This is the first time I have planted bloody geraniums and they seem to do well.
Elkes’ blooms are larger than I expected and they seem to do OK even in the wet spot I have put them.
Must buy other colors next year. This flower might be a perfect choice for the summer cottage.
I have tried and tried to grow Barlow series columbines but with modest luck.
I guess the winters up here are a bit too much for the Barlows.
Currently I just have one Bordeaux Barlow blooming. Well it is a good thing that there are so many columbine varieties available and many more to test and try.
The Yellow Queen is blooming beautifully and it is my first yellow aquilegia. It has required many failed attempts and plenty of waiting to get here.
For aquilegias it has been a perfect start of a year. No heavy rains to ruin their flowers.
To be honest it has been extremely dry up here in the north. All the other plants look that they have been beaten by the sun and the lack of water.
According to the weather forecast it should rain today. Now I am just waiting and hoping.
May was the warmest in living memory. Million bells have enjoyed the warmth and blooming beautifully.
After three cold summers I do not even care that it is too dry and everything needs constant watering.
Luckily I had two long weekends and was able to spend the time in the summer cottage swimming and sunbathing. And of course planting and tendering the garden.
Let’s see how the rest of the summer turns out to be. Now I just enjoy and spend my time outside.
The snowdrop windflowers started to bloom today. Like they all decided to open their flowers on the same day.
At first I was sure that they will not make it up here but then they started to spread and are now doing well.
Now they are just in one flower bead but my plan is to move some of them to new places to have them in several different locations.
Lobelias are enjoying the warm weather and blooming well.
They must be one of the easiest flowers to have.
I have tried to grow them from seed but my success has always been modest. Usually I end up buying seedlings like I did this year.
The first aquilegia just started to bloom. A bit earlier than normally.
I just love this variety. It is early and low with large blooms.
Unfortunately I have no idea what is the variety and from where did I got it. It might be from the seeds I got from the Northern Finland but not quite sure.
Anyway it sure is a beautiful one and seems to like it up here in the north.
The tulips only lasted one week this year. Much too warm and dry for them. It has been so hot and nice up here in the north. Very unusual start for a summer.
Winter was quite hard for the flag tulips. Only few of them survived. Must order more in the autumn and renew the whole flower bed. Darwins on the other hand had a very good spring. Short but beautiful period of blooming.
Now back to the lake and for a swim. Just love days like this.
Warm days continue and all the spring flowers are starting to bloom. The down side of this heat is that the blooms will fade away quickly.
At least few more days of warm weather left until it cools down again.
Managed to do most of the planting during the long weekend. Now just waiting to see the results and hoping for the best.
It has been a beautiful day up here in the north. I am in the summer cottage and have been planting all day long.
Tete a Tetes have started to bloom and if it continues to be this warm other daffodils will follow soon.
Tete a Tetes are a bit too sensitive to cold and do not always make it up here. Luckily we had plenty of snow during the winter and it made all the difference.
