The tulip season is now starting up here in the north. The warm weather has made the early varieties to open up their blooms.
Helmar (Tulipa ‘Helmar’) is one of the early bloomers I bought few years ago and it is still doing well.
I almost wish cooler days so that the blooming season would last longer, almost. But I guess in the end it I will manage to enjoy this warm and sunny weather we are having.
The Tuolumne Dog’s Tooth Violet (Erythronium tuolumnense) is one of the reliable spring bloomers I have. In a modest spot it has it just keeps on growing each spring.
I have tried to have it in the other places but without success this far. For some reason it just seems to like this unlikely spot.
After a busy week in the garden I just decided to have a day off tomorrow and rest. The week long holiday has gone quickly and soon it is time to head back to the office.
The warm days are now over up here in the north and a cold water front has arrived. Time to take it easy and listen the rain in the warmth of a fireplace.
Luckily I managed to do most of the things before the bad weather and the garden is now in decent condition. Though it will be very modest this year and I am going to stick with the varieties that are familiar to me and easy to tend.
Before the rain started I managed to capture photos of the blooming Peaches and Cream (Narcissus ‘Peaches and Cream’). It did well when it comes to wintering and is now at its best.
The spring has finally arrived. It has been a beautiful sunny week up here in the north and it feels good to have all this light and longer days after the winter.
The gardening stores are now opening their doors and since the day was made for spending time outdoors I took a long walk to one of them.
Since it should not be getting too cold during the nights anymore decided to by violets (viola). Even though we still are going to go below the freezing temperatures violets are able to make through them.
Just noticed that I have not posted anything to this blog for ages. Have been too busy working and in the end the gardening season up here is short, less than half a year long.
I do not know why but I lost half of my lupines last winter which was a surprise because they are usually very hardy.
To my delight The Chatelaine (Lupinus ‘The Chatelaine’) started to bloom in the new spot that it was planted this spring.
I am still trying to find more colors. Lupines are so easy flowers for the summer cottage.
It has been quite cool start of the summer up here in the north. Not many warm days yet.
Spending a week in the summer cottage and still need to burn wood in the fireplace to stay warm during the nights.
The Snowdrop Windflowers (Anemone sylvestris) are blooming now. A bit beaten by the wind and rain but still beautiful.
If the plant likes the place it will spread rapidly and has a very large root network.
I still have few pictures in my phone from the spring. Daffodils are now gone and we need to wait the whole year to see them again.
Tahiti (Narcissus ‘Tahiti’) bloomed beautifully in May and managed to take a photo when they were at their best.
Summer has finally arrived to the north. After a cool May we have had quite nice weather up here in the north for change.
I did not even remember planting few Princess Irene tulips (Tulipa ‘Princess Irene’) by the lake.
The color of this variety is quite unique and beautiful. Makes me want to have more of them in the future.
The Princess Irene is quite short Triumph tulip and likes full sun and well drained soil.
Last autumn I ordered tulips from the Netherlands. Helmar (Tulipa ‘Helmar’) was one of those varieties.
Helmar is a very distinctive Triumph tulip with wine red flames on a yellow base resembling the historic tulips painted during the golden age and that is why the group is also known as the Rembrandt tulips.
The bulbs overwintered well and are now starting their show. Was able to spend the weekend in the summer cottage to see the start but unfortunately will miss the end of the show this year.
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.
Gardening in the North 