The beginning of the garden year.

 

In the border, a few plants are emerging or beginning to flower. This untidy, rather sparse patch of Bergenia cordifolia or 'Elephant's Ears'  provides any early pollinators with some nourishment. 

Nearby and often in the shade part of the border is this Fern, Unknown species but could be a Dryopteris sp.  New fronds will appear through the next few weeks.

Tucked into a little corner is this likely self-sown plant of Heuchera. It has interesting leaf shapes, which add to the bed's foliage effect.

The common Dandelion. Taraxacum. A complex, essential part of the spring border.
A wildflower I don't consider as a weed, this dandelion is given space in the corner, an important nectar/pollen plant for early bees.
It's a multi-subspecies plant that varies genetically, but is almost impossible to tell apart with the naked eye

A small mat of Golden Marjoram. Being in the shade, it loses its yellow tones and is more green than it could be. Intermingled are the runners of a wild Strawberry.

One of the self-sown Aquilegias, the Columbine or 'Grandma's Bonnets' A useful spring addition to the wildlife-friendly border

A new Honeysuckle that I haven't seen flower yet, hope it will this year. Next to a Hollyhock, it's biennial and will flower this summer.

One of two clumps of White Phlox. This flowered well last summer; the original plant came from my sisters garden. 

Alliaria petiolata

"Garlic Mustard, or 'Jack-by-the-hedge'.  A vital self-sown resident in the border; its heart-shaped leaves are the primary food source for the larvae of the Orange Tip butterfly. A small price to pay for the flash of orange spring garden. It also attracts other White butterflies, such as the Cabbage White and the Large White.

Pulmonaria officinalis

The Lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis, has spread itself around the garden in shady spots. A good pollinator plant, it often attracts the Hairy-footed flower bee. Yet to see any this year, it's early days.

The strong green shoots of the Pale blue Clematis are pulling themselves up the trunk of the Crabapple tree. It will need some extra tying on to prevent it from toppling over.

Forget-me-not Myosotis, has spread from the front garden to the back and formed a few small clumps.

Digitalis purpurea

Foxgloves, Digitalis, have been dotted around in spare gaps, these are hybrids, not the usual mauve ones, and they will flower later this Spring.

Moving to the other side of the garden, the East facing side

Prunus avium.

The buds of the fruiting cherry tree are swelling, soon to burst if the temperature stays mild.

Prunus Domestica Victoria

Here, the Victoria Plum buds are also beginning to break. Tiny steps into spring flowering time.

Ilex aquifolium

The deep green glossy leaves of a non-spiky Holly

.Honesty and Foxglove in juxtaposition, what will flower first?

The serrated leaves of Geranium 'Wargrave Pink'

"The Tete-a-tete Narcissi in containers. A practical way to have spring colour without the mess of fading foliage in the borders later on. We might not be at Monty Don's standards, but the bees don't seem to mind!"

The Crocuses were out, and all finished much too quickly, they're good while they last