Six on Saturday. Here Comes the Sun…

Wonderful warm cheerfulness has open up the furry buds ofMagnolia stellataastonishingly quickly . It is always a worry when the snow lily-white , starry flowers open in March as the first Nox of frost will turn them brown . But right now they are beautiful , and as with all fugitive flush I ’m relishing them in their abbreviated second of perfection . This minuscule bush is slow - grow but unlike many magnolias it starts flower when young . It comes from just one good deal orbit in north -east Japan . I believe it looks lovely underplanted with sky - blueAnemone blanda , but mine have yet to make a carpet .

Even more beautiful in my eyes isMagnolia loebneri‘Leonard Messel ’ which hasMagnolia stellata‘Rosea ’ as one of its parents . you may see this in the strappy petals .

WhereasMagnolia stellatahas made a modest - sized shrub in my garden , after ten year , ‘ Leonard Messel ’ is a estimable - sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . The buds seem to afford surprisingly speedily and yesterday , the delicate pink flowers looked magical against the drear sky . ‘ Leonard Messel ’ is supposed to be more tolerant of lime in the soil than many magnolias , although having said that , I arise more than ten different magnolia and they all do very well despite not having an acid soil .

The wine - red flowers of the chocolate vine , Akebia quinataare yet to open , but I think Akebia quinata ‘ White Form ’ is even pretty and it flower earlier and looks lovely right now . The creamy - white efflorescence have striking purple centre and they are scrumptiously perfumed . Akebia quinatais a mounter which needs quite a spate of space as it grows quickly .

I have mixed feelings about the ubiquitous pinkish anthesis currant . I do not object to it on the cause of its smell as some people do , in fact it is one of those smells which give me Proustian second and takes me direct back to my puerility garden . But pinkish flowering currant bush is a bit of a horticultural cliché . The clean kind calledRibes sanguineum ‘ White Icicle ’ is somehow much more polished . It begin blooming before too and has been last strong for ages now . Whilst it is still look expert I cogitate it deserves to feature in my Six on Saturday . Next to it is the pink pussy willow , Salix gracilistyla‘Mount Aso ’ . The bright pink catkins have now turned to grey .

Another March favourite isStachyurus praecox . This shrub does n’t grow very quickly in my garden . I think it would favor a more acrid soil than I can provide . But still it is healthy enough and delights me each class with the strings of yellow beads hanging from the bare arm . This is a exposure from last yr as the one I took yesterday is out of direction . I could take another but the sunlight is call me and I ca n’t keep out of the garden one more minute .

At ground floor , there are more and more spring treasure opening every mean solar day . My first Pasque blossom , Pulsatilla vulgarisis blooming now . This is a pretty pink one with big flowers called ‘ Rosen Glochen ’ which means pinkish bells . In the wild , Pasque efflorescence like limestone hayfield ; the nearest native single here are in Cambridgeshire , but it is very obliging and does well for me . I have it in several colour and presently I will have the lovely fringe mannikin ‘ Papageno ’ in bloom of youth . This pinkish one is always the first to open in my garden .

Lathyrus vernus . ‘Alba- roseus ’ is a small , compendious , shaggy-haired , vetch - like works with sweet pea -type flowers in two - shade confect - floss pink . It seeds about softly and looks endearing with primroses and pulmonarias . The majestic Lathyrus vernusseeds about more prolifically but it blooms afterwards and is still just in bud .

I really have n’t a minute of arc more to spare for this post as the Dominicus is send for most tantalisingly and the garden await . So without more ado , I will thank our host , the Propagatorand prompt you to visit him and his ever - growing squad ofSix on Saturdayenthusiasts . And I will will you with a heading of just a few of the flowers that did n’t make Six on Saturday this workweek but are very beautiful .

21 Responses toSix on Saturday. Here Comes the Sun…

What treats you have served this week . From wondrous Magnolias to little windflower . From your Lathyrus I would say that you are over a week ahead of Somerset .

Your garden is so much further along than mine . What a gem for you to enjoy and share with us . I know just what you mean by “ relishing [ magnolia Frank Philip Stella ] in their abbreviated moment of perfection . ” I ’ll cue myself when mine come out , although I do n’t expect them quite this early , not until closer to May . If too soon , an inevitable late freeze turn everything dark-brown chocolate-brown brown . Ugh .

I hope you enjoy the cheery day in your beautiful garden ! I ’m intrigued by the Akebia , which my local garden usher suggest I could arise in my clime . The down side is that it also wants more H2O than I can loosely provide .

Oh my goodness ; you ’re garden is in a stunning phase presently ! That Akebia is really particular … well , all the bloom are extra !

Hello Chloris , I read the Box River News and notice that you have n’t found any Albuca spiralis ‘ Frizzle Sizzle ’ . I have plenty , which I have recently divided . Would you be concerned in bear some ? I experience in Little Waldingfield . Fran Gregor - Smith

Six on Saturday. Here Comes the Sun…