At long, long last, spring has sprung in this East Kent seaside garden. Alliums have slowly released their many hundred stamens, and are being hungrily fed on by bees of all sizes. The poppies are breaking free of their sheaths, revealing silk-like purple and red blooms beneath.
One of our latest acquisitions, which I have named a Roo Roo (but I believe is related to the Rhubarb, but thinks it is a Ghunera) is growing bigger than I ever expected. I am hoping that it will provide some shelter for our wildlife barrel of water, so that frogs re-visit to shelter, sunbathe and spawn. Having visited Chelsea Flower Show this year, one of the most striking features for me was the splashes of orange, mainly in the form of Geum. This is reflected in the fashion for the season which appears to be nautical with a flash of orange. 
To reflect this fashionable edge we have introduced some Welsh Poppies alongside our Stipa Tenuissima which amazingly has overwintered and is looking in fine-feckle.
I am so looking forward to the breaking forth of our frilly edged red, purple and pink poppies. Each flower is short lived, only lasting a week or even less if deluged, but the sumptuous pleasure that they bring is so well worth it.
