This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Monday 26 March 2012

Busy Bees

It's been warm and sunny (20C / 70F) at the weekend - the bees are enjoying the heather in the garden.
Above and below: Heather (seems to flower for months and months).

What a beauty! I had to share... photos of a beautiful Magnolia Dawsoniana tree. Photos taken at Rowallane National Trust Garden (not in my garden) at the weekend.
Spring is wonderful!

16 comments:

  1. Yes, spring is wonderful indeed!

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  2. Hi Kelli, I had a bee around the plot all afternoon but could not get a photo of it!It was investigating the lavender plants which are only putting on green leaves at the moment, he must have been around last year and remembered the flowers!
    It is great to see the cordyline making a recovery after the snows,although it will be some years before it is as big as it was!

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  3. I don't have any heathers, but I think that might have to change. They look lovely in bloom, and they attract the bees too. You've inspired me to get some.

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  4. Bet you wished that the Magnolias WERE in your garden!

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  5. Oh, that magnolia is absolutely beautiful! I've never seen a magnolia like that one. It's really gorgeous. Love your little bee friends, too. It's so funny to watch them - they really get into their work and ignore everything else!

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  6. Oh those creamy pinks are so beautiful. In response to you last comment that you left me. I do not attribute our weather to climate change at all. We are under the effects of La Nina, a weather pattern that comes from the Pacific off the coast of Mexico. During a La Nina year, the mountains get unusual amounts of snow and the plains get less moisture and more cold and wind. We always have wind in the spring, but usually more moisture. We are located on the plains once referred to as the Great American Desert. Who knows what next year will bring, or even next month. We all want to grow English gardens here, but it really is a bit dry, but we keep trying.

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  7. What agorgeous blooms! Never seen amagnolia flower before! ;)
    Nice shot of photos!

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  8. The Heather is blooming here too, although I didn't notice if there were bees on it this weekend. What a beautiful Magnolia, I haven't seen any in bloom here yet.

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  9. I LOVE magnolias, and very happy to find a new garden blog. Cheers

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  10. What staggeringly beautiful photos Kelli. The colours are gorgeous.
    I'm looking to visiting you regularly so that you keep my soft, cosy, warm feelings going throughout my winter months. ;D

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  11. The magnolia is wonderful, such a gorgeous colour. I noticed a few bees around at the weekend too, the warm weather has brought them out of their slumber.

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  12. Hi Kelli, I really love your heather! No wonder the bees are buzzing around it! Good photo of the bee. That magnoila is beautiful, too. That tree was loaded with blooms. Happy Spring!

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  13. What a beautiful magnolia variety - my garden is too small for one unfortunately.

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  14. I think you should add a magnolia like that in your own garden, it is a beauty beyond measure!

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  15. Your heather is so full. Do you do anything special with it? Mine is leggy and doesn't have half the blooms.

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  16. I saw the photo and was going to congratulate you on such a beautiful magnolia! I bet the bees really love the heather though!

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