Early Spring (or not)

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Poirot

Its a mirracle really as it was planted in summer 2006!! and is still going strong. It is even flowering at the moment!!!

I missed the snow on it last year, i really hope it snows so i can take a photo and be able to show two completely opposite climates together.

Some are really hardy though.

[Susie]

There is a palm and a yukka in my neighbours' garden which has been growing there for a long time and we had snow last year, I think some of these plants can be very hardy.

[Poirot]

It must be to survive the frosts we have had (some have been quite hard)

[Dan Salter]

Chop it down...tropical nonsense.

[Jez]

First week in April last year absolutely hossed it down, then we had three weeks of sunshine so much so that it was scorching the grass. Will be interesting to see what we get this April!

[Dan Salter]

Just a note, im seeing lots of bluebells in bloom in my area now (including a white one in my garden) and cuckoo flower everywhere. as well as chiffchaff and blackcaps, and peacock butterlies.

[Poirot]

today the sliver birch buds have opened, sycamore and hawthorn, I ve seen one bluebell flower just opened and all the brambles have leaves openning. I heared a Coal Tit the other day and i had a Pied Wagtail in my garden

[Cheryl]

Well I hate to say it but I squished my first lily beetle today - couldn't believe it when I saw it on my tub of lilies which are only about an inch high - normally I'm picking the beetles off when the plants are in bud

On a happier note I saw my first bluebells today - I went on a walk I did a week ago when I saw the saw the bluebell plants but no buds peeking through but today there were quite a few in bloom - what a difference a week makes - it put a smile on my face.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Cheryl

Well I hate to say it but I squished my first lily beetle today - couldn't believe it when I saw it on my tub of lilies which are only about an inch high - normally I'm picking the beetles off when the plants are in bud

On a happier note I saw my first bluebells today - I went on a walk I did a week ago when I saw the saw the bluebell plants but no buds peeking through but today there were quite a few in bloom - what a difference a week makes - it put a smile on my face.

Whats a lily beetle? are they harmful to the plant or something?...and do you mean waterlillies?

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Whats a lily beetle? are they harmful to the plant or something?...and do you mean waterlillies?

Nasty red beetles. Decimated my lillies two years ago, so much so that I've given up on lillies now. They are partial to fritillaries too, but I aint giving up on the ol' snakesheads, they are just too darn nice. Fight the good fight I shall.

Regards, Chris