Enjoying Spring

It has been quite chilly recently, and my tomatoes and eggplants are sheltering in the garage. We have also had high winds which wreak havoc with photography... My roses have stalled, and I see lots and lots of blind growth (new shoots that do not end in a flower). Only a few buds are reluctantly opening, but even so there is a lot of joy to be found in the garden.

Azaleas and spireas are in full bloom now

My Condesa de Sastago, a beautifully colored Pernetiana rose, is growing in a large pot. I think its roots get warmer there, and it is blooming pretty early. The blooms are not always shapely, but the colors are exquisite.



Lady Hillingdon always blooms early too.

Dutch irises adorn one of the beds where nothing much is blooming now. I keep thinking I should plant freesias for early spring blooms (I do have a couple of daffodils already), but somehow I forget. One of these years...

Devoniensis is one of my loveliest roses. The soft colors are wonderful, and so is the powerful fragrance. Mine is the bush form from Vintage and is a fairly vigorous rose.

Elie Beauvilain, a tea-noisette, is peeking over the fence. It is just beginning its spectacular spring display.

Here is the first bloom on Tina Marie, a hybrid perpetual. I am not sure why it is considered to be white because mine is most definitely pink, and striped on top of that :). The striping is soft and pretty and reminds me of its parent, Grandmother's Hat, which also produces striped blooms sometimes.

It is fun to watch little furry peaches growing larger and larger. There is much to look forward to in summer.