Tend&Grow

Heucherella ‘Kimono’ (Heuchera x Tiarella) as a pot plant. Naturalised in grass; Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), and lastly celebrating Tulips.

Of all the spring flowers Tulips are still undoubtedly the special ones and now so varied in form that some require a closer look to check it’s not mistake identity. This selection from a single garden in the first week of May as the tulips’ display is enhanced by the lush growth of Spring.

Quite a good pairing in that they flower together but are in contrast in most other aspects. Neither of them are too vigorous – Clematis alpina will never swallow the tree as Clematis montana might and the Morello cherry is unlikely to shade out the Clematis – so in this sense one is not bothered by the other and a peaceful existence lived out. This is how you get a garden, by putting one character with another.

Heavier set than the native Hyacinthoides non-scripta the Spanish invader Hyacinthoides hispanica can cross with the native and produce viable offspring. Natural colour mutations of white and pink are sometimes seen in the Spanish which is by far the more common garden occupant.

This cherry makes an ideal small garden tree looking very fine at this time of year and again in summer when the fruit is ripe. Generally untidy in their growth habit and they only seem to become more untidy as a response to pruning so best left alone, with occasional thinning if necessary.

A compact and slightly more refined shrub than its popular half sister Choisya ternata and less prone to yellowing leaves. Still fragrant in flower and leaf which make it an ideal path side shrub as seen here. A second flowering is possible if pruned after the first flush of flowers has faded.

The crisp white simplicity of pear tree blossom is hard to beat. No sign of a pink tinge like in their soon to flower cousin the apple tree. In that regard Pears have a fresh coolness in their blossom that apples find hard to achieve.

In a good year for spring blossom, such as it is turning out to be, this tree is absolutely stunning to behold. Crab apples are a popular choice of small garden tree and this cultivar is exceptional. Crab apples have several good qualities but one particular to ‘Prairifire’, apart from the quality of its blossom, is the blue grey hue to the one year old growth in winter. If this tree was in my garden I would leave winter pruning until just after the blossom has faded and skip any temptation to summer prune altogether.

Euphorbia epithymoides, a dazzling herbaceous ground cover spurge, like most of the euphorbias is well behaved and problem free. Sweet violet, Viola odorata, a diminutive scented native, infamous for stealing your sense of smell. Lastly Acer palmatum cultivars, especially graceful as they come into leaf.

Sloe, aka Blackthorn, in blossom 3rd week of April (UK). Seen here naturalised in scrub on the edge of park land. Return in September to forage the berries.