Tag Archives: yellow

flower, gardening

Sunflower

Up here in the north, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are not something I buy very often. Not because I don’t like them—quite the opposite—but somehow they feel like a plant made for warmer places, long summers, and endless sunshine. Our season is shorter, more uncertain, and I’ve always wondered if they truly settle in here the way they should.

A few days ago, though, I noticed them at the garden centre. Tall, confident, already in bloom—bright yellow faces turning gently toward the light. They stood there like small pieces of summer itself. I paused, of course. Admired them. But the price tag made the decision easy enough: I walked away.

Or so I thought.

When I returned a few days later, things had changed. The same sunflowers were still there, but now slightly wilder, a little less polished—and marked down. The kind of quiet invitation that is hard to resist. This time I didn’t hesitate for long. I brought home two plants and suddenly I was carrying a bit of that golden warmth.

This variety is especially lovely. Instead of a single large flower, it produces many blooms—branching out into smaller, softer “plumes” of yellow. It feels lighter somehow, less formal than the traditional tall sunflower with its bold central disk. There’s something generous about it, the way it flowers again and again.

They’ve now been planted at the summer place, where the light is open and the evenings long. Even in these northern conditions, they already seem at ease, catching the sun whenever it appears and holding onto it.

Sunflowers, in general, are surprisingly adaptable. Although they are often associated with heat, they are fast growers and can manage well if given enough light and a sheltered spot. Their roots run deep, and once established, they carry a certain resilience—something I perhaps underestimate every year.

And there is something else about them too. They bring a different kind of mood into the garden. Not delicate like violets or nostalgic like geraniums, but cheerful, almost bold. They don’t ask quietly for attention—they offer it freely.

So perhaps I will not wait so long next time. Even here, even in the north, there is room for a little more sunlight.

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flower, gardening

Dahlia

t is far too early for dahlias (dahlia). I know that, and every spring I remind myself of it. Nights can still be cold, the soil barely warmed, and frost is never completely out of the question. And yet, when I saw these two dahlias, already blooming in bright, confident colours, all common sense quietly stepped aside.

They were impossible to ignore. Strong stems, fresh green leaves, and flowers already fully open — a promise of summer standing right there in front of me. I didn’t plan on buying dahlias this early, but plans are easily forgotten when temptation looks this good. So, of course, they came home with me.

Instead of the balcony, I planted them straight at the summer cottage. It felt like the right place for such an early gamble. The days are longer there, the light softer, and even if the nights turn cold, I hope the location will give them a fighting chance. Gardening in the north often feels like a series of small risks taken with crossed fingers. Sometimes they fail, but sometimes they reward you generously.

If all goes well, these two will grow into bright plumes of colour that last all summer. That is the hope, at least. Dahlias are good at rewarding patience — once they get going, they rarely hold back.

ahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and originate from Central America, particularly Mexico. They were originally grown not just for beauty but also for practical uses, long before becoming garden favourites. Today there are thousands of varieties, ranging from small, neat pompons to large, dramatic dinner-plate flowers. Colours cover almost every shade imaginable, from soft pastels to deep, intense reds and purples.

Despite their lush appearance, dahlias are not especially demanding. They like sun, regular watering, and well-drained soil. What they do dislike is frost. In colder climates, tubers usually need to be lifted and stored over winter, making them a seasonal commitment rather than a one-time planting.

That’s part of their charm. Dahlias ask you to be present — to plant, to wait, to protect, and eventually to let go when autumn arrives. For now, though, it’s spring, and optimism comes easily. I’ll keep an eye on the weather forecasts and hope that this early start turns into a long, colourful summer.

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flower, gardening

Violet

Every spring brings the same quiet but important question: what kind of violets should I choose this year? Violets are often the very first flowers that mark the beginning of the season, and somehow the choice always feels bigger than it should. Small flowers, perhaps, but they carry the whole promise of spring with them.

This year, there were so many beautiful options available. The tables were full of familiar faces – deep purples, soft yellows, delicate pastels – but for reasons I can’t fully explain, it was the bluish tones that drew me in. Cool, calm, and slightly muted, they felt right for this spring. I didn’t notice any truly new colors this time, but that wasn’t disappointing. Sometimes it’s comforting to return to shades you already know and trust.

Violets (viola) are not demanding plants. They settle in easily, tolerate cool days, and just keep flowering. Once planted, they seem content to do their own thing, quietly blooming day after day without asking much in return. That reliability makes them ideal spring flowers, especially after a long winter.

Now they are in place at the summer cottage, brightening up the early season when little else is in bloom. It didn’t take long before they were noticed. Bumblebees were the first visitors, heavy and focused, followed soon by butterflies drifting lightly from flower to flower. Seeing life return so naturally always feels reassuring.

Violets may not shout for attention, but they are always present, always working, always blooming. And once again, they have taken their rightful place as the starting point of spring.

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flower, gardening

Westward

This spring brought a quiet but confident choice: a Narcissus ‘Westward’. It was one of those plants that doesn’t need much introduction. Strong leaves, a well‑balanced shape, and that familiar promise — steady growth and understated beauty later in the season. It felt immediately suited to a northern garden and to the slower rhythm of life at the summer cottage.

For now, the daisy waits. The cottage garden is still between seasons, with soil that needs a little more warmth before planting can begin in earnest. When I next arrive, open the doors and take stock of winter’s retreat, ‘Westward’ will be planted with care and intention. I already have a place in mind, somewhere open and bright, where it can establish itself without crowding and return year after year.

There’s something reassuring about choosing a plant like this. Daisies are known for their resilience and long flowering period, and ‘Westward’ is no exception. It’s not demanding, yet it brings structure and light to the garden once summer settles in. At the cottage, that kind of reliability matters. Between visits, the garden must manage on its own, growing quietly in your absence.

Planting a perennial always feels like a small act of trust. You place it where you believe it will thrive, knowing you won’t witness every stage of its growth. Especially at the summer cottage, gardening stretches across time. When you return, something has changed — leaves fuller, stems stronger, the garden a little further along than you left it.

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flower, gardening

Lucky Number

Early spring arrived with surprising speed this year. The snow did not linger or argue its place; it simply disappeared, retreating in the space of a few warm days. What is usually a gradual transition felt almost abrupt, as if winter had quietly stepped aside without saying goodbye.

The lake told the story most clearly. The ice broke and left nearly a month earlier than usual, opening dark water to the sky while the shoreline was still pale and undecided. Morning light reflected off the surface instead of snow, changing the feel of the entire landscape at once. Spring seemed suddenly present—no longer a promise, but a fact.

There had been no rain. The ground held on to what little moisture winter had left behind, dry on top, cool beneath. The sun did the work instead, warming walls, paths, and the south‑facing corners of the garden. Birds returned early and confidently, as if they had already checked the calendar.

This year, a new daffodil joined the story. Picked up from a garden store almost on a whim, it waits now for its place at the summer cottage Lucky Number (Narcissus ‘Lucky Number’).

Elsewhere, life advanced cautiously. Shoots emerged without haste, trusting the light more than the soil. Early spring in the north does not always unfold slowly. Sometimes it moves ahead of itself, asking you to keep up, to notice how a season can change all at once—and still feel fragile.

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flower, gardening

Tahiti

It has been a while since I have written anything to this blog. Simply been too busy with work to find time for writing.

Up here in the north it has been cool and long spring. Daffodils are still blooming and we are still waiting for the summer to arrive.

Now enjoying a week off from work and spending it in the summer cottage and wondering what to do with the garden that has been unattended for way too long.

At least I am going to plant the Tahiti (Narcissus ‘Tahiti’) which was a gift from a friend. Such a beautiful daffodil.

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flower, gardening

Carlton

The spring is slowly making its way to north. We had a beautiful and warm spring day followed by a rainy day, and then came the snowstorm. 

Eastern brought daffodils to the stores and I ended up buying Carlton (Narcissus ‘Carlton’) which is now starting to bloom beautifully.

Still few weeks to go before I am able to go to the summer cottage. Waiting for it impatiently. It has been a long time. The last time I have been there was in August.

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flower, gardening

Chandelier

The midsummer is close and the nature is at its best. The weather has been beautiful up here in the north, sunny and warm.

The reliable Chandelier (Lupinus ‘Chandelier’) has started to bloom. It has turned out that it is very suitable for this climate and has found a permanent spot in the flowerbed.

This year I do not have much time to tend the garden and have to rely on the perennials. Sadly ants have managed to find some of the flowerbeds and it has been a dry June, therefore I have few less flowers to enjoy.

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flower, gardening

Helmar

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.

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flower, gardening

Tuolumne Dog’s Tooth Violet

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.

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