As the saying goes April showers bring forth May flowers.  It certainly has been the case in the area I live in.  I have welcomed the rain along with sunny breaks – a perfect mix for bringing on the flowers, trees and shrubs; even the lawns are starting to turn a brighter green.

This is also the month that we celebrate Easter this year.  I have already been looking out for interesting containers and was happy to discover some pastel ones in Ikea.  The frilly pansies look great in them.

After patiently waiting the garden has finally come to life.  Now in the rockery garden there are groups of crocus and miniature daffodil blooming.  The chionodoxa (glory of snow) has small blue buds showing as well as the grape hyacinth (muscari).  Even the pond is back up and running thanks to my husband and the fish have safely been returned.

I have many tulip clumps and I am hoping they will flower by Easter.  There are a few primroses in bloom from last year but I could not help buying a few more.

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The forsythia is forming yellow buds and leaves are starting to open on my ornamental maples and spirea .  I always like to bring in sprigs of forsythia and force them into flower.  

Unfortunately my hellebores have suffered from the long hard winter as well as some of my roses.  While I was down in Vancouver I was intrigued how many hellebores were planted in containers outside restaurants in Yaletown. There are so many varieties to choose from now.  I will definitely be on the hunt for some when I next visit the plant nurseries.  Most days now I can escape to the greenhouse.  The overwintered plants are doing well as I have started to fertilize them weekly.  Meanwhile seeds are sprouting including basil, rosemary, lettuce and tomato.  Even the perennial seeds I planted just over a week ago are starting to come through; so far lupine, dianthus and foxglove.  This for me is my favourite time of year where you can discover something new in the garden each day.