The first pansy (viola) found its way to my balcony during the weekend.
I know it is a bit early for them because the nights might get too cold still but could not resist the temptation to have something blooming outside.
It will be interesting to see what kind of colors there will be available this year. I usually go for the light colors since they stand out better in the shade.
The spring is finally here and my Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri) has started to bloom.
It blooms once a year during the Easter time and that’s where the name comes.
To have cactus to bloom twice a year I have planted to the same pot both Christmas and Easter cacti. The end result is nice because it delights you with the blooms more often.
The late blooming tulips are still blooming up here in the north. Most of the others are already gone.
The flaming flags (Tulipa ‘Flaming flag’) are doing well and it seems that we did not loose any during the winter.
We have been promised good weather for the next week and hopefully the summer flowers start their show.
Enjoying a warm day in a park. Restaurants are still closed and takeaways are the only option.
Already miss eating in a proper restaurant and not somewhere outside. Though enjoying the good weather.
Daffodil Thalia (Narcissus ‘Thalia’) finally started to bloom. It has a uniquely shaped blooms and the white in them is exceptionally bright.
Columbine Olympia (Aquilegia ‘Olympia’) also called Lapland’s Aquilegia is used to short summers and is always the first one to bloom.
Originally got the seeds from Rovaniemi, in other words the variety is extremely hardy and can easily take the coldness.
The color is beautiful violet-yellow and the flowers are easily one of the largest ones when it comes to the columbines.
For our climate Darwin Hybrid Tulips (Tulipa) are one of the bests. They tolerate the cold well and bloom many years in a row.
We have had few warm days and the tulips are suddenly starting to bloom.
It is always amazing how fast nature reacts to the warm weather and suddenly you just notice that everything is green and growing.
Tahiti (Narcissus‘Tahiti’) is a bright colored daffodil which I found few years ago.
It has faithfully bloomed each year and did not disappoint this spring.
A butterfly decided to sit on the bloom while I was trying to take a picture. Did not mind that just the opposite.
Wild blueberries started to bloom today and the summer cottage is now surrounded by butterflies, honeybees and bumblebees all having a feast.
It has been long time since I have seen this many of them and to me it appears that the populations have recovered.
Also the Siberian Squills (Scilla Siberica’) are blooming. Simply adore the blue color they have.
The summer is finally arriving to the north. We have had two beautiful and warmish days in a row. Nature is starting to get its green color.
Cold weather is always good for the daffodils. They simply bloom longer.
Pink Charm (Narcissus‘Pink Charm’) is at its best and seems to enjoy the weather as do I.
The first tulips are slowly starting to bloom. The month of May has been cold up here in the north and during many nights we have gone below the freezing point.
I have finally managed to plant all the flowers for the summer. Have several raised flowerbeds and it sure has been a task to have them renewed. I usually change the soil after five years to prevent the roots of the nearby trees to take over.
Pinocchio (Tulipa ‘Pinocchio’) is now blooming though not yet as red in color as it gets later on.
Also been laughing a lot. Few years back someone made a spelling mistake with the name of our county. For some reason Mäntyharju (Pine Ridge) was spelled Mäntyharja (Pine brush) in Facebook and Instagram. Now in half of the posts we have as the location the Pine brush version 😂
Gardening in the North 