FLOWERING LATE.

32 comments

You may have seen my beautiful large blue pot before – it’s a bit of a focal point in my garden!

I chose the Tulips and Narcissi for the ‘spring show’ carefully – they had to ‘go’ together, bloom at the same time, be about the same height, and they also had to flower early, so that I’d have time to replant the pot ready for the open days in June.

I had decided on a colour scheme of orange and white, with an underplanting of bright mauve.

Narcissus ‘Parisienne’….

…and Tulipa ‘Orange Emperor’…

…with Primula ‘Usambra’.

But although I enjoyed the sight of the pot with its bright colours, the bulbs were about a month late in flowering. They should have flowered in late March into April, but there were still some Narcissi looking respectable last week – in May! I couldn’t leave it any longer. Nobody would want to see a pot of dying leaves, would they?

Not a beautiful sight….

Taking bulbs out of this pot is not something I look forward to. I have to spread out a plastic sheet on the grass, loosen the compost with my trowel, and then tip the pot over and heave out the bulbs one by one – getting covered in compost of course!

At last – an empty pot. It takes two trug loads of compost to re-fill it!

Next problem…I’ve been growing plug-plants for this pot, in shades of blue. They were all late arriving, as well – and they’re far too small to plant out into the pot. So – off I went on a shopping expedition at the weekend, to buy some larger plants.

The colour scheme had to change, of course, but I enjoyed choosing plants to create a new ‘picture’.

I got a pretty pink Osteospermum…

…some mauve and white Nemesia,

..and purple Surfinias.

At least the plug-plant Scopias had flowered in the greenhouse and could be added to trail over the edge of the pot.

I placed all the plants, still in their pots, to make sure that I’d got the balance right before I planted them.

And here’s the result! A pot for the summer…and OH walked past and noticed!

17 May, 2010
18 likes

Comments

Joanella

beautiful Spritz,and i mean both pots looked gorgeous..must be if OH noticed lol..

17 May, 2010

Lincslass

That is a lovely combination Spritz.......

17 May, 2010

Ian_digs_v2

What a joy to see after struggling with my ...... Errr, can I call it a garden yet? Well no but the grass is receding! Lol
It is beautiful Spritz and I'm sure your whole garden will be a joy to see on your open day!

17 May, 2010

Neellan

Beautiful combination and lovely pot :o)

17 May, 2010

Hywel

Who wouldn't notice. It's beautiful :o) I love the gentle colour scheme. It's perfect for draw people's attention on your open day - so relaxing, and matches the colour of the pot well too.

18 May, 2010

Sandra

looks great spritz..im just a sucker for the osteospurmums....

18 May, 2010

Spritzhenry

Thanks, all - it's encouraging for me that you all approve! :-)))

18 May, 2010

Annella

Lovely colours, very pretty planting looks good with the blue pot :-))

18 May, 2010

Oddbillie

Both looked fabulous and something must be afoot if OH even noticed the change!!

Love Osteospermums and have the pink ones again this year myself.

Very nice Spritz!

18 May, 2010

Spritzhenry

Thanks - I have to admit to a soft spot for them!

Glad you like the new colours, Annella. :-))

18 May, 2010

Karensusan63

That's absolutely beautiful B! The colours are heavenly and it all looks just perfectly balanced and even all around. Well done! This will look gorgeous in two weeks............!!! i'm even starting to get jitters for you!

18 May, 2010

Amy

For one horrible moment when I started to read I thought you were going to tell us that the pot had broken ..phew ! what a relief to see it intact and full of beautiful flowers and such a lovely colour combination :o))

18 May, 2010