Spring has (finally) sprung!

Hardy Cyclamen

Above are the first bits of colour we saw this spring. They are corms as opposed to bulbs and pop up above the leaf litter early on. As well as the flash of much-needed colour at this time of year, they have interesting foliage, which resurfaces in the late fall.

Snowdrops

Aptly named, because they are often up while there is still snow on the ground.  They don't last long, but are a sight for sore eyes, especially after a long, cold winter.

Crocus

They always remind me of Easter, but I love how they open and close with the sun, and how they attract swarms of the first pollinators.

Scilla and friend

These always look much more dramatic when they are in groups and I particularly like them when they cover a lawn.  Blue is a rare colour, botanically, and it contrasts beautifully with the bright green leaves.

Heath and Cypress

We have a large patch of Heath in the front garden, and in amongst it is a small, shrub-like Cypress that provides a lot of interesting colour and texture contrast.  It also gets swarmed with bees, a sure sign of summer's approach.

Aconite

A Buttercup-bright yellow flower, above an umbrella-like stem and leaves, which are brilliant compared the greys and browns of the leaf litter, through which they emerge.

Hellebore

Aka Christmas Rose, Winter Rose and Lenten Rose, however they are not roses at all, but rather, evergreen perennial shrubs. They take time to get going, but are worth the wait.

Unknown bulbs

We have two small clumps of these in the front garden, and although we don't know what they are called, they are an incredible mauve colour.

Iris

Not the big kind that flower later in the summer, these are short, early-blooming and don't last long.