Spanish Bluebells

This is the view from our lounge, although the garden belongs to the house adjacent to our cottage.
The bluebells which are flowering now are not native English bluebells, but imported Spanish ones which were planted in many gardens by the Victorians.

The flowers of native bluebells are narrowly bell-shaped, with straight-sided petals, deeply curled back at the tips. The majority of flowers droop from one side of the stem. The anthers are creamy-white and the leaves narrow, between 1/4 - 3/4in wide.

The bell-shaped flowers of Spanish bluebells open more widely, with the petal tips just flaring outwards. The flowers are arranged all round the stem and held more erect. The anthers are usually pale or dark blue, and the leaves are wider about one and a quarter inches across.

There is some concern that if the Spanish bluebells are grown near a bluebell wood, they can hybridise with the native ones, and so wipe out the native species.

We don't have a bluebell wood near by, and so these look really lovely at this time of year.
This part of the garden is quite natural. First snowdrops, followed by daffodils, then bluebells, and then foxgloves.
A lovely outlook from our window, and one we don't have to look after!

Last nights asparagus tasted wonderful, and we had some more tonight.
I will make some soup tomorrow with the pieces of stems which are left.

MrC has spent most of today watching football! He went to our son's this afternoon to watch a match on Sky, and now is back home watching another!

I decided to clean out some kitchen cupboards. Sorted out my herbs and spices.
I found lots way past their " use by date", (some 2009!) which have been binned, and have a list of those to purchase next time I go shopping.

Did some ironing, and baked an apple pie.
Was hoping to do some gardening, but it was too cold and breezy.
Next week is supposed to be getting warmer, and sunnier! We shall see!!

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend!