Here in the UK we have had exceptionally high temperatures for weeks now which has caused chaos in the garden.

Just as the last of my snowdrops finished flowering the temperature began slowly climbing.  At first it was pleasant and a novelty to wear short sleeves in the garden rather than thick fleeces, hat and scarf.  One week, two weeks later plants were beginning to dry out quickly and the hose pipes had to come out in April - not really ever heard of in the UK.  April showers are our trade mark.

As intense watering became an every day event I did not have spare time to check on my woodland plants and missed nearly every flower.  When I saw the woodland borders I could not believe how huge everything was.....and how dry.  The Trilliums were finished, the Epimediums had full leaf cover concealing all the flowers, Peony mlokosewitschii or ' Molly the Witch' was in full bloom and the Anemone nemerosa (Wood Anemones) were almost over.  I felt robbed.

Last autumn I bought far too many Tulips & Narcissus to plant in the garden, however, early snow put paid to that idea.  I managed to get around 300 or more bulbs planted and the rest had to be potted as a temporary measure.  With the onslaught of extreme heat the bulbs in pots were drying out just as they were about to bloom.  I did gently water them but am nervous watering potted bulbs as I have had some bad experiences with bulbs rotting away.  Consequently, the show was over far too quickly but I did manage to take some quite nice photographs of several varieties.  Many shrivelled up without flowering and several Narcissus flowered at about 1-2" high - oops!  My next job is to plant them in the ground and just hope for the best.

Here are some photos starting with the Tulips:-

A parrot Tulip before opening - such a lovely mixture of reds, greens, yellows & purples

Parrot tulips are a favourite with flower arrangers and I can now see why although I was not brave enough to pick any of mine this year.

Parrot Tulip fully opened

'Flaming Parrot' in full bloom - lovely and bright

Parrot tulip called 'Rococco' in its early stages.  The edges are full of teeth

'Rococco' almost open.  A lovely bright quite short parrot tulip ideal for tubs and the front of borders

This is a parrot called 'Super Parrot' just emerging.  I did not know what to expect

and then it began to open.....

and finally became huge with feathered edges.  It lasted quite a long time in flower and was pure white with green markings on the outside petals.  This was a favourite.

Another beautiful creamy white was 'Purissima'.  It was one of the lucky ones to make it into the ground - it started off quite average

then one day I walked past the clump and could not believe my eyes....it had doubled in size and fully opened in the sun like huge white goblets beautifully set off by the blue flowers of the Ajuga in the foreground.   It is GORGEOUS and I will be adding more 'Purissima' to this area in autumn (must remember to mark where the bulbs are!)

This is a white double flowered variety called 'Mount Tacoma' - another lucky variety that got planted before the snow fell

This one flowers exactly the same time as 'Purissima' and is called 'Apricot Beauty' although to me it looks pink.  I wonder if the bulb growers made a mistake?

I planted 'Apricot Beauty' behind and in between Carex testacea 'Prairie Fire' - thinking the apricot of the tulip would match the bronzey orange flushed foliage of the grass.  It did not work out as planned because the apricot looks pink.  On the packet the bulbs looked a definite soft apricot.

This is how 'Apricot Beauty' should have looked.  A few shades make all the difference.

Another double peony flowered variety called 'Angelique'.  The Viola in amongst the bulbs worked quite well which is worth remembering - they did not get overpowered like I thought they would but mingled in nicely and held their own.

This one was really beautiful and this photo does not do it full justice.  It is called 'Pink Star' and it shimmered in the sun with hints of apricot and lasted quite a long time in a pot.

This was one of the sweetest of them all.  It is a 10" tall mini one called Tulip clusiana 'Lady Jane'.  When it was sunny it opened wide as can be but as soon as a cloud came over or the sun went down she closed up completely.  Must plant 'Lady Jane' somewhere where I can admire her funny habits next year.  Here she is fully opened in the sun....

and here she is closed up with the lovely deep pink outer markings showing.  This is a species hybrid so should be perennial.

Another short variety is 'Pinocchio' with candy striped flowers.  I used this one in window boxes and will be planting it on the edge of a border.

This one is Tulip praestens fusilier.  It has 3 or more flowers per stem and is a great specimen for pots.  It looked beautiful very early in the spring for a long time.  A shocking red that really stands out.  I will plant this in front of daylilies in the borders.

I like this one for its beautifully marked foliage.  This is 'Red Riding Hood' in a window box

This display was my pride and joy.  I planted the different varieties in three different layers which is something I have never tried before.  It worked!  The orange one is 'Prinses Irene', the deep purple one is 'Havran' and the red is 'Couleur Cardinal'.  I waited so long for it to flower but the hot sun has cut their flowering time short.  Lovely while they lasted though.

The pot in the foreground is 'Prinses Irene'

'Prinses Irene' again.  This Tulip is beautiful and I will plant the bulbs en masse for a splash of colour.

The lovely markings of 'Prinses Irene' close up...

This was another success.  I mixed 'Spring Green' with 'Flaming Spring Green' among ground cover Euonymus 'Emerald 'n' Gold' at the back of my dogswood border.  The effect really pleased me and I have enjoyed passing them every day on the way to the daylily field.  They are nice and tall and stand proud of the Euonymus which was something I was worried about.  The only downfall was the pink and orange Tulips sent in error by the supplier - the pinks actually look alright so can stay.  The green basket in the background is a hanging basket covered in mesh to keep the Narcissus Fly off a precious patch of Snowdrops!!  Worth a try.

The orange 'intruders' do not match in with the scheme.  I will probably just cut the flowers off next year (hoping they return that is).  I read that 'Spring Green' and 'Flaming Spring Green' are usually a perennial Tulip. 

'Spring Green' close up

'Flaming Spring Green' close up

These gorgeous red Tulips have been in the garden for 20 years or more and were planted by my mum many years ago.  I have split them once and will need to split them soon again.  They are growing in and around 4 large clumps of daylilies with no problems.  I added the gorgeous tall white 'Maureen'  (my mums name) and the very dark tall 'Queen of the Night' in the hope they would all flower together.....but they did not.  Maybe next year.  The daffodil (Narcissus) in the front is a new one called 'Tweety Bird' with a very long trumpet - I love it.

A yellow version of the red Tulip also planted by my mum long ago

and last but not least a very strange Tulip called 'Ice Cream'.  It does not match up to the catalogue photograph and certainly does not look like any ice cream I have ever eaten! 

How 'Ice Cream' should have looked.  It is close - but not quite there.

There are many Tulips I missed and several which have barely flowered due to my lack of watering and a few yet to come.  It has been an interesting and quite exciting trial but I will never be growing large quantities of Tulips in pots again.  I am hoping they will transplant successfully and come back next year.  I have read that if you plant them 8 inches deep they are more likely to become perennial - so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed.  I hope you have enjoyed my Tulip collection and next I will post my new split corona Narcissus collection.

Well, the snowdrops here are just about finished except for three later ones:

Galanthus plicatus BAXENDALE'S LATE - this one is very late and is in full flower at the moment

Galanthus plicatus WASHFIELD WARHAM - another late season one which originates from Washfield Nursery in Hawkhurst, Kent.  This cultivar usually sends up a second scape which extends the season even longer.  Another very useful season extender.

a closer look at the flower....

Galanthus elwesii GALADRIEL - a selected cultivar from the gardens of Beth Chatto.  It is named after Tolkiens 'Lady of the Woods'.  This snowdrops sends up a second flower scape which extends the season even longer.  I really like the large rounded outer segments and the crisp marking.  All in all, a lovely snowdrop.

Here is a close up of the second flower of GALADRIEL breaking from its protective sheath. 

Here is what the snowdrop looks like when enclosed within the sheath

I have been engrossed in a new project for the last couple of weeks.  We have a wild woodland area here where we walk the dogs.  It has many self seeded wild trees, a huge Ash, a few pines and some mature Holly trees.  Over the years we have planted Galanthus nivalis and nivalis 'flora plena' along with native bluebells in the hope they will naturalise - which they have very nicely.  It is full of weeds particularly ground ivy and brambles along with huge colonies of stinging nettles.  In the summer it is strimmed or mowed to keep it looking tidy.

I decided it would be a perfect place to plant some of my Galanthus collection but was not sure how.  I tried to dig the ground around the trees and it is absolutely root bound so that would not be an option.  My only way seems to be building raised beds around the deciduous trees - so we got started clearing one area.  The weeding took two of us almost 2 weeks on and off before I was happy to build up the bed with soil.  We got together tree trunks we had from thinning the trees and made border edges.  See my photos of the making of the first woodland bed :)

The area has been cleared of most of the weeds.  They do say that 'Gardeners have bigger dreams than Emperors' !

Just about finished....

Just a final layer of rotting leaves which will be dug in.   I may move the Galanthus nivalis on the end as they will seed amongst my choice cultivars - but will leave it for a week or two yet as I want to get planting.  I have a couple of shade loving Hostas to put in the centre and will also add deciduous ferns for summer interest.  I will post a photo when it is planted up.

Looking back on a few of my snowdrops from this season.  These are photos I never got around to posting, so here they are now:-

Galanthus BENTON MAGNET - this one has a very long pedicel.  This snowdrop has been in my garden for 12 years or more but I almost lost it.

Galanthus elwesii CEDRIC'S PROLIFIC - this was a selected seedling from Cedric Morris's garden named by Beth Chatto in his honor.  As the name suggests it spreads well and is very good for background planting

Galanthus CICELY HALL previously known as THE STALKER!  It resembles a larger version of Merlin.  I think I will call mine The Stalker as I prefer that name.

Galanthus elwesii DAVID SHACKLETON - a fairly late flowering cultivar.  Nice and tall with lovely markings

Galanthus DESDEMONA a Greatorex double

and from above....

Galanthus DING DONG from Avon Bulbs.  This is a fantastic snowdrop and has multiplied very well and put on a very long show.  I like the long thin outer segments and the way the inner marking is suffused towards the ovary.  Towards the very top of my list this year.

Galanthus elwesii HUNTON GIANT.  This is a tall sturdy cultivar with very long, wide leaves.  The markings remind me of a Mexican bandit !

Galanthus elwesii LORD MONOSTICTUS - I like the two simple dashes on the inner markings

Galanthus HILL POE - a very neat shortish double with extra outer segments, usually 4 or 5.  Notice the flower at the top has slight green lines at the tips.

it has a very neat inner rosette.....

Galanthus plicatus WENDY'S GOLD - this is one of the first yellows that I bought.  She is now making a nice small clump. 

Galanthus JUNE BOARDMAN - another nice yellow

Galanthus nivalis WAREI - a larger version of Viridapice

Galanthus woronowii - a charming little species with glossy green leaves - native to Russia. The inner marking is like a sideways B

a closer look...........

Galanthus GEORGE ELWES - a tall plant with a hooded spathe that arches over the flower.  It has a lovely deep green inner mark

Galanthus plicatus PERCY PICTON - very long pedicel.  A very attractive flower

Galanthus elwesii SICKLE - the markings sometimes look like a pair of skittles.  A large arching spathe resembling a 'sickle'

Galanthus TROTTERS MERLIN

Galanthus SIBBERTOFT MAGNET - another one with a long pedicel

a sideview of SIBBERTOFT MAGNET....

Various Galanthus growing in between bearded Iris with Bergenia 'Eric Smith' in the foreground

and finally a selection of plicatus seedlings from around the garden....

My attention has been so focused on the snowdrops that I have failed to notice several other plants blooming in the garden in early March.  Yesterday I took a stroll around and took a few photos.  Here are some of the things I found:-

Various Crocus in the lawn and edges of borders

Crocus 'Tricolor' - this actually looks more impressive closed than open.  I bought 50 bulbs and the mice ate most of them before I had a chance to plant them!  Will mass plant a patch near Hellebores & Galanthus next year.

Delicate Crocus tommasinianus self seeding around

Crocus on the grave of my dads beloved German Shepherd whose name was NADA.  It used to be outlined in yellow Crocus.  I can just about make out her name now.  Every year we say we will patch it up but never have the Crocus in the right colours to do it while it is in flower.

A closer look at the stripey ones

A couple of Erica from the Heather family - close ups.  I think these are Erica carnea 'Springwood Pink' & 'Springwood White'

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'  in full bloom.  The flowers of this gorgeous shrub are highly scented and very pretty.  Actually 'highly scented' is an understatement - 'intoxicating' would be more descriptive.

A few Hellebores

Helleborus croaticus WM 9809 - this was collected and distributed by Will McLewin.  It has the tiniest little flowers that look purple at first glance - but when you look inside the flower they are a beautiful bright green with purple veining.  A delicate specie Hellebore which will look perfect with dainty snowdrops.

All the torquatus doubles from Montenegro were purchased from the wonderful Washfield Nursery many years ago.  I would love to move them to a better position where they do not dry out in the summer so much - but I am terrified of losing them!  They are not thriving where they are, but better alive than dead - they are very precious.

A very purple torquatus double from the outside.  They are all around 1 inch across or maybe less.

Inside they are a lovely turquoisy green with faint purple edges

Another torquatus double showing more green on the outside

and again - gorgeous inside

This is the smallest torquatus double and is more of a pinky purple colour

The prettiest by far inside

DIDO - I think there were only two named torquatus double found naturally occurring in the wild by Elizabeth Strangman.  My plant is a division from the original plant

My seedlings from the above parents crossing with orientalis hybrids.  A few of them have inherited the highly ornamental divided summer foliage of the torquatus.  I will try to find a photo of the foliage in summer.

Seedlings in the border.  They are stronger, bigger and more floriferous than their parents although still much smaller than the x hybridus doubles (orientalis)

This is a purchased 'Party Dress' double which I bought to introduce dark doubles into my crosses.  It has taken years to flower and does not have great performance, so I will not be using it for crossing - pretty though although I expected it to be very dark purple.  The reddish colour is nice especially with sunlight from behind.

This is one of my very first crosses - a picotee.  I ended up with many seedlings all looking very similar - some were stunning and others had too much green in the flowers.

x hybridus Picotee.  I like this one as it has dark nectaries which match in with the purple veining.  The flowers are large and deeply shaded on the outside of the petals.

Outside of petals - heavy shading and veining

I then crossed atrorubens (a tiny species plant smiliar to croaticus with a slightly bigger flower) with my Picotee.

This is the result:

It has pink backed petals with slight veining and inside is a pinky green shimmering colour wash with huge dark nectaries.  In the summer it takes on the foliage of atrorubens and looks stunning.  The flower is nothing special but I like its delicate colours and the fact that it is a specie x orientalis.  It performs well and is even thriving in quite dark shade in some places in the garden.

This will be a very quick post but I just want to share this beautiful snowdrop with you all.  I put in a snowdrop order in January and chose this snowdrop - Galanthus HUGH MACKENZIE.  I had some birthday money in an envelope but could not decide what to spend it on.  I saw this snowdrop and knew where my money was going!  The problem was it was very limited stock and would be first come first served so I made an alternative choice should I be unlucky.

Yesterday the postman delivered a box of snowdrops which I quickly unpacked - ticking them off my list.  I got to the bottom......and there was Hugh Mackenzie in full flower, glowing green and looking perfect.  I cannot imagine how he looked so unscathed with other snowdrops piled on top of him. 

I whipped him out of the box and ran into the house to show everyone my prized possession.  They looked at Hugh and said "Yes its nice - is it something special then?"  IS IT SPECIAL??!!  It is like gold dust!  Galanthophiles really need to communicate with other galanthophiles on a regular basis - else snowdrop loneliness sets in :)

I took him straight to the potting shed and potted him into a lattice basket in a gritty mix with lots of small sharp grit surrounding the bulb.  I spoke to him as I put him in the pot and carefully spread out his roots.  I told him I will do my best to take care of him and to please come back and see me next year with a few new friends!!  I think he got the message....

Anyhow, here is my first virescent snowdrop.  I believe virescent means lots of green colour/shading on the outer petals - the more the better.

Galanthus HUGH MACKENZIE

Finally the rain has stopped here and the sun has even peeked out a few times, so I have taken this golden opportunity to get out and about in the garden with my camera(s).  I have not taken many garden shots as there is still much spring tidying and pruning to be done yet and to be honest the garden still looks pretty bleak....apart from the snowdrops, crocus, early daffs & of course the Hellebores.  This week the Forsythia has come into bloom all over the garden and looks a picture (mental note to get a photo).  The Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill is in bloom and smelling heavenly on the crisp spring air.

I must admit my snowdrops have completely hogged all my attention so far this year and other garden jobs are getting rather neglected.  Well, they will be over soon so I want to make the most of them while they last.  I am not only taking photos of the snowdrops but also making notes which ones to split and spread around after flowering has finished.  There are also others which I want to lift and inspect as I am concerned they may be ailing due to lack of drainage in certain parts of the garden.

Most of my garden has been amended annually year after year and the heavy clay soil is almost respectable in places.  However, when I introduced lots of new snowdrops over the last few years I have been digging in places that have not been used for planting before and I fear I did not add enough sharp grit and leaf mould....and snowdrops resent sitting in heavy wet soil for long periods of time.... and will rot. 

Also I have had a few attacks of Narcissus Fly larvae on some precious bulbs.....yes Narcissus Fly attack snowdrops!!  I never knew until this year when several did not appear and I began to make enquiries on the Galanthus forum I belong to.  The pest lays her eggs in the soil and the maggot crawls down and enters the bulb through the basal plate and feeds off the bulb gradually hollowing out the centre and in most cases killing the bulb.  I have rescued several this year and have potted them into sharp sand to see if they make any kind of recovery.....but I am not building my hopes up.  If I knew how to chip bulbs I could maybe save them.

Narcissus Fly emerge from the soil in May/June and favour laying their eggs in warm soil (so I have read) - so I am planting the majority of my very precious bulbs in areas that are shaded from May onwards to see if this will help.  Another tip is to rake the soil up around the bulbs as the leaves die away and push the soil gently down around them with your fingers as the Narcissus Fly detects where the bulbs have pushed through the ground.  It is more messing around than I anticipated but it is worth it if it works and really should not take long, all said and done.

There are a few other pests and diseases to talk about but we will save them for another time.  I think it is best to be armed with all the information as it can help you detect problems early on, hopefully saving the plant or stopping diseases from spreading.  Believe me when I tell you I have had to do a crash course on pests and diseases in 6 weeks flat this year.....and I would love to have known these things sooner.  These Galanthus cost lots of money so it is worth knowing how to take care of them properly.  I will try to pass on what I learn when I can.  I am learning too.

Onto more cheerful topics now..........enough doom and gloom

Here are some photos taken in the last few days:

Galanthus GREEN TEETH - a comical little flower which I really like.  I think the inner segments look like hair flicking up at the sides and it makes me smile - I also like his very shiny round green 'hat' :)  Oh, and don't forget his 'green teeth' and little smudgy 'eyes'.  Or maybe I am having illusions..........I think it's essential sometimes.

Galanthus nivalis CHARLOTTE - a mini version of nivalis flowering later.  Mine are in flower now and the regular nivalis are finishing.  Very sweet.

Galanthus nivalis TINY - this also flowers later than the regular nivalis.  It is not as tiny as Charlotte.

Galanthus elwesii GREEN BRUSH - finally opened this week to my utmost joy!  It is beautiful with lovely bold markings on the tips and an entirely dark green inner marking.  Gorgeous.  This one needs a well drained position in more sun than some of the others.  Elwesii and its named varieties all prefer a sunnier position.

Galanthus nivalis LADY ELPHINSTONE.  This one is a yellow version of nivalis 'flora plena' but it is not always yellow and can revert to green from year to year.  However my little clump were all yellow this year and last year!