I seem to be on a roll this month in discovering different containers for both cut flowers and potted plants.  I am still enjoying the yellow tulips in the little white jug that I picked up from Michael’s with the brocade effect on the side.

During a whirlwind trip to Vancouver on the weekend, my daughter and I had about 20 minutes to spend in Ikea before our journey home to the interior.  We both zoomed in on some spring-time containers which would be a lovely addition to the Easter decor.  They can not only house favourite plants or bulbs but could also be used to put some Easter goodies in.  They come in a selection of  pastel colours – pink, green and white.  I really like the intricate detail on the top edge of the container which sets off the plants.  

I particularly like the container below which has pride of place on my mantelpiece (another purchase from Michael’s ).  At the moment I am just using some dried hydrangea (from the hydrangea paniculata) but once more fresh bulbs and flowers are available I will use them instead.

I have finally made a start on my spring clean up.  I am gradually making my way around the garden pruning off the old stalks on the perennials and doing a further prune on the roses.  I have also been checking my specimen trees and lilacs.  Rule of thumb again with pruning is cutting out any dead wood, pruning off cross branches and with the lilacs pruning off all the shoots at the base of the tree (same would apply for the forsythia bush).  The main thing is to keep the centre of the bush or tree clear to allow light to filter in and allow new growth.  As far as winter damage is concerned it does not seem as bad as it was last year.  It is still early days yet so will check again in a few weeks time.  Meanwhile I have also made a start on cleaning up my greenhouse.  I purchased a big bale of potting soil in preparation for sowing seeds; this works out more economical than buying small bags of soil.  In addition to ordering vegetable seeds I did pick up some Fothergill seeds from Rona.  This time I bought a hardier saliva (Blue Queen), two different kinds of poppies (California Poppy, Mission Bells and Paeony Purple Passion Poppy) as well as Bacopa which I use in baskets and containers and Gazania (daybreak bronze).   

This time of the year there is so much to do in the garden and vegetable patch that I never quite know where to start.