There's one thing that can be said about gardening, you can never be sure what to expect.


After a longer winter and a cool spring, I didn't expect much from some of my "marginally hardy" plants. It turns out many are doing things they've not done before. Three out of the four Magnolia grandifloras bloomed well this year. The Eucomis (Pineapple Lily) and Lagerstroemia (Crape myrtle) are both flowering for the first time, although both have been in the garden for years. The Fig has set fruit much earlier than normal, they might even ripen before frost.

View the slideshow below. All pictures were taken today and all plants are winter hardy in my garden without extra protection.