Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Morning Has Broken

Wednesday, March 30, 2011   Mark and Gaz   18 comments

"Morning has broken, like the first morning.."

This song never fails to play in my mind everytime I wander down the garden on fine spring days, seeing most plants springing back to life after a cold and dark season that is winter. It's actually an old Christian hymn but was popularised by Cat Stevens when he sang a version of it in 1971 and consequently became a hit single for him the following year. And it is his version that plays in my mind, year after year in the spring everytime I see all the new growth coming back in the garden, with the birds singing in the air, and crisp sunshine illuminating the place. It sounds a bit cheesy I know but hey, it does convey perfectly my personal feeling of joy everytime this wonderful season arrives.

One fine day, camera in hand. walking down the garden in the early morning just before going to work, I think and sing to myself, 'Morning has broken..'


Veratrum nigrum


Rheum palmatum 'Rubrum'


Ligularia przewalskii


A group of Heucheras, surrounded by Petasites frigidus var. palmatus


Cardiocrium giganteum


One of our numerous ground ferns about to unfurl new fronds


Syneilesis palmata


Arum maculatum (variegated)


Peltoboykinia watanabei



Aesculus parviflora


Ligularia 'The Rocket'


Daphniphyllum macropodum buds enlarging



Impatiens omeiana


Blechnum magellanicum about to throw out new fronds


Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Just a few of what's currently looking good in our garden. All of the plants I've featured have been in our garden for at least a year and have been through the past winter which was harsher than usual, making the sight of them even more welcome.

Morning has indeed broken, and it's just the beginning. It's going to be a beautiful year :-)

Mark

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18 comments :

  1. Unknown30 March 2011 at 23:24

    My pupils sang this in assembly this morning - originally written by Eleanor Farjeon in 1931 just four miles from my school, in a lovely village called Alfriston. Love the photo of the Podophyllum - looks like something out of Day of the Triffids!

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  2. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)31 March 2011 at 00:11

    You truly have the most magnificent collection of plants. There are always one or two or three plants that are completely new to me.

    I wish we could grow ligularias. I love their leaves and flowers but it's too hot here in the summer.

    Gerhard
    :: Bamboo and More ::

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  3. Alan31 March 2011 at 00:47

    I love the big-leaved plants, and it looks like you have a fair number of them. Rheum palmatum 'Rubrum' looks fantastic!

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  4. Hazel31 March 2011 at 03:27

    Looking at those plants would be enough to make anyone break into song! I am partial to, 'Oh what a beautiful morning' from Oaklahoma. But then i am a girl that likes a big number. would it be too much to ask for a video clip of you swinging down the path, with camera in hand, singing? :-)

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  5. Janine31 March 2011 at 05:49

    i love that song and all things cat. looks like many things are breaking in your garden! so fresh! it is going to be a great year!

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  6. b-a-g31 March 2011 at 06:11

    This morning your garden looks like a lush tropical rainforest.

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  7. Anonymous31 March 2011 at 11:35

    Spring has arrived with so much starting a new. Your tropical paradise is taking the stage.

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  8. One31 March 2011 at 15:29

    You seem to have many lush green plants now. I wonder what happens by Summer. Yeah! A tropical paradise, like what Donna says.

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  9. Kit Aerie-el31 March 2011 at 16:23

    Thanks for sharing the nice walk about your gardens! The Rheum is gorgeous, and 'Spotty Dotty' is so darn cute I've added it to my list of what to look for at upcoming plant sales.

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  10. danger garden31 March 2011 at 16:25

    What a smile inducing post! It's amazing how far your plants are ahead of mine here in Portland, Oregon...USA.

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  11. earlysnowdrop31 March 2011 at 18:08

    Love your plants. Wonderful shapes.

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  12. don31 March 2011 at 20:11

    Super stuff Lads. The thought of my neighbour singing "Morning has broken " early in the morning makes me shudder.

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  13. Andrea1 April 2011 at 02:29

    you have a lot of beautiful and unusual shapes and colors there. They will be more beautiful in 2wk to a months time. I will keep in tune! I love the shapes for unfurling fronds.

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  14. Janet/Plantaliscious1 April 2011 at 08:07

    I love visiting your blog, I always discover new plants - this time it was the wonderful leaves of the Veratrum nigrum that sent me off to google. Amazing flower spikes! Shame that you had to put that song in my head though, it is now whirling round and round, reminding me of school assemblies when I was 6/7. Not my favourite period, but I will forgive you because of the lovely photographs.

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  15. Sunray Gardens1 April 2011 at 21:23

    You've got some great plants coming up. My favorites are always the Heuchera. Started following you. Come on by my new blog when you have time.
    Cher
    Goldenray Yorkies

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  16. Noel Morata2 April 2011 at 17:26

    aloha,

    yes spring is coming just around the corner...for some reason i actually miss this renewal of perenials and seasonal plants coming up for spring...it just isn't the same in the tropics. btw, i'm going to marrakesh in may and i loved reading your post on the garden, did you see any other worthwhile gardens in morrocco?

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  17. Mark and Gaz3 April 2011 at 08:31

    Thanks Martin, Gerhard, and Alan! P. ‘Spotty Dotty’ is one of my favourite plants in the garden. It’s fourth year on the ground and the leaves get huge, last year over a foot in diameter.

    Gerhard, interesting to hear it’s too hot in your location for Ligularias, although they do wilt easily when it gets too warm.

    Alan, big leaved plants are essential in creating the jungle look. The Rheum took awhile to establish, but once it does it performs really well.

    Haha Hazel! Outside the bathroom I only sing in my mind, no videos I’m afraid :)

    Janine, it’s going to be a great year indeed!

    Thanks b-a-g, Donna, and One :-) Things get even bigger in the summer!

    Aerie-el, hopefully you’ll get one soon :-)

    Thanks Danger Garden! Maybe a couple of weeks of difference but once it arrives it becomes a flurry of activities in the garden.

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  18. Mark and Gaz3 April 2011 at 08:37

    Thanks earlysnowdrop, Don, Andrea! Don, tell your neighbour to sing in his mind if you do hear him singing out loud :-)

    Choice comment there Janet :-) Veratrum album is another one to look out for. Do shop around first if you intend to get some, some nurseries have high prices but they are available at reasonable prices. Glad you’ve forgiven me for reminding you of school assemblies, hehe!

    Thanks Cher and Noel! Cher, heucheras are lovely plants, comes in arrays of colours too, so much to choose from. Noel, I’ll get back to you later regarding gardens in Marrakech. There are a few but Majorelle is the best :-)

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