Spring flowers
Lashings of sunshine instead of rain so a warm, very dry start to Spring here in London at least and already the rivers of Daffodils are drying up.
What shrub?
A mystery shrub – first impressions were of a Sarcococca flowering out of season but a double take revealed sturdy, toothed leaves of dark blue-grey-green foliage studded with multiples of stark white flower clusters. Since this was growing in dappled shade, the blooms had an eye-catching impact with a fragrance that delighted both bees and flies…
[And thanks to the Welsh wisdom of Wellywoman have an id now. Osmanthus delavayi - hardier but not as fragrant as O. fragrans!]
Japanese quince 'Moerloosei'?
Like miniature orchards dotting the borders, there are Japanese quince in apple blossom mode. White blooms maturing to carmine blushes and even the leaves resemble Malus. Surely these are Chaenomeles speciosa ’Moerloosei’ – one of the early flowering shrubs from the Orient that blooms in naked elegance along spiny stems? Yet there were no evident prickles here and although spineless species are available for more sensitive gardeners, I can find no evidence that this applies to the apple blossoming ‘Moerloosei’. Can anyone enlighten me?
Seems to me that the blossoms also have the look of Hellebores and so I would underplant with these even if bloom times are not fully coincidental too. A succession of similars is after all a unifying theme which ties design to the garden.
'apple blossom' japanese quince
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spring quartet
When there is so much happening in the borders, vision is readily fixated on the eye-level horizontals so that I nearly missed the heavenly glory of the hazel filigree up above. At the other extreme, it made a change to feast my eyes on the chocolate-brown tones of last year’s leaves after so much gushing greenery or to cast a long-lasting look at the fallen, aged forms of Camellias. In the copper beech hedgerows birds are staking their claim whilst last year’s nest is testament to the raising of an urban family in the full throng of traffic and pedestrian bustle at the park gates.
shadow games
At mid-morning, silhouettes of trees are felled along the pathways so that me and my shadow can stand together with the Black Poplar and be dwarfed by a London Plane that appears to be casting warning fingers at the park contractors. The curious Jack Russell was game enough to join in…whilst his Schnauzer friend went one further, managing to blend and meld into the tracery of hedgerow shades.
camouflaged Schnauzer
All this and so much more from a dash through Russell Square on the last day of March but with a Northerly cold front due for Easter, here is a Scandinavian’s ‘Rustle of Spring’
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©Copyright 2012 Laura Thomas.
All rights reserved. Content created by Laura Thomas @PatioPatch
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Lovely pictures of a fun spring day…I heard you are supposed to get some cold and snow but more North…we had another freeze that may have finally killed the daffs blooming..so sad and my precious hyacinths have not bloomed fully or given up their fragrance in the cold…oh well onto April and more spring…warmer at night I hope.
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Gardens Eye Journal-April 2012
I think the mystery shrub might be Osmanthus.
I know snow at Easter is not uncommon but our weather patterns have become quite strange and unpredictable. Warm, dry spring followed by cool, dull and dry summer, followed by gloriously warm autumn and an unusually mild winter and then back to a warm dry spring. Doesn’t sound like typical British weather. And now a cold spell. My daffs seem to have gone over much more quickly this year with the warm weather.
wellywoman read my post..First Pickings and Frost Fears
spot on WW! it is Osmanthus delavayi. Have the pricklier variegated variety so a cutting from this will be a bonus! Too hot for daffs and now too cold for holidays
I thought of you last week when I passed a London Plane tree which had all its branches cut off and was just left with a knobbly bald head. No wonder they have become so offensive!
b-a-g read my post..Back In My Garden (29 MAR 2012)
Are tree contractors ex sheep shearers? Nobbling such noble growth just as the sap rises – enough to make an arborophile an axe murderer
Oh, the Japanese Quince is beautiful, I love that the blooms turn more pink as they age. Our Trillium here do the same thing. I agree, Hellebores under the quince would be perfect!
Curbstone Valley Farm read my post..Hive Management: Splitting the Lavender Hive, and Rechecking Rosemary
if Trilliums blush with age, definintely would add these here too
Enjoyed your observations on plants (bemused by the lack of spines on the chaenomeles – could it be age related?) and Jack Russell behaviour in Russell Square and now off to listen to the ‘Rustle of Spring”.
could be age-related vision though I did a feel test too!
The Flowering Quince is impressive with its shifting colors. Great shadow shots–and how nice to have a song provided to brighten the mood, too!
PlantPostings read my post..The Roses at Louis Armstrong Park
- quite mild compared to your weather, Donna. Sinding’s rustle of Spring is probably the sound of melting ice – hope you can hear it too
- enjoyed the fun of shadow play in the park, Beth
You have captured spring so nicely…all the special surprises and blooms. The pooches are adorable.
The Sage Butterfly read my post..Earth Day Reading Project and Giveaway – 100th Post!
enjoy other people’s pooches
Love the Osmanthus! Must do some Google-swotting and find out more about them.
David read my post..Wordless Wednesday – Victoria Park Allotments
the quince is pretty Laura and I like the hazel filergree against the stunning blue sky, a lovely interlude in Russell square, Frances
Island Threads read my post..daffodils and narcissus
Spring flowers, shadows and scents. This is a miraculous time of the year Laura, but I agree about enjoying the umber colours of the trees as well as the new leaves.
Judith read my post..volcanic bees
Lovely photos of the Chaenomeles, a plant I adore, wish I had space for more than the one I already have in my garden. Did you get any rain this morning? What we got on this side of London was just a teaser, a few drops and that was it! And now the hosepipe ban has started…
Loved the music too, as a fellow Norwegian I know Christian Sinding well, this is probably his most famous piece of music.
Helene read my post..Bold colours in my garden
Sinding’s spring reminds me of full spated rivers with the thaw. Not enough raindrops to beat the ban here but half our water is wasted thorugh leaks
Sometimes I think Spring flowers are the most precious, because they are the first of the season. Long Winters just make me so anxious for “green and growing”!
Shyrlene read my post..Summer Before Spring? (The difference a "day" makes!)
- I know the drought is a southerner’s problem this year Frances – south of Yorkshire at least!
- love the umbers Judith especially when you paint them
- Shyrlene, winters seem even longer now I’m older