Daffodils and Tulips

Spring has been a long time coming, but finally there is a reason to take photographs!

 

A final bit of Spring Planning

One of the fun things about spring bulbs is that you get to start the gardening season with a fresh color  scheme that does not necessarily have to relate directly to the bulk of annuals and perennials that follow. That makes color choice a bit liberating. 

Do you have a favourite color scheme when it comes to spring bulbs?

I can never seem to limit myself to just one! It just seems to leave so much unsaid.

Traditionally at the front of the house, I have always had yellow daffodils and red tulips. Then two years ago voles destroyed most of my collection of bulbs in this part of the garden. This fall I need to rebuild it. 

Here was my initial inspiration: 

Edwards Gardens in Toronto

Tulipa 'Cayenne' and black-colored Tulipa, 'Queen of the Night'

I also really liked this combination that I saw at Edwards Gardens. Now I am wondering if this might actually work better with our house's burgundy shutters. 

Adding to my movement in this general direction is the fact that I spotted some very affordable Queen of the Night tulips at the local grocery store. Hmm...should I change my original thinking and re-create this look instead?

The private fenced backyard means that I feel free to change my color scheme up a bit. 

Just inside the gate there is a little courtyard that is my favourite part of the garden. The area is fairly shaded, so I am thinking of putting the snowdrops I ordered in here and adding in white daffodils and tulips. 

What do you think? 

Will the change be a nice surprise or a shock in comparison with the brights in the front garden?

In the main area of the back garden, I have pink hyacinths and tulips, and white and yellow daffodils.

David Tomlinson's garden Merlin's Hollow

One spring flower I hope to add into this part of the garden is Iris Bucharica, which I have admired in David Tomlinson's garden. In my opinion, Iris Bucharica are more impressive and showy than more common Iris Reticulata.

Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'

One last item on my wish list for this part of the garden. Aren't these delicate white bells pretty?

 

In the very back part of the garden, (which is again separated from the main area of the garden with a fence) I have introduced a deep mauve into the existing planting scheme.

If I have any money left, I would like to add a few of these delicate Fritillaria and....

maybe a few yellow Erythronium. Erythronium like dappled shade and I have shade in abundance in this part of the garden.

Now I just have to plant them all...I guess I am going to be busy!

Pretty Spring Combinations

To brighten the start of your week, I have pretty spring combinations. 

These were all taken at Edwards Gardens in Toronto, ON.

Crabapple blossoms + a butterfly.

Red and white tulip with a flash of green, Tulipa 'Flaming Spring Green' +

Pink and green tulip, Tulipa 'Nightrider'

The colors yellow + green

Oregon Grape, Manonia aquifolium

Red tulip, Tulipa 'Burgundy' +

Red and yellow tulip, Tulipa 'Tinka'

The colors lemon yellow + white (Apologies I couldn't find an I.D. on this narcissus)

Update:Thank you Karen and Pauline, I think that you are both right and this is Narcissus 'Pipit'.

White Narcissus 'Thalia' with a white understory of ...

White wood anemone

Blue Creeping Phlox + Blue Veronica

Narcissus 'Golden Echo' +

 Shorter pink and cream tulip, Tulipa 'Innuendo' +

Pink with a yellow blush at the base of the flower, Tulipa 'Tom Pounce'

Crabapple + a ladybird

Burgundy and yellow tulip, Tulipa 'Cayenne' +

Black/Burgundy tulip, 'Queen of the Night'

Cream + Pale Peach color (sorry, I also couldn't find an I.D for this one)

Barberry + an understory of Stonecrop, Sedum rupertre 'Angelina'

Yellow + Red = Classic Spring Combination

Tulip + a butterfly

 Red and white tulip with a flash of green, Tulipa 'Flaming Spring Green'

Happy Spring to you!