I’m visiting my greenhouse very often. I have the time to go there several times a day now and I open vents, close them, shade the plants and open them to the light again. Greenhouse primping is good for the soul.
This week the greenhouse got more than a primp. It got an all over body-scrub – the annual greenhouse clean. This was a major operation with everything moved out, glass sponged down inside and out with detergent and then pressure-washed all over. It’s now sparkling clean and it seems so bright and pleasant inside despite the lingering scent of Jeyes fluid.
Now for the perfect pick-me-up, a peek at some lovely spring flowers. These are the ones that are cheering me up at the moment.
Primula Auricula
I have three auriculas and one has failed to flower – I’m loving this pretty purple single one and a frilly double one though.
Sadly, neither of these are named as they were garden centre purchases with one of those bland labels that just said ‘primula auricula’. Helpful.
I really like their farina. Farina – flour in latin – is the white powdery substance that can be found on the leaves and inners of the flowers. Growing these in the sand box really helps to preserve the farina, as I water the sand not the pots or plants. Overhead watering is sure to knock the farina off.
I’d like more of these and saw on twitter a post from Abriachan nursery in Scotland. They are doing a pot luck selection of 10 auriculas and I couldn’t resist. I’ll be sure to share them with you all when they arrive and it’s a reminder that smaller nurseries selling exquisite plants can deliver colour to the garden despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Fritillaria assyriaca
I bought several bulbs of this beautiful fritillary at the Alpine Garden Society bulb day last autumn. I didn’t really know what I was buying but Potterton’s nursery stand is so tempting I usually buy a few little things I’ve never heard of. This is one I’m just so happy I chose. Each flower head has plum tart and custard colouring with a silvery sheen.
These don’t need to be in the greenhouse so I only put them in there to bring them along in time for the Alpine Garden Society local branch show, which would have been yesterday. The show is cancelled of course so this stunning pot is now on a table outside.
Fritillaria persica
Another purchase from the Alpine Garden Society bulb day. Unlike most fritillary bulbs these were big meaty ones – bigger than tulip bulbs, so I was expecting big plants and just look – these are stunning! Again, these have silvery sheened plummy flowers. I’m not sure these are quite open yet as the flowers should be more bell shaped.
Again, these aren’t in the greenhouse but just outside, next to the steamer chairs my family bought me for my birthday in February.
Unknown Ipheion
This is one of a selection of bulbs I was given by my local Alpine Garden Society branch to grow in competition for yesterday’s now cancelled spring show. This is the only one that flowered in time although the others are a few days away. This is a stunning blue flower, about the size of a 50 pence piece.
Lewisia tweedyi ‘Lemon Form’
Regular readers of this blog will know I like flowers with the colour-way of Battenburg cake. Here’s another one – a very pretty star shaped flower. No lewisias like cold wet weather but this one really does need to be kept in a cold greenhouse or alpine house. I’m growing this it, together with a brighter pink ‘Rosea’ variety in my sand box. They are very pretty and I hope I can keep them going.
Pelargoniums
I’ve written before about my collection of potted pelargoniums, which sit in the bright porch area of the greenhouse. This week, after cleaning the glass, I gave each one a little tidy up, pulling off withered leaves and pruning them for more flowers in the summer. I couldn’t help myself and decided to grow some of the prunings as cuttings. There are quite a few of them! I was hoping to open my garden this summer for the hospice charity I volunteer for but Covid-19 has put paid to that. I’m hoping I’ll be able to run a charity plant sale instead, if restrictions ease, and these pellies should be popular. I’m hoping many of them will root.
Meanwhile, pelargonium ardens is flowering well. This one is cosseted in the heated section of my greenhouse, although it’s rarely heated now. The flowers just seem to glow, something to do with the cardinal’s robe edging to the deeper burgundy centres. 
This seasonal diary is part of a weekly link-up of garden bloggers from around the world, called Six on Saturday. For more information and links to other blogs crammed with gardening activity, check the blog of host The Propagator.
Lots of lovely flowers there, especially the vibrant pelargonium ardens. A garden is a wonderful thing at the best of times but at the moment it’s even more special. Thank goodness for social media and blogs that allow us to have a wander around other people’s gardens too.
I agree Graeme, it’s been great to see so much gardening activity online. I did a talk to my local hort soc last autumn all about gardening online – what you can learn from blogs, the benefits of social media, and how to buy plants online. There were a few blank faces amongst the older members but I’m secretly hoping they’re all online now enjoying everyone’s gardens as well as their own.
Fabulous photos! Love the auricula, I have one outside, in a pot, which I hope will consider flowering in the near future. The pelargonium is a wonder. I think you would have got first prize with that fritillery, I award you a rosette. Stay well and safe 🙂
Thanks Gill, I don’t know how the prizes work at my local AGS show and would have been very nervous entering. The lock-down was a relief in some ways and I can just enjoy the plants for what they are. Equally, entering shows is a great learning process and my local group very supportive. Next year I will definitely have a go!
Love the Fritillaries
And the range of colours
I also have Auricular and Ipheion
How are your Anemones. Beautiful in the surrounding woods at the moment?
🤞for Reality tour come Autumn
Hi Felicity, my wood anemones have lots of leaves but no flowers. I’m very disappointed but they’re not dead so maybe next year…
What a lovely selection, beautifully photographed and I am very envious of your greenhouse! Your Primula auricula are perfectly sweet.
I still can’t quite believe I have such an amazing greenhouse. I was able to build it after my father died and left me some money. He would have approved of me splashing the cash this way as he loved gardening and his greenhouse in particular.
Wow what beautiful photos! I love both your Fritillarias – I’ve grown several varieties outside here and am very fond of F. persica. Sadly, they don’t really like the conditions as much as I like them, and generally fail to bloom year to year, eventually petering out.
These are first year frits for me so I will need to think how I grow them on. I could keep them in pots or work out if I have a spot in the garden that would suit them. Time to do some research I think!
The sun is shining, the light bright, what more could alpines and geraniums wish for? Like Gill I award you the rossette.
Thanks Noelle, I’ll wear my rosette with pride!
I have visited mine all the day with this beautiful weather… So many things to do like you… One difference, you seem to have room to store different kind of plants seeing the first picture. ( shade, sun…) Very nice selection this week ; a gorgeous auricula , a wonderful ipheon and this eye-catching red of the pelargonium : great Six as always.
Thanks Fred. Yes, the greenhouse does have some shady areas where I can put ferns and streptocarpus. These are mainly under the benches and essentially north facing as the greenhouse faces south. I’m off to visit your blog now to see what you’ve been up to…
Gorgeous photos of some unusual plants. I have a couple of Auricula which are producing flower buds. I’m not quite sure where I should put them now – sun or shade? And my ardens has survived the winter, but still very small and no flowers, but I agree the flowers are stunning.
Funny you should ask about the auriculas as I was reading up on them. They like cool (so I need to move mine out of the greenhouse on these warm days..) but not wet so need some shelter. That’s why people build those auricula theatres so they have a roof but good air circulation. If I had any DIY skills at all I”d try and make something. Why did they teach me sewing at school but not woodwork???
I love the smell of Jeyes fluid in the greenhouse – it’s such a clean smell! I cleaned mine a few weeks ago (and know what you mean when you say it’s a major operation) so that fresh smell has gone now.
The Fritillaria assyriaca is so unusual and rather charming. Not only are the heads delicate and unusual, but the leaves are also graceful and elegant.
Good luck with your pelargoniums, I hope you’re able to host a charity sale – they will definitely be popular. Pelargonium ardens is beautiful.
Hi Catherine – yes the Jeyes smell is the epitome of clean! I’m very sad about not being able to open my garden for charity and just hoping I can pull off a sale later this year. As you say the pelargonium cuttings should be popular as they are some good varieties, not just basic ones.
You’ve got some really great results in the garden, which I suspect would’ve come along w/o the lock down. Those various fritillaria are so interesting. Really love the Lemon Form, in both shape & colour. Everything’s so neat & tidy! It must feel wonderfully rewarding.
Hi Lora, it does all feel very rewarding but the thing is the plants look fab in an untidy greenhouse as much as a tidy one if you look close enough! It was a good experience doing the deep clean as I took every plant out, repotted a few and saw what was doing well and where the slugs were hiding! I’m writing this SUnday and the Lemon Form is looking even better today. Enjoy your garden.
I was very interested in the unusual fritillaria. I’d been looking at them in a bulb catalogue, but seeing them in your post is much more informative. They are very nice. I read your reply to Jude about how to look after auricula. Do you repot yours?
Hi Hortus, I do repot the auriculas every now and again but I don’t have a regime for this. Just when I think they might need it! They do multiply in a pot and get crowded so I when this happens I repot the parent and pull off the sports to repot on to give away.
lots of lovely plants there Katherine. I like the pot by your steamer chairs (also fab), and I really like the pellie. it would have been rude not to take cuttings. I should get some upper crust pelargoniums, I usually get a tray of the distinctly proletariat basic pellies from the garden centre. they are jolly enough but something more unusual would be nice.
I think you’d love some of the special pellies and they’re easily overwintered in a frost free greenhouse, porch or cool windowsill. I’m hoping my cuttings take – they’re looking OK so far. If they do I could post one to you!
Where do I start. Lewisia Tweedyi Lemon Form is stunning and I want! I am not a fan of fritillary but you maybe having seen those photo’s I may have to review that. I am in awe of your greenhouse and I am going to move in!
Hi Paul, there’s a deckchair in there too! I’m loving the Lemon Form. It’s looking even better now – I must try and photograph it tomorrow.