There are just too many versions of all of my favourite flowers – and many of the squills seem to be appearing in my own garden! I know that we originally planted these bulbs, but there is such a long wait from planting tiny brown bulbs to seeing actual blooms that they give me as much of a thrill as if they landed on their own from outer space. Tax season is upon me and my time is short, so this little break to post this sweet grouping gives me a breather, but can only be a brief respite. This intense period of accounting only comes once a year so I must put my head down and get it done. For anyone else who is in the same boat, (and all who are not) I hope these give a little lift to your day. A Flower a Day #222

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This is another lovely pixel takeaway from the local garden centre, this time in a beautiful red colour. These double primroses are described as ‘floriferous and vigorous’ and they have such beautiful flowers! (Isn’t that word ‘floriferous’ wonderful?) Its a perfect description for this, too. Even though this is a short lived perennial, it would be so lovely to see these blooms in your garden early in the Spring. Until, that is, the aphids, slugs, vine weevil, leaf and bud eelworms, leaf-mining flies and glasshouse red spider mites turn up and the leaf spot, primula brown core and grey molds infect it! Reading through this list has made me doubly glad that I have left the care of this gorgeous plant to more capable and less stressed gardeners than I, who will be much more able to deal with those pests and diseases. I have this memory that cannot be attacked by any of those and I can share today with all of you. Enjoy its virtual beauty, my friends. A Flower a Day #221

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These little blue beauties surprised me by appearing much earlier than expected, on the bank beside our drive. In the thick undergrowth I thought I had spotted a flash of blue and on closer inspection here they were. I photographed them on my elbows and knees, trying to avoid getting covered in the wood ash that had been thrown there over the winter and I mostly succeeded in doing so. These periwinkles are such simple flowers, but with their striking colour and the way they fill the bank under the bare trees, I can’t help but feel a thrill when I first see them. Each of these appearances of my Spring flowers marks the steady progression of the season and I do wish they would slow down a bit so that I could savour each one. This early appearance made me realise that it doesn’t matter so much when I think these good things will happen, as they often will surprise me. I should just relax, keep watching and the full Spring lineup will reveal itself in its own time. Have a lovely day, my friends, simple, rich and full of promise like this lovely periwinkle. A Flower a Day #220

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Another flower from the garden centre trip was this beautiful Red Lenten Rose called “Ice N’ Roses”, featuring today for Flower a Day. It is a dark beauty that really stood out against all of the other bright coloured displays in front of the building. What really appealed to me about this beauty were the filaments of the stamens and anthers that stood out in such stark relief, perfectly highlighted against that rich velvet background. I know that insects see flowers differently from how we do, so I wonder what paths they discern, leading them to their food sources? We only see the design and pattern and admire it for the beauty. Which for me is enough. This is another I left in the garden centre and just took away as pixels. Enjoy your Sunday, my friends. #218

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These flower a Day catkins, also called Pussy Willows are described in Wikipedia as slim, cylindrical flower clusters, with inconspicuous or no petals. I didn’t know that about them and wasn’t even sure that they were flowers at all. I so loved the soft beauty of them as they were lit by the evening sun on my walk a couple of days ago that I couldn’t resist including them for you in this project. If you can, I hope you will visit the post and zoom in to see the detail, which is like some creature from outer space. I didn’t see this structure until I viewed it on my computer screen. Isn’t it wonderful? I can’t believe the diversity, intricacy and beauty of plant life in my immediate area, which I am only now beginning to appreciate, thanks to this project of mine. The pandemic has so many downsides for so many people, including us, of course. I have to say, though, that what I have learned as a result of my photographs in this has enriched me in so many ways that I am actually grateful for it. This is my silver lining. I am so glad to be able to share it with you. Hugs to all as I wish you a lovely Saturday. #217

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Now I am getting worried. And maybe you should be too. You see, the flowers are beginning to appear at a rate faster than one a day, and I am racing to catch up with them. I will not be sharing more than one a day (as per our Flower a Day arrangement) but I am now spoiled for choice as to what to share with you. This beautiful little grouping of flowers (whose common name is lungwort – much too ugly a name for it) was photographed yesterday evening on my walk, right in my village. There were only a couple of these plants in what seemed to be a neglected planter on the side of the road. But the flowers are exquisite, at least I think so. I won’t tease you with the other five varieties I photographed during the day around my house and on that walk. You will have to wait for them, if I can fit them all in. In the meantime, enjoy this lovely tiny bouquet and your day, my friends.

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This is not a spelling mistake, it is the name as it was on the tag in the garden centre (yes, this is another that is best left where it is with only a photograph taken!). Today’s Flower a Day brings a bunch of sunshine flowers to you all today, looking a lot fancier than the primroses I am familiar with. So if you need the sun today, be my guest and use these to help supply it. If it hadn’t been for the tag I wouldn’t have guessed what it was as it really looks like a pot of roses. Well, as they say, a rose by another name…. except that this didn’t smell at all. So, as I say, the colour is the treat today and with it I send a big hug to all

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Aren’t garden centres wonderful places? They show us what our plants should look like when they are being expertly cared for, in ideal conditions and at their peak. We bring them home to our conditions which are far from ideal, look after them as best we can and see them through the whole of their life cycles. Probably at least for some of us and at least some of the time, these fulfil our expectations. They grow as expected (neither too much nor too little) bloom with glorious colour and without too many pests and then gracefully pass into their winter state to begin the whole thing all over again with renewed vigour the next Spring. But for me, I appreciate most of them as they are in the garden centre, leaving them to be planted in someone else’s garden. I know I can’t fail them when the only thing I have taken is a photograph. Like this beautiful Pieris Interstella Lily of the Valley shrub – Japonica – for Flower a Day today. This beautiful bundle of tiny pink and white flowers will never fade, never break in a storm, never dry out and need watering, feeding or weeding. So I hope you all enjoy this gift of perfect flowers for you all today, my friends. And if you fancy your chances with the real thing in your garden, the full name is there and maybe you can find one in your own local garden centre! Until tomorrow, friends.

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