Peter Dowdall: Spring has sprung in our gardens
Signs of the new season: Flowers are announcing their presence, poking their heads up through a hard frost or a light dusting of snow. File picture
Whether you prefer to refer to February as late winter or spring, whatâs for sure is that some of the days can be deceptive. Those frosty mornings give way to bright afternoons, only for the chill to return by evening. Itâs on these so-called "pet days", those brief spells of warmth and light, that it is truly magical to be out in the garden.
The few months from October to now are relatively quiet in the garden. Thatâs not to say that there isnât lots to do, for there is, but growth has stopped and we can take stock of the situation and get all the jobs done in preparation for the next season. Thatâs all about to change as the seasons move on.
Every year, right around this time, I find myself gazing out the window with a renewed sense of hope and expectation. The days are a little longer, the sun a little stronger, and perhaps most telling of all, small spears of green start pushing bravely through the cold soil.
What was, in my own garden, a few short weeks ago, a dark brown covering of bark mulch upon soil has transformed into a profusion of green shoots as soon we will be treated to the annual display of spring blooms. Last weekend I noticed the first of my crocuses open into flower and by now, there are dozens in bloom, this is how quickly it changes at this time of year.
Once more we begin to board the Garden Express as we hurtle through the spring and summer months. Now is the time that the work done last autumn in planting masses of spring bulbs begins to pay floral dividends as they really come into their own.
A little warmth encourages the flowers to open, their petals stretching out to make the most of the sunshine. These moments donât last long, but theyâre worth noticing. Is there anything more optimistic than an Irish gardener as even if the next day brings grey skies or rain, the memory of that sunshine lingers, along with the promise of more to come?
On one of these brighter days, take a closer look at how the sunlight plays on the flowers. These Crocus in my garden almost seem to glow when the light catches the markings inside its petals. The rich blue of grape hyacinths, muscari, which are also beginning to open, becomes more intense in the afternoon sun.
The late winter sun, pale though it might be, casts a, nearly white, light on these earliest blooms, crocus, muscari, and even a few wild primroses beginning to appear.
Though there are earlier-flowering bulbs such as winter aconite and snowdrops, crocus are one of the first in most gardens to announce the springtime. The way their petals open to cup the sunlight, to embrace it, itâs as if they are mini solar panels, turning their faces to the sky to soak up every precious ray.
Youâll find them peeping through grass lawns, poking their heads up through a hard frost or a light dusting of snow.
Iris reticulata deserves a special mention too. Though not as early a riser as crocus, mine are well up now but not in flower yet. Their delicately and intricately marked petals in vibrant shades of violet, blue and purple, often with a bright yellow flash along the falls are breathtakingly beautiful like horticultural fine art and itâs no wonder that they are a beloved subject of botanical artists.
When planted in clusters, Iris reticulata provides little pools of colour that seem positively electrified on the âpet daysâ of bright sunshine and blue skies during early spring.
Bulbs arenât the only stars of the garden show right now, another cast of characters is getting ready for its moment in the spotlight. Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten rose, begins unfurling its elegant, nodding blooms in shades of white, pink, burgundy, yellow and green.
They produce their blooms on top of stems from ground level which can often be lost in amongst the foliage. For this reason, I recommend removing all the foliage during the winter to allow a perfect view of the flowers. This will also help to rejuvenate the plant.
Because their blooms are normally nodding and facing the ground, itâs a good idea, where possible to grow these in a raised bed or similarly elevated so that you can look at the blooms at eye level.
Because it is only when you stop to admire that you see all the magical details in each blossom. Subtle and not-so-subtle markings on the petals are mixed with different flower forms and such exquisite detail.
The wild primrose with its pale yellow flowers and unmistakable leaves, is one of the simplest and prettiest flowers of the spring.
Nowadays, there are countless cultivated forms in shades of purples, reds, blues, and magentas but for me, none can beat the simplicity and beauty of the wild form, not to mention that the wild, Primula vulagris also plays an important ecological role having coexisted and adapted alongside other species in Ireland for centuries.
