Crocuses (Crocus vernus) are at their best. Only have few colors in the garden.
I would love to have more of them but the flowering season is very short and usually I manage to miss it and fail see them blooming.
Therefore I prefer daffodils. They bloom longer and are more tolerant to the climate.
We had few warm nights and it did wonders. Daffodils are starting to bloom and it is such a delight to walk outside.
Bought this daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) from Ikea more than a month ago but finally it decided to open its flowers.
Like the color it has. Such a bright colored variety.
I have been trying to find different varieties of daffodils to my balcony.
Daffodil (Narcissus ‘strike’) was a new acquaintance to me and I ended up buying it.
Not quite sure though if it is going to make it up here in the north. Could not find the hardiness rating for it.
Well, anyway I am going to enjoy its blooms while I can and next spring I will know how well does it cope with the coldness.
I just love the orange color Marigolds (Calendula officinalis ‘Ball’s orange) have. It is so bright and striking.
It always surprises me how much water they need to grow well. The summer here has been dry and some of my Marigolds are still dwarfs and not blooming.
Well I guess I just enjoy the ones that made it.
I so like the Mango Tango (Dasiphora fruticosa). It is has just the color and size I want to my flowerbed.
Planted two last year to the raised flowerbeds but those are not doing that well.
Now I bought few more and try a different spot. Let’s see how these will look after the winter.
The flies like it and so do I. There is something in the brightness of orange California Poppies have.
Easy to grow and tolerate dryness.
I have other colors coming this year just waiting for them to start blooming as well.
It is time for the marigolds to start blooming. Only have color orange this year.
Up here in the north marigolds are one of the most reliable annual bloomers. Not that sensitive to cold and can take different kind of weather without suffering too much.
I think I will have yellow ones next year just for a change.
A newcomer to my flowerbed. I am surprised how easy it was to grow and even though the summer has been cold the flowers are doing well. I guess the name just suggested that it is for a warmer climate.
They do though seem to have an ability to predict the weather. If it is going to be cold or rainy the flowers close themselves a way ahead. It is always good to have a weather station of your own.
I already ordered two new colors for the next year. If everything goes well I will have white and red ones to accompany the orange.
Now I am just waiting my other new experiments to bloom.
Why orange? Siberian poppy comes in many colors – white, yellow, red. But for some reason only the orange ones are able to make it through the winter.
Do not know why but now all the ones I have are orange. Only in the autumn the colors are many due to the seeds I have added in the spring.
This year I have added many other poppy varieties. Hopefully those will bloom in the autumn. Just have to wait and see.
Gardening in the North 