White. SoS 12 September 2020

The garden has swung into action, rejoicing in recent rain and warmer temperatures. It’s remarkable how rapidly plants grow in favourable conditions such as the ones we are experiencing just now. Today I’m joining in with the Six on Saturday crowd, as always captained by The Propagator. To catch a glimpse of what other people are doing in their gardens all over the world, follow this link.

One: As I’ve mentioned before, there are five ornamental Pyrus trees in our back garden. They were here when we moved in, and I don’t know what species they are, but I suspect calleryana. Four are the same as the photo on the left, with their branches loaded with tufts of flowers like snowballs, whilst the Pyrus on the right is yet to flower. Its petite flowers, like a bouquet for Thumbelina, are poised to open and when they do, they’ll be just as white as the others.

Two: Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ is developing into a larger clump from the three I originally planted. When the flowers are finished, and the seed heads have developed, the stems arch over and the seeds plant themselves into the earth. It’s very convenient for the gardener.

Three: Ranunculi seem to be flowering very early this year. I didn’t post photos of them until mid October last year. These white ones are immaculate with their petals frothing like ballerinas’ tutus spotted from the fly tower of a theatre.

Four: Rhodanthemum or Moroccan daisy is one of the earliest plants to flower in Spring. It’s easy to propagate too, and I’m happy to spread more of these around the garden.

Five: Most of my narcissi have been attacked by snails. Why do they eat the flowers and not the leaves? New to the garden this year, Narcissus ‘Thalia’ has pure white fragrant flowers which nod gently in the spring breeze. Beautiful against a cerulean sky, and remarkably unblemished.

Six: A common white iris, one of the earliest to bloom, completes this SoS which, in case you didn’t guess, has a white theme.

Weather today: Misty, then sunny. 2.2 – 20 degrees C

Happy gardening wherever you are.

44 Comments Add yours

  1. I don’t have enough white in my garden. I will look for some white daffodils like yours for next spring. Lovely Six-on-Saturday.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you Granny. I was inspired to plant those Thalia daffs by some of the UK gardeners on SoS!

  2. Paddy Tobin says:

    I adore Tulipa clusiana, a great plant for the garden.

    1. Jane says:

      I’m getting right into species tulips because they don’t have to be lifted each year and multiply without any special treatment. And the’re beautiful.

      1. Paddy Tobin says:

        Mary uses the “ordinary” tulips in pots to give a nice spring display but they are useless in the garden. T. clusiana last for years and years and increase.

  3. fredgardener says:

    This Six all in white is wonderful! All photos are superb and the blue sky is obviously very pretty.
    Enjoy the spring Jane.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, Fred, you are so generous.
      We are enjoying watching Le Tour in your beautiful country.

      1. fredgardener says:

        Really?! I’m happy you can watch it. A special Tour because of COVID…. in 2012, I saw the bikers: the Tour was at 5km of home.

        1. Jane says:

          I love it. I watch every year!

  4. A beautiful six. I have Ranunculi envy. Mine didn’t reappear the following spring and a new batch vanished too. I will have to be content looking at photos of yours each year!

    1. Jane says:

      Actually, I find ranunculi are quite good at self-seeding and I notice I have many small plants appearing. They’ll be far behind the ones I’ve shown today.
      I didn’t have so many last year and someone suggested that it was lack of rain, but I suspect that wouldn’t be a problem for you.

      1. I’m not sure where I’m going wrong with them. Maybe I should try again in a different spot.

        1. Jane says:

          It’s worth a try.

  5. Catherine says:

    I am loving your all-white six. The Pyrus tree is so beautiful, if that was in my garden I think I would be tempted just to sit and look at it all day. I looked at Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ some weeks ago, but didn’t add it to my order – now I think that was a mistake. Am I right in thinking that it has pink on the outer petals?

    I love the Ranunculi, but I’ve never been successful in growing them. The white is particularly beautiful. I have N. Thalia – some on order – and some still in pots from last year, I’m not sure if they will come backthis year though. They’re lovely narcissi.

    1. Jane says:

      You’re right about the Pyrus, and I do spend quite a lot of time just gazing at it. Yes, Lady Jane is pink on the outside and it closes up as the sun goes off it. For mine, this adds even more interest. Do get some if you can, they’re so worthwhile.

  6. I also loved the Ranunculi. It looks like you are having a beautiful spring.

    1. Jane says:

      Yes we’ve had quite a bit of rain and the forecast is saying we’re entering a La Niña event, so perhaps the summer won’t be as torrid as last year. I have my fingers crossed!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Another Ranunculus/i fan here. My mother tried desperately to grow those, never succeeding. So nice to see spring flowers, Happy Spring! Your Pears look like Aristocrat Pears to me. A columnar selection of Bradford.

    1. Jane says:

      Yes, the ranunculis/i are a constant delight. I’m hoping all the tiny seedlings I have amount to something too, before the weather gets too hot.
      Thanks for the heads up on the pears.

  8. March Picker says:

    Welcome back, Jane. I’ve missed the glimpses into your beautiful garden. I had no idea snails would eat narcissi. Those devils! The ranunculi are my favorite. I’ll attempt to grow them this year.

    1. Jane says:

      Thanks MP.
      I wouldn’t mind so much if the snails ate the narcissus leaves, but after waiting a year to see the flowers, I find the damage very disappointing. Yes, do try some ranunculi, they are very rewarding, and snails don’t seem to like them.

  9. krispeterson100 says:

    All are beautiful, Jane. I’m particularly envious of the ‘Lady Jane’ tulips. I planted some last year and they bloomed but I don’t know if I can expect them to return and spread into a nice drift as yours have. We don’t get freezes here (much less snow) so they may not get the cold they need during our winter months. I envy you the rain too! Ours is probably two months away yet, and with fires burning we could really use them now.

    1. Jane says:

      I’ll be very interested to know if your ‘Lady Janes’ reappear, Kris. They seem to be very undemanding as tulips go, so perhaps they will. I’ve invested in some other species tulips as well as they seem so much easier than Dutch tulips. I do so hope you get some relief from those terrible fires somehow. There’s so much tragedy with loss of life, property and destruction of the environment.

  10. I enjoyed your white six. The pear tree is so covered in blossom – fabulous.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you for visiting!

  11. Beautiful, Jane! Mr ET’s ranunculi are doing very well this year too. I tossed a packetful of pincushion flower seeds into the border of my rose garden early in the year and, despite the illustration on the packet showing many different colours, they are all white. It has made a very pretty display.

    1. Jane says:

      Those kinds of serendipitous occurrences in the garden are the best aren’t they!
      BTW I found two of your comments in my spam folder, so please forgive my late replies.

  12. Vicki says:

    What a beauriful array of blooms. First time I’ve seen the common white iris so that was a gift (for me).

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, Vicki. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the white iris. I have a tendency to discount them as they’re not as glamorous as the more exotically coloured ones.

  13. pommepal says:

    Lovely to see your garden Jane. We are blessed with good weather at the moment. It makes the garden sing, and I do too. 🤞 hoping it continues.

    1. Jane says:

      I’m happy you’re experiencing good weather, PP. We must enjoy it while we can!

      1. pommepal says:

        One thing we can be sure of is, it will get hotter, and they predict a wet summer…☔️

  14. Yes, I too have a fondness for white flowers and some months ago planted 5 Manchurian pears. They are fast growing and magnificent both in Spring and Autumn. They have now almost finished flowering and getting into leaf.
    None of the bulbs I planted flowered except the grape hyacinths. None of the daffodils flowered even though they produced long leaves. The irises ditto, not a single flower. Perhaps too much feed.
    Still, the garden looks very nice and I love it.

    1. Jane says:

      I’ve had the same trouble with quite a few of my daffodils Gerard. All leaf and no flower. None of the reasons I’ve read about (cutting back too soon, not enough sun, overcrowding, wrong kind of feed) apply, so I’m perplexed. And disappointed.
      We have Manchurian Pears in the main street of our town. They’ve just finished flowering, but they did look stunning.

  15. White does so much to garden, doesn’t it? Your pear trees are just magnificent; what a beautiful display! The Ranunculi are lovely too and I love your description of the flowers! Such a pity it is too warm for Tulips here as I do like the Lady Jane. Narcissi do well here, and I have a couple of different varieties (can’t remember their names off hand). They are a firm favourite in our garden. The Iris is beautiful too. I’m trialing one in my garden this year, but unfortunately it is not white. A lovely Six.

  16. Jane says:

    I didn’t realise I had so much white in the garden until I started taking photos in preparation for SoS! Good old Narcissi, they seem to do well everywhere, except for the wretches that decide not to flower for no apparent reason. I have a few of those.
    I hope your iris does well. They are stunning plants and come in such a wide variety of colours and sizes. I find the white one the least interesting tbh, and only included it to fit in with the theme!

  17. hb says:

    Lovely to see some of your Springtime. Love the pure white flower theme, so fresh especially with a blue sky. The tulips are exquisite. I grow Rhodanthemum hosmariense as well–it is one of my favorite plants.

    1. Jane says:

      I had more white flowering plants than I realised HB!
      I can understand why a Rhodanthemum is a favourite with you as it’s such a tough little thing yet has those quite dainty flowers. It’s perfect for our respective climates. I’m going to grow more cuttings and spread them around my garden.

    2. Jane says:

      Thank you HB. I have been enjoying the blooms in your garden too!

  18. Stunning Ranunculi. Not something I grow but I could be tempted. Just need to get rid of a bit more lawn for planting space.

    1. Jane says:

      They don’t take up much room!

  19. Anonymous says:

    Such a lovely Six. I haven’t much white In the garden this year for some reason. The Ranunculi are stunning. I’ve not had much success with them

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you! Sorry to hear your ranunculi aren’t performing for you.

  20. cavershamjj says:

    always lovely to see spring flowers in our autumn. i planted some thalia last year and have a few dozen more to plant now too. a very nice flower.

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