tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332401062024-02-06T20:15:55.855-08:00Garden Of Earthly DelightsTransforming an English Cottage garden into a Hardy Tropical paradise.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-50341987341591002772018-11-06T07:12:00.002-08:002018-11-06T07:12:57.823-08:00Plant Profile: Musa basjooThis plant was far and away the most stunning performer in the first year of my garden transformation.<br />
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Musa basjoo is found (and was originally described) growing in the Ryukyu islands of southern Japan. (It is now known to have originated in subtropical southern China, where it is also widely cultivated, with wild populations found in Sichuan province. Source: Wikipedia) Because their thick stems (trunks) are made up of leaf stalks, this "tree" is actually a herb (a herbaceous perennial).<br />
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Having arrived the autumn previous, I kept mine on the windowsill in my library over the winter, planting them out once any danger of frosts had passed (which, given the Beast from the East blew in quite late in the season, was fairly late for my area).<br />
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They seemed to really enjoy the very warm summer we had and grew from small 1 foot babies that looked more like corn stalks to over 6 feet (with individual leaves being 4 foot long and 2 foot wide - they were enormous!) trees. They also produced quite a number of "pups" that made 3 to 4 feet stems by the end of the season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s320/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlHtMZqq35Tmfb_tgJ6k8k_5-xWmAJIee9U2oaiKtMXfWGShmO2HnYLptj1yBRfT1BjtOyr3qS_2NCDekQAvAHOvjr4Y-5Q_b6vNbmcfef1cWoGGw6B887Ml2hlMcG6DbGN4Lig/s1600/IMG_20181103_094951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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One <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/26/banana-growing-gloucestershire" target="_blank">article</a> states:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 17px;"><b>"At the height of the growing season their leaves increase by over 10mm per hour"</b></span></blockquote>
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I am still learning and experimenting with this plant - this will be its first winter outside (wrapped), but given it grows all the way down to 6C, I'm wondering if it will truly go dormant over winter? I will check the wrapped stand of trees on dry sunny days to make sure they aren't rotting!<br />
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As they will be starting growth from about 5 feet next year, I'm looking forward to 10-12 foot trees! All this in only two years. Can't get much better than that!<br />
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Some stakes, horticultural fleece and a bale of straw:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3mFL21o91PAVtMxHO645iIk6lPSv9Z91hOe2NDOFn9mIT1lPis0BWKWZNRzCZXuIxKwpjRaIBrwbUMksy_kd1XtV18fBMTW_8pRcv7bSxIhj86sa7QoxQ6ZcP9AbUwReGaQkQQ/s1600/IMG_20181103_103607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3mFL21o91PAVtMxHO645iIk6lPSv9Z91hOe2NDOFn9mIT1lPis0BWKWZNRzCZXuIxKwpjRaIBrwbUMksy_kd1XtV18fBMTW_8pRcv7bSxIhj86sa7QoxQ6ZcP9AbUwReGaQkQQ/s400/IMG_20181103_103607.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Useful references for more information:<br />
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<a href="http://architecturalplants.com/plants/id/musa-basjoo" target="_blank">Architectural Plants</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/musabasjoofaq.asp" target="_blank">Urban Jungle</a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17470567529913660359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-22272344070487859352018-11-06T04:28:00.000-08:002018-11-06T04:28:19.696-08:00CocosWhat's in a name? Well, quite a lot actually, it turns out! See, 'Cocos' is the name my house was given when it was built in 1929. And this is the story of how, all these years later, I am making the garden live up to the name and creating a mini tropical paradise in the South of England.<br />
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When the house was purchased in 2000, some of the history of the house was recounted as follows:<br />
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A young man, returning to England from a post in the South Pacific, bought a plot of land and built the house. He was a keen gardener, and is said to have wanted to recreate the 'paradise' in the gardens of the house. He named the house 'Cocos' after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands" target="_blank">islands</a> where he was stationed. Tiny islands in the middle of the sea...<br />
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I did some research into the islands:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a remote territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. Its 2 coral atolls comprise 27 tiny islands with white-sand beaches, palm trees and lagoons. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(Google Maps Quick Facts)</span></blockquote>
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which are about mid-way between Australia and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. It's climate is mild and pleasant:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The hottest month is March with average high temperature 29.8 °C (85.6 °F), while the coolest month is August with average low temperature 23.6 °C (74.5 °F). </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; white-space: nowrap;">(Wikipedia)</span></blockquote>
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I also found the reason the builder of my house was stationed on the islands. The more I dug, the more treasure I discovered!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In 1901 a </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Telegraph">telegraph</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> cable station was established on Direction Island. Undersea cables went to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigues" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Rodrigues">Rodrigues</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mauritius">Mauritius</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jakarta">Batavia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Java">Java</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremantle" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Fremantle">Fremantle</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Australia" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Western Australia">Western Australia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. In 1910 a wireless station was established to communicate with passing ships. The cable station ceased operation in 1966.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; white-space: nowrap;"> (Wikipedia)</span></blockquote>
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They also have a quite fascinating history for such a small remote place! HMS Beagle stopped there in 1836 on her second survey expedition. And it was here that Charles Darwin, then a young graduate still planning to "see the world" then become a parson, confirmed a theory he had about the formation of coral reefs, which was later published in <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Structure_and_Distribution_of_Coral_Reefs" target="_blank">The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs</a>.</span><br />
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It seems it was because of the wireless station that there was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cocos" target="_blank">Battle of Cocos</a>, one of the first naval battles of World War I. For those history buffs that enjoy retelling of battles, you can find more details of the battle <a href="http://atlantic-cable.com/Article/1914BattleOfCocos/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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All in all, I can see why it made such an impression! I may even take some inspiration from the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=31575009@N05&q=Cocos%20Islands" target="_blank">photos</a> available via the National Archive. More background can be found on the <a href="https://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/cocosislands.htm" target="_blank">page</a> dedicated to the Islands on the British Empire site.<br />
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Although the garden at 'Cocos' has (slightly :P) lower average temperatures than the Islands of Cocos, I am sure that growing hardy palms and other tropical effect plants is somehow fulfilling the destiny of the garden and is more like those far-away islands than the original owner could have ever imagined!<br />
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<br />Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17470567529913660359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-7176120718580659482018-11-01T05:58:00.002-07:002018-11-04T08:40:55.299-08:00What to do in the garden: November<br />
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I still have a couple shrubs and trees that need to be planted out:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Camellia oleifera</li>
<li>Daphniphyllum macropodum</li>
<li>Ginko biloba <a href="https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=5498&fromplants=pl%5Fid%3D1999" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration-line: none;" title="View full details of GINKGO biloba 'Menhir' ">'Menhir' </a></li>
<li>Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'</li>
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If possible, I'd also like to get the black phormiums also in the ground.<br />
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I want to mulch the camellias and rhododendrons with some ericaceous compost.</div>
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The light frosts of the past couple of nights have finally put the bananas into dormancy, so they can now be wrapped up for the winter. (Finally!)</div>
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That will be the last part of the garden put to bed for winter. Now will be the time to start sorting out paths and any other hard landscaping tasks, getting ready for Spring!</div>
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Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17470567529913660359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-49348631092999426742018-09-27T06:30:00.002-07:002018-09-27T06:44:45.911-07:00Plant Profile: Chamaerops humilis<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuSl_7u_Ufy_sMjgHslMJuXp4dDNFkzgUkEa3HUlrHhihkFHmJupfej6RSRISX26J08tbmdHILnjA29aXq_yKd7MBXOu7MJbqu5jUMtqnz0PQ8gYJH3Ue5ny8jS28RcRcLV2UHg/s1600/IMG_20170828_203519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuSl_7u_Ufy_sMjgHslMJuXp4dDNFkzgUkEa3HUlrHhihkFHmJupfej6RSRISX26J08tbmdHILnjA29aXq_yKd7MBXOu7MJbqu5jUMtqnz0PQ8gYJH3Ue5ny8jS28RcRcLV2UHg/s640/IMG_20170828_203519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lights on at dusk showing off the beautiful leaves of the Chamaerops.</td></tr>
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The Mediterranean Fan Palm, <i>Chamaerops humilis</i>, was the palm that captivated my attention and imagination at the garden centre.<br />
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This is it in its pot when I finally brought it home:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwqLiMDLvAKdICJhog3qXY64wZmP4jvQC8GQFKvX5QbpwA53l0QEj_FECysomtaTLl9wW7LXVw6m29oLRj7csv_PY3c_DLf6sDQnc0DTgmqO7h8NqTrDNmXhnu8oacWmYgJr9Kg/s1600/IMG_20170902_172728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwqLiMDLvAKdICJhog3qXY64wZmP4jvQC8GQFKvX5QbpwA53l0QEj_FECysomtaTLl9wW7LXVw6m29oLRj7csv_PY3c_DLf6sDQnc0DTgmqO7h8NqTrDNmXhnu8oacWmYgJr9Kg/s320/IMG_20170902_172728.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>
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A verdant explosion of of very tropical feeling fan leaves!<br />
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This palm forms clusters of trunks radiating outwards from the base which makes it an effective addition to the garden, providing a striking mound of tropical foliage. The fan shaped leaves can individually be between 2 - 3 feet long and wide.<br />
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Because of its clumping nature, this palm can often be as wide as it is high. Depending on the effect that you are trying to achieve, creative pruning of this palm can give you a variety of effects: a cluster of (in miniature) of 'paradise island' palms each leaning out from the base, a mound of leaves acting as a sort of low hedge, or pruned into a single truck and resembling a Trachycarpus fortunei var. wagneriana.<br />
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Native to sparsely scrub-covered hills around the western Mediterranean these palms need well drained soil, though regular watering in the growing season (along with fertilizer) will increase its very slow growth rate.<br />
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More recently, I have added a <i>Chamaerops humilis </i>var. <i>cerifera</i> syn. <i>Chamaerops</i> var. <i>argentea</i> (Moroccan silver palm) from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. This varient of the species is reported to be even more cold hardy. It is smaller in overall stature than the green form but the stunningly beautiful silvery leaves make it a striking addition to the garden. (I will do a separate profile for <i>cerifera</i> in future.)<br />
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So, my first palm, planted and in place. And the transformation of the garden was begun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeT6NmX37ef9RotnL2JFI8pQtAJ_sfslrlq9oYgE8j9_9FP29TUdqhJ8Pj2bICvV2Or7mGx7YJHtBtJj6TkRmOrFcV8YKvuaCeeNIAJ0KcGUdzo5syCJ93YqeaR-EXrlAiGHx9A/s1600/IMG_20170903_091834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeT6NmX37ef9RotnL2JFI8pQtAJ_sfslrlq9oYgE8j9_9FP29TUdqhJ8Pj2bICvV2Or7mGx7YJHtBtJj6TkRmOrFcV8YKvuaCeeNIAJ0KcGUdzo5syCJ93YqeaR-EXrlAiGHx9A/s320/IMG_20170903_091834.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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More information about this palm (and some extra lovely photos of them growing) can be found on the following pages:<br />
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http://architecturalplants.com/plants/id/chamaerops-humilis<br />
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http://www.junglemusic.net/Chamaerops_humilus/Mediterranean_Fan_Palm.html<br />
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<br />Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17470567529913660359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-67556056305974118802018-09-05T08:48:00.004-07:002018-09-06T03:04:13.528-07:00Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know those ideas that come to you at the end of the gardening season, about September or October? Those hair brained ideas, wild dreams, improbable plans and high hopes that see gardeners through the short, cold, miserable days of winter. This is what I was going 10-12 months ago.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But, let's begin at the beginning:<br /><br /> It all started innocently. Humbly. A chance encounter with a Chamaerops humilis at the local garden center.<br /><br />I was clearing an area of my long neglected garden to make space for a pond. In the garden center I was arming myself with new secateurs, loppers, a pruning saw. I had no clear designs in mind beyond the pond, but starting something is always the best way of getting ideas, I've found, so I wandered out into the plants to see if anything interested me. (The garden had been neglected in part because traditional flower borders were no longer interesting to me.)<br /><br />That's when I saw the palm. Half price. <br /><br />I must have gone back to look at it four times before finally tucking it into the boot of my car one Saturday afternoon. A palm tree. Could I grow a palm tree? In England? I wasn't entirely sure. What was I going to do with a palm tree if it did grow? I wasn't entirely sure. <br /><br />But looking at it made me almost irrationally happy.<br /><br />So, that one Saturday afternoon, a year ago now almost to the day, was the beginning. The start of a chain reaction which saw section after section of the garden be remade with a little bit of whimsy, a dash of fantasy, a nod to the theatrical, and tons of heavy lifting, deep digging, and just plain hard work.<br /><br />Clearing out the old (and overgrown, and weed infested, and simply the lackluster) was the first step. Very nearly complete now. Imagining what things can become is a continual process as each new thing creates possibilities that didn't exist before. Sharing the progress gives me a chance to reflect and document things that I otherwise wouldn't have done.<br /><br />The past year has seen me add a number of other palms (they do grow here!!) as well as banana plants, gingers, and other plants with a ‘tropical’ feel. It has been quite a steep learning curve for me as all of these plants were completely new to me. The combination of learning new things and the indescribable feeling and excitement I have any time I think about my garden now. There is just something magical about huge vibrant leaves, rampant vines, feathery fronds and the other ingredients that make up a tropical feel.<br /><br />So I am restarting this blog to chronicle my journey, my discoveries, and what I've learned thus far, currently, and into the future.<br /><br />I have (roughly) fours types of posts in mind, which seems to lend itself to a monthly cycle:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Things to do this month: rather self explanatory </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Garden status: what's growing, what's not, what's new, or interesting </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">General musings on gardening (and hardy tropical gardening in particular) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Plant profiles: a place to compile and keep what I've learned about particular plants</span></li>
</ul>
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Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-29028022564529545332010-05-26T07:12:00.000-07:002010-05-26T07:29:58.845-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnMzXeHTH77imuuqSb2l8rA5TGjdfKU1pr9Ea-cxz7cdhvSKqX3Um_-ygJQzCieVwsPzCycXvpsOQhee95kyFfg2ABukD7x8NXqKrPZ99S6LrNsuQCwspqWlbDOzTKHEmujcUYQ/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnMzXeHTH77imuuqSb2l8rA5TGjdfKU1pr9Ea-cxz7cdhvSKqX3Um_-ygJQzCieVwsPzCycXvpsOQhee95kyFfg2ABukD7x8NXqKrPZ99S6LrNsuQCwspqWlbDOzTKHEmujcUYQ/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475581927378184546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Two more tree peonies have started to flower. This one, above, is my favourite, as it has the 'wild' irregular look that I find so appealing.<br /><br />The other, below, is pure white, and such a HUGE flower. At least 9 inches or more across! Alas, this one isn't as reliable and doesn't flower every year. I guess producing such large flowers takes a lot of energy for the plant.<br /><br />I love this border, as it seems to work quite well through the seasons. Now, the peonies are the stars of the show and the other perennials are still in leaf, so nothing is competing with these magnificent blooms. Though, nearby, the flowers of the magnolia trees (white, pink, and deep purple) provide a perfect backdrop for the bold tree peony flowers. Later in summer when the daylilies in this bed start to flower, the tree peony foliage provides a nice contrast for those flowers.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsgkYeg9aL3MfDdArdjWGFGbYIL_nFYGwmMl1_OC7ult6OrTu1L7cmHNqWWdOpAz_AbWHbyx3RGCEXQUr3VkqHZxBJQEMPel2l6_l-qICVL1oCKvWZcHhJJA2MNGIyxJRPMd5Jw/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsgkYeg9aL3MfDdArdjWGFGbYIL_nFYGwmMl1_OC7ult6OrTu1L7cmHNqWWdOpAz_AbWHbyx3RGCEXQUr3VkqHZxBJQEMPel2l6_l-qICVL1oCKvWZcHhJJA2MNGIyxJRPMd5Jw/s400/DSC_0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475585037315065314" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-18082518284050471502010-05-19T23:46:00.001-07:002010-05-19T23:48:59.818-07:00Its feels so good to be back out in the garden in earnest again. Last year was a difficult one due to recurring back problems and the garden, sadly, was neglected. Getting back on top of everything is a lot of work this year, but there is something so satisfying to see each bed in turn revamped, weeded out, and looking good again.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-86689922843521545472010-05-19T23:40:00.000-07:002010-05-19T23:44:06.784-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qUV_0vjG4XQJIDlBep9W3IgeAytRNWqOjjsYel_e_GYod0CcPc1Y1aWHqHuOMP7JT9Qe3aGgcMe_VZaxZ4s6HXcZPwr398gnB3XQ97qEvYbUIU0hwQJodu5IFx4Af8RGzM1Ibg/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qUV_0vjG4XQJIDlBep9W3IgeAytRNWqOjjsYel_e_GYod0CcPc1Y1aWHqHuOMP7JT9Qe3aGgcMe_VZaxZ4s6HXcZPwr398gnB3XQ97qEvYbUIU0hwQJodu5IFx4Af8RGzM1Ibg/s400/DSC_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473238719194552194" border="0" /></a>The very dark tulips are looking very good against the new foliage of <span style="color: green; font-style: italic;">Cynara cardunculus</span>.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-73766428018449204342010-05-19T06:29:00.000-07:002010-05-19T06:36:15.582-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y6cGiOxU-2g8gjGb_yglr9YIDL-dJeD4ajw2bOsncp6hy78_yrQPXH9X3qdNCOAqVJt0w64ndl8qZC421nguurBMtVKuxz46DJFxCryf-ERd5ZVBSsOKRTWEe-mX4PkltBdC9Q/s1600/DSC_0548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y6cGiOxU-2g8gjGb_yglr9YIDL-dJeD4ajw2bOsncp6hy78_yrQPXH9X3qdNCOAqVJt0w64ndl8qZC421nguurBMtVKuxz46DJFxCryf-ERd5ZVBSsOKRTWEe-mX4PkltBdC9Q/s400/DSC_0548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472973746645713858" border="0" /></a><br />The first of the tree peony to open this year. Simply sumptuous! I love these plants, and even though their display of flowers is sometimes short lived, their distinctive foliage is an asset to the border all through summer and the leaf colour in autumn is just as spectacular as the blooms.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-51889552196746526872008-05-19T03:44:00.000-07:002010-05-19T23:39:32.300-07:00Some things blooming in the garden now... everywhere I look there are pinks and purples!!<br /><br /><em>An Aquilegia self-seeded seedling.</em> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q4DKdEt-nEvj6lMHQIfdOKObBU1qpSAjvIf1-rBgyJGu1e_sXX6vXa_ESFFK2pX_NxwTfMGTLaqyZXRijaZk3qMzLeLShnzunwiQOUalU2yL3l3ZYakgYXwrHlFkTpADrWK4Sg/s1600-h/DSC09696.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q4DKdEt-nEvj6lMHQIfdOKObBU1qpSAjvIf1-rBgyJGu1e_sXX6vXa_ESFFK2pX_NxwTfMGTLaqyZXRijaZk3qMzLeLShnzunwiQOUalU2yL3l3ZYakgYXwrHlFkTpADrWK4Sg/s320/DSC09696.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are literally hundreds of different self seeded Aquilegia that pop up in nearly every bed and border around the garden. I leave the ones that I like and cut off the flowers of the ones I don't so that they don't get a chance to pollinate or set seed. In this way, each year I get a slightly different, and slightly 'better' set of flowers.<br /><br />I especially like the double flowered ones like this one, and the 'clematis-flowered' ones. I have been selecting those and now have quite a lot of them in different colours.<br /><br /><br /><em>Clematis montana</em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7CMJP8DlEQjKCYY_TRwAUWR1O5CLE6h72xvoHmd5HDqidyii3Rdb57uzInqeO3ZL7RUHcPno3502CURn6DyYDGjF4G-mOSmsOnDCCe_FrRHM6GtwKHPjYEOpb6StuBhheNPycg/s1600-h/DSC09701.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7CMJP8DlEQjKCYY_TRwAUWR1O5CLE6h72xvoHmd5HDqidyii3Rdb57uzInqeO3ZL7RUHcPno3502CURn6DyYDGjF4G-mOSmsOnDCCe_FrRHM6GtwKHPjYEOpb6StuBhheNPycg/s320/DSC09701.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I think the cultivar name for this one is 'Maureen' - however, it was an existing plant in the garden when we moved in, so I don't have a definite record of the variety.<br /><br />This plant twines over a pergola with honeysuckle on one side, Clematis cirrhosa on another side, and one side left open. They are all equally vigorous, so that none overpowers the other, and the resulting tangle of blooms (the honeysuckle is in flower now too...) is very pleasing.<br /><br />The advantage of climbers, and the splashes of colour that they bring above head height, is not to be underestimated!<br /><br /><br /><em>Papaver oriental<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ezTyhRPElXkRzQZ5RVjWPtu1rnGvutqQ5qlorgJkkxHjG8oZWaFTDqofg-4i3HaE1hrRdWzlz_uiAdGF52TciEBPqnZDNwIGdKfR3HP13F-hELX6C6ZuCfU7rHzsrnyg72LU3w/s1600-h/DSC09712.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ezTyhRPElXkRzQZ5RVjWPtu1rnGvutqQ5qlorgJkkxHjG8oZWaFTDqofg-4i3HaE1hrRdWzlz_uiAdGF52TciEBPqnZDNwIGdKfR3HP13F-hELX6C6ZuCfU7rHzsrnyg72LU3w/s320/DSC09712.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This poppy is one of my favourites! I look forward to it every year. The flowers are huge - if opened out flat, they would be about 8 inches in diameter. This pink one is much earlier in flowering than the other red and orange ones in the garden.<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-60064500619822298592008-04-30T23:12:00.000-07:002008-05-11T23:20:53.045-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYjlpcYRBe2pBeXlMmFF_dW836_vKFsXng3ibrzEJ9MMtqs7L7kqQH-1tCUVgP5W7WTwJWwgapPNNiUH5xfChyphenhyphenW7qScbwea7P9tPCGBCTD3nwaYOB_NXq9lLKSML8-14nmYzb7A/s1600-h/DSC09614.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYjlpcYRBe2pBeXlMmFF_dW836_vKFsXng3ibrzEJ9MMtqs7L7kqQH-1tCUVgP5W7WTwJWwgapPNNiUH5xfChyphenhyphenW7qScbwea7P9tPCGBCTD3nwaYOB_NXq9lLKSML8-14nmYzb7A/s320/DSC09614.jpg" border="0" /></a>Spring brings some wonderful colour combinations. The garden is looking very cheerful, and the warm, sunny weather we've had the last few days has brought out lots of blooms!<br /><br />A striped tulip in front of Epimedium.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And a beautiful Euphorbia 'Dixter' growing amongst native bluebells.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y4IoKSZCp2ztQKPsaKsaysxCLeWE5k42NeSmAsFjBpLhUOxN6g3zgg-2Yj621Nk8DLhzrPvdZ5jYeiM0O5YduXHmz0g65rkdCVEagSM0mygEOyMIZietHtz9bnNB5kUyqcvzlg/s1600-h/DSC09616.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y4IoKSZCp2ztQKPsaKsaysxCLeWE5k42NeSmAsFjBpLhUOxN6g3zgg-2Yj621Nk8DLhzrPvdZ5jYeiM0O5YduXHmz0g65rkdCVEagSM0mygEOyMIZietHtz9bnNB5kUyqcvzlg/s200/DSC09616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199372307770448466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-40211736740805623682008-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:002008-01-29T12:17:12.074-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EfZKjcWMheQzAbfkyrQI7YQ3D2ZIjBQ-r6sX25OjvCQqrLai9ZKPWh0BmRQcuD7WyBp-GQg9LsiSWK9gXAGJfJuvHyQ88s1FLw1Haf5tDJ_sCs4eXIgO0Ce7Tgrd2EVETCIJaQ/s1600-h/Hellebore1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EfZKjcWMheQzAbfkyrQI7YQ3D2ZIjBQ-r6sX25OjvCQqrLai9ZKPWh0BmRQcuD7WyBp-GQg9LsiSWK9gXAGJfJuvHyQ88s1FLw1Haf5tDJ_sCs4eXIgO0Ce7Tgrd2EVETCIJaQ/s200/Hellebore1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160994510419583586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MLBgHu0cPwmEnNL8mmkpjciSXU_mG4Il7zYvA0_J82gSChk6sWvQP01k1CzknjRHjRyFLaQQIAxfaPwZ-4ILwvZ5bOWjb20xNxMzpLdnUrsnLFqSCAnq95WOiGnPc-MpK_uEpg/s1600-h/Hellebore2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MLBgHu0cPwmEnNL8mmkpjciSXU_mG4Il7zYvA0_J82gSChk6sWvQP01k1CzknjRHjRyFLaQQIAxfaPwZ-4ILwvZ5bOWjb20xNxMzpLdnUrsnLFqSCAnq95WOiGnPc-MpK_uEpg/s200/Hellebore2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160994514714550898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIyUJNiBbV-QHfD0t6aPxI2kHkvWlHP7r0Aq3WCNRqsJx8Shly1MD58EIT3hiJzX1VXDsmKe_cSO2GU3Tc-V3o9C5TaZdpi082Gbyr1wCYZJ2ET0VMbqkUe1n2rz_daW22vaCTQ/s1600-h/Hellebore3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIyUJNiBbV-QHfD0t6aPxI2kHkvWlHP7r0Aq3WCNRqsJx8Shly1MD58EIT3hiJzX1VXDsmKe_cSO2GU3Tc-V3o9C5TaZdpi082Gbyr1wCYZJ2ET0VMbqkUe1n2rz_daW22vaCTQ/s200/Hellebore3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160994519009518210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well, if I thought things were early last year - I'm even more suprised with this year. Mid-January saw snowdrops and crocus in flower, and now, Hellebores are in full swing and Camellias are also starting to open!!Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-47063337803804728542008-01-19T12:02:00.000-08:002008-01-29T12:15:41.045-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VKsxWU39-BXz7OQ9lryN2Qp2qp1ji1QxKk8bAluhDPOFsBV_Bzxf7fwRLlCPAa3enNBt5MzVlsf4lub43i3A1BfKf9t13FDVcjCo5WZ23KDnn1Xm7UK8tXaMIj2cjpr_Az10cg/s1600-h/Crocus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VKsxWU39-BXz7OQ9lryN2Qp2qp1ji1QxKk8bAluhDPOFsBV_Bzxf7fwRLlCPAa3enNBt5MzVlsf4lub43i3A1BfKf9t13FDVcjCo5WZ23KDnn1Xm7UK8tXaMIj2cjpr_Az10cg/s200/Crocus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160994020793311826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unbelievably, crocus and snowdrops are in flower in the garden already. (I've also seen daffodils elsewhere starting to open!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-HXT6X7NEutaz7MKWeNyYdjp0B3M7i-s9eSo1hVu5POEMDL9TQSCMGd3JRmH7KQL3rivgJ2wETzOIL-p97sBb0vB1ffT7gQtbjAWwVpZ-VFfxCRUlpAzNtSRtL_NleJK8JcbgQ/s1600-h/DSC08201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-HXT6X7NEutaz7MKWeNyYdjp0B3M7i-s9eSo1hVu5POEMDL9TQSCMGd3JRmH7KQL3rivgJ2wETzOIL-p97sBb0vB1ffT7gQtbjAWwVpZ-VFfxCRUlpAzNtSRtL_NleJK8JcbgQ/s200/DSC08201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160993818929848898" border="0" /></a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-37892505218141744402007-12-31T10:26:00.000-08:002008-01-31T10:30:05.851-08:00December was a mixed bag of wintry weather, with frost - no snow as yet:<br /><a title="Epimedium leaves" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99293722@N00/2143287163/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2103/2143287163_d79b89f10f_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Pheasant Grass" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99293722@N00/2143282293/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2049/2143282293_be96beb496_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Garden frost" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99293722@N00/2144064902/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2310/2144064902_10d159e41e_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Along with some fine days - great for walks along the river!<br /><br /><a title="Winter Colour" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99293722@N00/2144007354/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2044/2144007354_bddcfda20d_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Fishing Hut" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99293722@N00/2143208227/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2010/2143208227_6cf441b2eb_m.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-81714490684670240372007-04-15T10:42:00.000-07:002008-05-19T04:11:11.790-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yYNK55jjS-gpZA9ZJlKsqgCCqFIoy9s2BgYqxwtYb2UFcgVTivGWoC50t5zuQRDluihxBXvaDJjZ8lynB031-Dh2zE8D5BnIpjZtBX9NT4rE3iqzpXXkfXcGItNs11c3-MSzEA/s1600-h/GardenApril3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yYNK55jjS-gpZA9ZJlKsqgCCqFIoy9s2BgYqxwtYb2UFcgVTivGWoC50t5zuQRDluihxBXvaDJjZ8lynB031-Dh2zE8D5BnIpjZtBX9NT4rE3iqzpXXkfXcGItNs11c3-MSzEA/s200/GardenApril3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161714647586104322" border="0" /></a><br />By mid-April everything was bursting! All the trees were covered in blossom like frosting on cake!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fpbX_ectqGdaQYI_QAnRph3SnFOQxbWShXpRCYpIJ4jLqjPSjfOkr4pgntthqHtiy8-8mcz8U7XYl7msvAn1-RhD_JRTrX41a3kAQ40NqTWoRXghoGZfTOZI3WjbyXHl6dzvsQ/s1600-h/GardenApril4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fpbX_ectqGdaQYI_QAnRph3SnFOQxbWShXpRCYpIJ4jLqjPSjfOkr4pgntthqHtiy8-8mcz8U7XYl7msvAn1-RhD_JRTrX41a3kAQ40NqTWoRXghoGZfTOZI3WjbyXHl6dzvsQ/s200/GardenApril4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161714656176038930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bfamOiT27jEujLZnmMKKG1QcC3-v9DkQ0Hlbs43gQEj4woPD7aimbw8-otYxyr0S0q4S4O6_kx2f6-2rqcP5QNrEtcYaF79XX1iij_eC3S9BGYBCLqvdQG4KaA3d_OSrbq7B_Q/s1600-h/Blossom2_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bfamOiT27jEujLZnmMKKG1QcC3-v9DkQ0Hlbs43gQEj4woPD7aimbw8-otYxyr0S0q4S4O6_kx2f6-2rqcP5QNrEtcYaF79XX1iij_eC3S9BGYBCLqvdQG4KaA3d_OSrbq7B_Q/s200/Blossom2_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161714673355908162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My favourite woodland plants were making a nice show: Epimedium and Bluebells.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XUw8UKSccI-loDW520cQc4QLG5OCZeoK-keyXrPHQGsGqL9U3dbrmvjFB3vQPAObGBANH7Se6OJg2Uy3lqi3q7h4PdST4JQRw1CFydfiIoW2wbcgbxKximOXWj1VeYspI3pzw/s1600-h/GardenApril5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XUw8UKSccI-loDW520cQc4QLG5OCZeoK-keyXrPHQGsGqL9U3dbrmvjFB3vQPAObGBANH7Se6OJg2Uy3lqi3q7h4PdST4JQRw1CFydfiIoW2wbcgbxKximOXWj1VeYspI3pzw/s200/GardenApril5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161714660471006242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And even late tulips were opening their beautiful flowers to the warm sun!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3NAOaWRzgNF01PvVwUsADWxYNeKauqVx9rbh5RI1_HbF_UEqedJKluuke5DIMorKmKApEMAKoWSnIfEEaWiV2PFhOJoL2UAT96G_BSccRYBK4HtF8KwHqTTHCcTgkG6iYwSTFw/s1600-h/GardenApril6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3NAOaWRzgNF01PvVwUsADWxYNeKauqVx9rbh5RI1_HbF_UEqedJKluuke5DIMorKmKApEMAKoWSnIfEEaWiV2PFhOJoL2UAT96G_BSccRYBK4HtF8KwHqTTHCcTgkG6iYwSTFw/s200/GardenApril6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161714669060940850" border="0" /></a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-83257248927919986252007-04-12T10:35:00.000-07:002008-01-31T10:41:49.669-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz8g7aSq58-fOWk06fghG4GgX2FPG4OD30jx-fEt2ZUOSfohcQ-JKvWa-Ed1IqdhpQXr7bTEs4XGlrytOhpjelDcu3XjhzZd9BQDY18uAYKEcZ-UKqArxW8-iFtjJqh1vyshJeQ/s1600-h/GardenApril1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz8g7aSq58-fOWk06fghG4GgX2FPG4OD30jx-fEt2ZUOSfohcQ-JKvWa-Ed1IqdhpQXr7bTEs4XGlrytOhpjelDcu3XjhzZd9BQDY18uAYKEcZ-UKqArxW8-iFtjJqh1vyshJeQ/s200/GardenApril1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161712289649058786" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9AVPuDb5xUfMlkeksLAQnvaNkYAiKmB2VIoTtoJ1CSy8RCzhImN-nbBs6-osAYvSzD9T_Nax7o0_rK4B7f7vHgmu5Abqw_lhlv3ajbLx16RP607d3NpuPiZmWzWLtN8zug4ReA/s1600-h/GardenApril2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9AVPuDb5xUfMlkeksLAQnvaNkYAiKmB2VIoTtoJ1CSy8RCzhImN-nbBs6-osAYvSzD9T_Nax7o0_rK4B7f7vHgmu5Abqw_lhlv3ajbLx16RP607d3NpuPiZmWzWLtN8zug4ReA/s200/GardenApril2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161712298238993394" border="0" /></a><br />Strong colour is always a welcome site in Spring. April was a record setting month for high temperatures, and that really brought on the bulbs fast and early.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-39191509086345872642007-03-07T09:47:00.000-08:002007-03-08T00:55:59.326-08:00<a href="http://localhost:2441/07aca16937d46e6ea6f8c4b3959d739c/image12159.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left" alt="" src="http://localhost:2441/07aca16937d46e6ea6f8c4b3959d739c/image12159.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a> Signs of Spring are here!<br /><br><br />I don't remember my daffodils being in flower at this time last year. Looking back through my photos, it was mostly crocus at this time. Well, this year, the crocus are all nearly finished now, and I'm sure I'll have tulips in flower before the end of March. Looks like we're going to have things early this year. The birds started nesting some time ago, and we've seen some fledglings already.<br /><br><br />On the other hand, the magnolias are still dormant in their fuzzy buds - thank goodness! Hopefully, they will remain that way for a bit longer. It is so sad when they flower early and the blooms get destroyed by any late frosts!Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-5204878663025177592007-02-28T14:33:00.000-08:002007-03-07T09:58:51.300-08:00Weather Summary for February<br /><br /><a href="http://localhost:2441/22341d93558a6a4aa05154266fc9e5c0/image12164.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left" alt="" src="http://localhost:2441/22341d93558a6a4aa05154266fc9e5c0/image12164.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://localhost:2441/21f66ec6079934fedcae85cd0b1a793e/image12163.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left" alt="" src="http://localhost:2441/21f66ec6079934fedcae85cd0b1a793e/image12163.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br /><br /><table border="1"><tbody><tr><br /></tr><tr><br /><td><br /></td><br /><td>Max</td><br /><td>Average</td><br /><td>Min</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Max Temperature</td><br /><td>53 °F / 11 °C</td><br /><td>49 °F / 9 °C</td><br /><td>39 °F / 3 °C</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Mean Temperature</td><br /><td>50 °F / 10 °C</td><br /><td>44°F / 6 °C</td><br /><td>31 °F / 0 °C</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Min Temperature</td><br /><td>48 °F / 8 °C</td><br /><td>39 °F / 4°C</td><br /><td>23 °F / -5°C</td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-50550768153833993022007-01-28T04:44:00.000-08:002007-03-08T01:01:50.760-08:00Weather Summary for January 2007<br />( from <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGHI/2007/1/27/MonthlyHistory.html">Weather Underground</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2t8VgElkt7pos4acboCaCartl_TTPWw0x3EQ8dC3zpYBkTKItP2d5Fsg5C3lEp0RaP-UH8fropOzFmMtmZjXKm-7HJUbrHXdO2lMuurSYYfbzIGd_Qy-HsNZo8ruyNOoET6G3g/s1600-h/Bee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2t8VgElkt7pos4acboCaCartl_TTPWw0x3EQ8dC3zpYBkTKItP2d5Fsg5C3lEp0RaP-UH8fropOzFmMtmZjXKm-7HJUbrHXdO2lMuurSYYfbzIGd_Qy-HsNZo8ruyNOoET6G3g/s320/Bee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025037394548208258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><table border="1"><tbody><tr><br /></tr><tr><br /><td><br /></td><br /><td>Max</td><br /><td>Average</td><br /><td>Min</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Max Temperature</td><br /><td>57 °F / 13 °C</td><br /><td>49 °F / 9 °C</td><br /><td>37 °F / 2 °C</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Mean Temperature</td><br /><td>54 °F / 12 °C</td><br /><td>46 °F / 7 °C</td><br /><td>34 °F / 1 °C</td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td>Min Temperature</td><br /><td>51 °F / 10 °C</td><br /><td>43 °F / 6 °C</td><br /><td>28 °F / -2 °C</td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-3567513374879935272007-01-28T03:57:00.000-08:002007-01-28T04:00:43.984-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsEvJyYz6F-H4O8r-89OZkyBdgB7pqe5zx0W6UU-5QuGkEtS-h_VG0-r46iFcIRa6XeB8XXfJi57rDfsFncTK_OGubmkRsSlhTYgH43qSPWS7WoIh7_yK4ekn_oDohlIZNYL5YA/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsEvJyYz6F-H4O8r-89OZkyBdgB7pqe5zx0W6UU-5QuGkEtS-h_VG0-r46iFcIRa6XeB8XXfJi57rDfsFncTK_OGubmkRsSlhTYgH43qSPWS7WoIh7_yK4ekn_oDohlIZNYL5YA/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025049484881146626" /></a><br /><br /><i>Helleborus orientalis</i><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br />More information can be found at <A HREF=http://www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk/helleborus.htm>Farmyard Nurseries</A>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-52943127045441221062007-01-28T03:56:00.000-08:002007-01-28T04:10:40.126-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H3v6vvXkKR0EiguuhSdnG1Fvby9lO6fWldH-Ppb2r_nMw4gW_Uhs_GBamrbl8kCKiVGjES9Bb0x9ALNQ6PbpVjW2tRD_cTRKtFZtVer7sl5Ct_G40GW-UvDm4hFx1Wqnof_tcw/s1600-h/DSC_0043.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H3v6vvXkKR0EiguuhSdnG1Fvby9lO6fWldH-Ppb2r_nMw4gW_Uhs_GBamrbl8kCKiVGjES9Bb0x9ALNQ6PbpVjW2tRD_cTRKtFZtVer7sl5Ct_G40GW-UvDm4hFx1Wqnof_tcw/s320/DSC_0043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025050799141139218" /></a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-8986032475997949932007-01-28T03:55:00.000-08:002007-01-28T04:41:53.527-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343nrHsrDo_GtXjJMQDIzX71GAM70EKNKGt691MZJdaoeO-cnw9PqInEvNDv6wyRE2e2aRZqUIi-NLBzWGYkHtQ5324oW0v_-kIS5zop8bQx6WVuQkos-AJZcWw6Q9DSefnJl5g/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343nrHsrDo_GtXjJMQDIzX71GAM70EKNKGt691MZJdaoeO-cnw9PqInEvNDv6wyRE2e2aRZqUIi-NLBzWGYkHtQ5324oW0v_-kIS5zop8bQx6WVuQkos-AJZcWw6Q9DSefnJl5g/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025060286723896130" /></a>Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-47565322008088319452007-01-28T03:41:00.000-08:002007-01-28T03:53:10.386-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzSl1RVNPkn02smLX4yUJzxFjK_xe7PZoIJ6y2hG-eqw-PoxI8w0a5xmoTs_hvCfKl4EB1yiVKWsRH2dR2MZ97Cota3NotcqdxxbC7mUzR_rqCDa9BIV_lnCgzuSxLPoc_h6opg/s1600-h/aconite.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzSl1RVNPkn02smLX4yUJzxFjK_xe7PZoIJ6y2hG-eqw-PoxI8w0a5xmoTs_hvCfKl4EB1yiVKWsRH2dR2MZ97Cota3NotcqdxxbC7mUzR_rqCDa9BIV_lnCgzuSxLPoc_h6opg/s320/aconite.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025047942987887346" /></a><br /><br /><br /><i>Eranthis hyemalis.</i><br />Sometimes called Winter wolf’s bane.<br /><br><br />Winter aconites have been grown since the sixteenth century in English Gardens and extend the flowering season of perennials by adding a splashes of colour from January to March, often pushing through the snows of winter.Their name comes from the Greek “er” meaning spring and “anthos” meaning flower and hyemalis which means flowering in the spring.Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-21490673954138415852007-01-28T03:40:00.000-08:002007-01-28T03:49:14.246-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoUSOF78HxJ11W9dJsbqlaN691sQeLA0fpuj4eEx25nLPkcwjVKgDtCfra_9AF07lRpd4P_qCxGdFi9-GqVW742sh7TjrX0CfcP3x5nU_aT35E7b75SIsn-RHuvm13xtu-pFnDg/s1600-h/DSC_0055.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoUSOF78HxJ11W9dJsbqlaN691sQeLA0fpuj4eEx25nLPkcwjVKgDtCfra_9AF07lRpd4P_qCxGdFi9-GqVW742sh7TjrX0CfcP3x5nU_aT35E7b75SIsn-RHuvm13xtu-pFnDg/s320/DSC_0055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025047058224624338" /></a><br /><br /><br /><i>Galanthus nivalis</i><br />SnowdropsSparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33240106.post-89774794334872386152007-01-28T03:37:00.001-08:002007-03-08T01:00:02.728-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2J8IBYSILoHqeI-Ky1ZJz6FlbvFnWYB34FT8AdywC-CkrnCkeC8c0u6ZqhFjOwcZIB4WT6RJ2iok6btOXIIozgUyGDa_eU-hEGu6zc9jNsD0l6j7l2ewnBlBJU-8tP5bm0cLnQ/s1600-h/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2J8IBYSILoHqeI-Ky1ZJz6FlbvFnWYB34FT8AdywC-CkrnCkeC8c0u6ZqhFjOwcZIB4WT6RJ2iok6btOXIIozgUyGDa_eU-hEGu6zc9jNsD0l6j7l2ewnBlBJU-8tP5bm0cLnQ/s320/DSC_0049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025047569325732578" /></a><br /><br><br /><br><br />I've seen more snowdrops in my garden this year than ever before. I'm not sure if that is because they normally flower a bit later and are competing with the crocus, or if they have finally multiplied enough to make nice sized clumps! Either way, I am enjoying them!Sparrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16098139261615018298noreply@blogger.com0