The Garden in March

We’ve reached the Vernal Equinox, marking the proper start of Spring. Much longed for by most gardeners I’m sure. A quick look at the weather forecast for the next week is indicating bright sunshine and warm temperatures a combination that will make everything in the garden grow, including the weeds! What I look forward to most at this time of year though is the lengthening daylight hours, maybe not quite time in the evenings yet to go for a walk or do much in the garden but it won’t be long!

I’m covering all the plants in the greenhouse with horticultural fleece at night still just in case the temperatures dip lower than expected and in fact this seems to have been a sensible precaution all week as there has been a very slight frost most mornings.

All around the garden buds are swelling and we are now well into daffodil time with some tulips flowering too. Tulip Purissima is flowering in containers and also in the garden. It seems it is more reliably perennial than many tulips. We had it growing in containers last spring and after flowering I immediately planted them deeply in the garden, I’m so pleased to see these growing strongly and flowering. A truly beautiful tulip which is pale creamy white in colour.

Magnolia stellata is flowering and luckily in a fairly sheltered spot so hasn’t been affected by the recent slight frosts. A deep pink magnolia soulangeana has also opened its first blooms, I don’t know the variety as it was here when we moved in but since removing a tree that was shading it this shrub has grown so well and is a real asset in the garden.

Ornamental cherries are starting to flower, Prunus kojo-no-mai is a beautiful shrub with small white flowers and has been flowering for a week or so. The larger Prunus are also just starting to open their blooms. Prunus Shirotae in the back garden is a beautiful tree that we planted in 2008 soon after we moved in. It has white semi-double blossom that is absolutely beautiful, the only downside being pigeons that are currently doing their best to peck all the blossom off!