In the bottom golden rockery, taking over from the crocus are Tete a Tete dwarf daffodils, blue Scilla sibirica, Bowles gold grass, creamy green Chartreuse Primulas and dark purple 'Victorian Mauve' Primulas.(See new photo Bed 3 in my Interactive Garden) Above the buds of Clematis macropetala scrambling over the apple tree promises a treat to come.

The raised beds around the pergola catch enough light at this time of year to support spring flowers - mauve Primula denticulata and mauve primula 'Genevieve', cream Wanda primulas, silver-leaved Lamium, blue grape hyacyths against a background of Euonymous 'Silver Queen', white violets under the emerging Trillium sessile (Wake Robin) now managing 5 stems and white perennial Candytuft tumbling down the wall. The honeysuckle has a spurt of new growth forming curtains around the wooden structures. I am so glad I didn't rip it out as intended last autumn! I love these beds at this time of the year before the mature trees have leaved.

The Courtyard outside the kitchen door is good for spring flowers. After the snowdrops, I have magenta and white primulas with a variety of Hellebores, in particular is a dark marroon Lenten type which looks spectacular when the light illuminates the edges of the flowers. The Viburnum has now gone and a Juniperus chinesis pyramidalis planted in its place, surrounded by the primulas. A new hedge plant Griselinia littoralis is in place with apple green leaves, contrasting with the dark Pyracantha. This shrub is used a lot in coastal areas - also in many gardens in the Astbury Mere estate where I first spotted it. The Magnolia stellata has performed well again this year, it's starry white flowers contrasted with the purple primualas at it's base. The buds of the early Clematis armandii on the kitchen bed fence overlooking the courtyard have taken a long time to open due to the cold windy weather towards the end of the month and I feel I have been robbed of it's gorgeous almond scent frequently walking into the patio.

I must tell you about the mature Canadian Maple tree at the entrance to the Council garage area onto which my tiny front garden faces. In March it has a fresh green mantle, not of leaves but flowers These are followed by nicely shaped leaves which turn vivid orange and red in Autumn, how I imagine the trees in New England would be. I have never had the good fortune to be there at that time. A few years ago there used to be 2 such trees flanking the entrance to the garage area, but one was cut down much to my chagrin. It is rumoured that an elderly neighbour complained about the leaves and the Council thought it was a self seeded Sycamore! Then I complained and as a result we did get some new landscaping, including a standard ornamental Hawthorn.