Procession of Yellows

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There’s no shortage of flower colour in spring but I think that the bright yellow of the more traditional-looking daffodils is the colour we associate most with the season. I have some of these daffodils here. They’re a reminder of the masses of golden daffodils in my parents’ garden and a cheerful sight to greet warmer days.

At this time of year, there are many yellow flowers around. They range in colour from the palest hints of yellow to a robust gleaming shade that demands attention. I particularly like the subtlety of some of the paler yellows. These can be found in daffodil varieties such as ‘Ice Follies’ (above). This one has a pale yellow trumpet surrounded by white outer petals and I have it planted alongside the delicate, creamy-coloured ‘Thalia’ in an airy combination that shimmers in low-angled spring sunlight.

Narcissus bulbocodium known as the ‘hoop petticoat daffodil’ (above) is a delightful plant and one that I’d like to grow. The flowers are only six inches high, so I might be best to plant it in a pot rather than the ground, so that it isn’t overrun by its neighbours.

A similar very pale yellow is seen in the primrose (Primula vulgaris). This is the wild primrose that that I remember as a common sight along roadside verges in my childhood. (Probably less common now.) I’m sad to see that mine have suffered in the very hot and dry summer of last year (and after losing the shade of a nearby tree), so this year the plants have fewer flowers. Clearly I need to take care to give them more water during periods of drought.

The dog’s tooth violet (Erythronium ‘Pagoda’) that you see above is one of the darker yellows in my garden. I enjoy the sight of the curving petals and the slightly Oriental-looking glamour of these little beauties. So far they have managed to survive in an area that probably gets more sun than they like. When I plant more, I’ll make sure to put them in a shadier spot.

Later in the spring, the neighbours’ laburnum tree will create a spectacular display right by our driveway, so we will have some fabulous ‘borrowed’ colour in May. Before then, there should be some very bright yellow from our ‘Golden Apeldoorn’ tulips. These and some red Darwin hybrid tulips were already in the garden when we came, and have flowered reliably in all the years since. They’re a glorious sight when they open up wide on a sunny day…which seems like a good reason to plant some more.