There is no doubt that Spring has arrived. The signs are everywhere.
Helleborus Orientalis
Back in popularity, the Lenten rose is a must-have plant. I love it's unassuming nature and staggering variety of colours - ranging from immaculate white to virtually black, as well as every shade in between through pinks, purples, clarets, yellows and greens. Hellebores hang their heads demurely, and one can't resist gently turning up their flower heads to appreciate the individual subtleties. I like to plant them under deciduous trees, combining the pinks and clarets colours with Pulmonaria.
Pulmonaria
Grown for their early flowers in late Winter and early Spring, they are among the first perennial blooms. But their all too often overlooked hairy leaves with attractive silver spots, come into their own once the flowers have finished. Grow in woodland among shrubs in a humus-rich, moist soil.
Magnolia x loebneri
I can't help feeling every garden should have a magnolia at this time of year. There are so many to choose from, no matter what your taste. But I prefer the delicacy of Magnolia Loebneri and stellata. These small, slender branched deciduous trees are perfect fits for modern and traditional schemes. The star shaped flowers, with slender white petals suffused with lilac edges are produced before the leaves emerge. They need an acid to neutral soil, but the smaller varieties do well in pots.
Anemone blanda
These cheerful plants bring a a smile to my face. The daisy shaped flowers appear in early spring over deeply dissected or toothed green leaves. Plant them amongst other ground cover plants in humus-rich soil in partial shade.
