A woodland garden in spring

Just a few more days and I get to go home to the farm. I have a mix of anxiety and glee about the prospect. Fancy being away so long.

In the meantime and to distract me; I thought you might like to see some flowers here in the London garden.

None of my own work. Kevin planted all these lovely bulbs and trees.

In the front garden there is a lovely mass of crocuses. All hugging the path and possibly in need of splitting and replanting once the flowering is over.

I have to be quick so I can see where they need to be lifted. But there are little gems here in among the mulch.

I love this delicate pink hyacinth. It is not as beefy and overbred like some chunkier hyacinths. And the green of its leaves it actually a delight in this early spring.

There are many magnolias in our street. Three huge ones in neighbouring gardens just to the right of our house.

And the small one in the front garden here is just poised to explode.

Out in the larger main garden there are some lovely daffodils coming out. I am glad I have photographed where they are located so I can add hundreds more in autumn.

This is very much a woodland garden – and I think its glory will be the next few months. Or just one more month.

There are plenty right underneath and around the stunning white birch tree at the bottom.   More could go for cutting. Perhaps in the raised beds?

I have already raided plenty for the vases in the house. But you can never have too many.

There is a lovely river of hellebores on the left hand side of the garden just beyond the azaleas and rhododendrums.

The flowers are modestly pointing donwards, of course. Hellebores take some kneeling and close up work to admire.  But their leaves are stunning and not at all sickly.

I had a bit of a pang of nostalgia when I spotted the muscari growing underneath the espaliered apple tree. 

These were the extras I put in after my mass planting in the shade garden in France.

These are one of my very favourite bulbs.  I don’t think they will be out yet over there.  The weather has turned quite cold in the evenings with plenty of minus temperatures.

Here in London they are planted beneath a west facing thick wall and are perfectly sheltered.

But I imagine the foliage will be up. And then I will be able to tell if the mole rat has had a marvellous winter of underground munching, or whether my hundreds and hundreds of bulbs will throw up a stunning display.

I just have to be patient a few more days and all will be revealed.