Flower and Fern Mania, 28th April 2009

Weeds
Another sunny and rainy day but with enough breaks in the rain to work outside. I finished weeding the fairy hill, quite a task as you have to battle with large bushes and much of it is on a steep slope. Still, all done for a while now. Then I moved up to the bank at the side of the allotment area. I had noticed that the weeds had started to grow already, since I last cleared it, particularly one I call 'Sticky Bob'. I have no idea of its real name. It grows from a tiny thin shoot then it will climb 6 feet or more up shrubs and fruit trees, given the opportunity. Then it has thousands of little white flowers that then produce thousands more little seeds to make more misery for me next year. Here it is:






What a little beast it is






Ferns

I noticed as I was sticky bob removing, how wonderful the fern look at the moment. They are fresh and green and some of them are rather odd shapes. I did get a bit carried away!







3 different varieties of fern














This is probably my favourite, the huge fronds of this fern are still all curled up. They look rather alien













On this fern, the fronds are just starting to uncurl


















Here the fronds are uncurling that bit more. Can you see the ones behind already open?
















I think these look like sea horses













On the grotto bed, the 3 new ferns we planted last year have really grown:




The fern is the central plant, such a pretty pale green









This one has really delicate foliage














Hosta fire and ice to the left, then bugle then the little fern.














Back to the allotment bank and here are ferns and celandines with a trunk of rotting wood



















Ferns and forget me nots

















These are the old leaves from last year. The shape looks like a peacock's tail.



















This is actually bracken just starting to grow








I think it's time for a bit of colour now. As the tulips are all but over, I thought I'd capture the few that are left:



I think the petals will have fallen off by tomorrow















The cream tulips all have a raspberry coloured blush on them and have turned almost white














In case you missed this photo on the top right hand of my blog. 3 black tulips, all in a row. How beautiful they look




















This is one I haven't seen before. It must be one of the new ones Jim planted last autumn. The petals are like shells.













One last shot of these beauties before the petals fall










The grotto bed has an upstairs and a downstairs! This is the upstairs, where the black tulips are:





There you can see both the first floor and the basement! I love this grotto.












Now where? Ah, the Fairy Hill


This is part of the bottom of the fairy hill, all weeded now











One of the fairies standing in front of a burgundy viola, ringing her chimes









This bush is also at the bottom of the hill. It has tiny leaves and very tiny yellow flowers all over it. The bees absolutely love it. I risked life and limb cutting out the bramble from the centre.











These are the little yellow flowers

















I manged to get just one shot of this minute little bumble bee. He's so cute













This little chap was even smaller. Look at the pollen sacks bursting. Click on them to enlarge for the best details











They moved so quickly, they were hard to get in focus











The lilac is also at the bottom of the fairy hill and is just about to burst open

















The bugle is such a stunning blue












Isn't it gorgeous? I noticed I'd taken a photo of a fly on this bugle, so enlarged it, below

















As flies go, he's rather splendid



















My Parcel, to be taken down of May 1st - then turned into a new work of art!























Cats and Birds


I went to take a close up of the siskin on the nut holder but there was no sign of him. I wonder why??





















Sandy in his 'nest'!















I hope I haven't bored you with too many photos. I should have stopped at the ferns but, as usual, I got carried away. Off to bed now as it's 3.30am!