Smaller Plot: More Plants

Not quite sure how that works, but we certainly seem to be keener on garden related things since moving from Orkney where we had an overwhelming 2.8 acres. We mostly ignored it, bar the OH's efforts to keep a huge expanse of grass under control, and now we have a small patch which is mainly patio and astroturf. Definitely ticked the box 'Small easily maintained garden'. 

Last autumn we bought spring bulbs and put them in a variety of pots; rather to my surprise they have grown and flowered. Here's one of them

Crocus and iris. We have a similar one which also has daffodils on the verge of blooming too. And another pot which has tulips in it but they aren't nearly as far on. Possibly they will be our failure as far as pots go. Or maybe it's just too early for them to be out. 

At the weekend we went to the local garden centre and splashed out on some primroses to add  a bit more spring cheer

and I also treated myself to a hellebore. It's a bit late for this year, although there are still plenty of flowers on it to enjoy,. Normally you see them in the run up to Christmas and there's too much else to think about/spend money on at that time of year so I've never bought one, even though I've wanted one for years. But now was the time! The variety is Ivory Prince and the colour tinge is a sort of dusky pinkish brown - it's beautiful. 

And a couple of weeks ago the OH brought home a camellia. When we moved to Orkney we left behind the most beautiful camellia. We'd bought it as a small plant and nurtured it for years, but there was no point in taking it to Orkney as that would have been a death sentence for it. One of the things I was looking forward to when we moved was getting a new one, but at the time there were none in the garden centres. Obviously we had missed the boat for that year. They  are appearing now though. 

Here's the plant; it has masses of buds

and here's one of its open flowers

So beautiful. The plant was a bit tall and spindly but we've repotted it and hopefully it will bush out as it grows. And who knows what else we may buy for the garden as time goes on.