It has been cool spring up here in the north and daffodils are still at their best. The late spring means that the tulip season is just about to begin.
The Strikes (Narcissus ‘strike’) have enjoyed the coldness and are blooming by the lake.
I do not have many vacation days this summer which has meant way less plants than normally. The simple reason is that I am not here to water them. Luckily the perennials are there to brighten the flowerbeds.
It is always a bit tricky to grow Dahlias (Dahlia) up here in the north. They would need a longer summer to bloom well.
This year I decided to buy ready grown plants instead of trying to grow them by myself. At least this way I am able to be sure that I can see the blooms.
Found two that I liked from the store and brought them to the summer cottage. They are very different from each other but were the ones that caught my eye.
Siberian Squills (Scilla siberica) are one of my favorite spring flowers.
The color they have is simply striking and they are so easy to grow. They usually spread and form a beautiful blooming blanket.
Still waiting the warmer weather up here in the north. Today the weather has been cool and we even got some snow flakes from the sky.
Happy Mother’s Day day to all moms! It is celebrated up here on the second Sunday of May each year.
Spring is late this year up here in the north but it is slowly getting warmer.
The lake by the summer cottage finally lost its ice cover yesterday. It was fun to watch the ice slowly drift away and clear water to emerge.
Not many flowers bloom yet and not much to see but the Crocuses (Crocus vernus) are starting their show.
I do not have many of them simply because their season is usually very short and I prefer longer blooming spring flowers. They sure are beautiful though.
Yet another daffodil variety to the garden! I was so sure that I already had this one but it turned out that the one I have is a double version of this variety.
Gold Medal (Narcissus ‘Gold Medal’) is a beautiful trumpet daffodil.
I think that I have enough new daffodils for this spring and try to avoid buying more.
Last year the summer had a long and hot dry period. My father’s Cunningham’s White (Rhododendron ’Cunningham’s White’) did not make it.
We simply did not think that it was quite new plant and would have needed more watering and in the end it just dried out.
Managed to find a new plant and will take it to my father as a birthday present when I go and visit them next time.
Cunningham’s White’s flowers are a bit pink in the beginning but turn bright white when the bloom grows older.
We have had a beautiful Easter up here in the north. It is not too warm yet but the sun has shone the whole long weekend.
The good weather got me to go to a store and do some shopping.
The first Pansy (Viola) found its way to my balcony. Chose a bright orange one with wrinkled petals this year.
It is slowly getting a bit warmer up here in the north. Days are already long but still few weeks before we can start gardening.
Bought a new pot of Garden Grape-hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) to the balcony and once they have bloomed they end up to the garden.
Enjoy the Easter holidays!
Spring is late this year up here in the north. We still have plenty of snow left and during the nighttime we go below the freezing point.
Hopefully it starts to get warmer soon. It would be nice to start the gardening activities.
Bought one more daffodil variety called Peaches and Cream (Narcissus ‘Peaches and Cream’). The center of the bloom will become darker once the bloom grows older. When opening it is lighter in the beginning.
Lost one of my Christmas cactuses during the winter and decided to replace it with an Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri).
Actually I bought two of them in different color but planted them in the same pot. It will be interesting to see how my trial turns out.
Easter cactus is such a carefree flower to have. You just don’t over water it and all will be fine. The long and dark winters up here in the north are a bit challenging though since the cacti love sunshine.
Gardening in the North 