Wise words from the great David Hockney this week. The Bradford-born artist, who is currently self-isolating at his home in Normandy, unveiled a new picture of daffodils to cheer spirits with the message ‘Do remember they can’t cancel the Spring.’
I am sure many of us SOSers are taking comfort in the new growth in our gardens at the moment. I certainly am as I join in with The Propagator who invites us to feature six things from our garden each week.
1. Clematis armandii
Wild and wonderful this Spring-flowering clematis is just outside our sitting room window. It is at its peak right now with masses of starry white flowers.
2. Escallonia
We have an enormous Escallonia in our front garden. However much I cut it back it returns with a vengeance. It’s little dark pink flowers which arrived this week are quite pretty so I will give it a reprieve.
3. Grape hyacinths
The Muscari armeniacii have arrived like rows of tiny blue soldiers. Spot the Give Way sign in the background.
4. First tulip
We are lucky that because we are on chalk tulips come up again year after year. I think this is a ‘Purple Prince’ or possibly a ‘Purple Flag’ from Peter Nyssen, planted about three years ago.
5. Cherry blossom
This week our little cherry tree has burst into blossom to remind us that life goes on.
6. James Guinea Pig
Last week I reported on the sad news that our guinea pig Nibbles had to be put down. While we can’t replace her we didn’t want her sister Gracie to be lonely, so we have adopted a new guinea pig, James, from the RSPCA to keep her company. It has cheered up the children and given them something other than indefinite school closures to think about!
Take care everyone and stay well. With our gardens and one another we can come through this.
Carrots and Calendula 
I love armandii! And I like the Hockney comment and the reality that life will go on, regardless
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Superb colour of your Escallonia ! I’m still waiting for mine.
Is the Give Way sign in your garden? 🧐😁
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No it’s on the road outside!
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I thought you added a sign in your garden for fun (and maybe useful for visitors?)😂
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Like Fred I love the escallonia colour. It is one on those front garden plants that we see around but I think it’s such a good colour I might even add it to the wish list. Lots of lovely colours in your post this week, the tulips are enticingly close to flowering. I can’t wait
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I have an escallonia too……it will, not be tamed. I cut it back and it looks dreadful, but then those pretty flowers earn it a reprieve just like yours. I hope James settles in and gets on well with Gracie. That’s a good positive Six-on-Saturday – just what we all need.
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Could I be in love with a guinea pig? I used to look after a neighbour’s guinea pig looking just like James. After that each time I went out my back door, even though he could not see me, he would squeal with delight. Yes we must appreciate the natural beauty of spring…thanks for sharing the quote and your lovely pictures.
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I think I’m in love with James. Apparently he was ‘unwanted’ by his last owners but we can’t imagine how!
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How sweet of you to adopt another pig for your one. We have one left, but she was always the odd one out in her family, so we aren’t going to get another. She’s old now.
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A pretty start to the tulips. A few of mine almost there now. The circle around the tree looks nice for the daffs.
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Your garden is looking so spring-like in the sunshine! That armandii is very big! I’m kind of glad the one I planted died as it would have been far too big for my garden. James is very sweet, but I hope Gracie is past the age of reproduction or you may end up with more than you want!
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He has been neutered although they have to stay in separate cages until 6 April – we have put them side by side!
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They’ll be able to squeak at each other 😊
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That’s a lovely spring selection from your garden. Thanks for mentioning the David Hockney message too. I’d missed it and it seems very apt and cheering.
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Lovely! it looks so green there and the Armandi is gorgeous.
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Oh I will have to look that Hockney painting up. Thanks for opening with that.
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Escallonia is interesting. It is not what I think of as escallonia. Those that I know used to be too common, although they are not so much anymore. Yours looks so much more airy, which would make the bloom more visible than it is on the dense shrubbery that I am familiar with.
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Escallonia is interesting. It is not what I think of as escallonia. Those that I know used to be too common, although they are not so much anymore. Yours looks so much more airy, which would make the bloom more visible than it is on the dense shrubbery that I am familiar with.
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