I try to reply to each and every one. All comments are verification free but will come to me for approval first :-)) No Anonymous Users!

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.