Winter dragged on forever this year, so how come we’ve suddenly hit April? Blimey. To celebrate I’m going to sow all those lovely annual flowers that I always mean to and so often forget. Because I live in Scotland, where we can get frost into May, I risk little outdoors, sowing most stuff into my generous greenhouse first. I will start my #SixOnSaturday there this week. Here’s the current state of part of the greenhouse bench, with the first two brave tomatoes that looked tall and strong enough to graduate from the house. You can also see a selection of veg, from peas, though pak choi and kale, to a few chilli.

While I was in the greenhouse, I noticed some of my osteospermum, which I overwinter in there, and draw cuttings from in spring. This plant is into full rock and roll mode already.

In demure contrast, and out in the wilds of the garden, possibly my favourite Scottish spring plant, and one I’m hoping to see over in the west very soon, the delightful primrose.

This year I bought a range of ‘species tulips’ to try. These are the native types, as, I suppose, one would see in the wild in western Turkey or Iran. They are not what I was expecting at about 3cm long and 0.5cm width, but they are very pretty indeed. I hope they don’t get too bashed this weekend in the rain.

When I moved to my current home, spring offered the amazing surprise of hundreds of daffodils. As I haven’t dug them up to replace, I think I’ve fewer now, but they can still put on an excellent display.

April has opened with driech, grey, drizzly weather. Something that always delivers, despite the rain, is the wallflower. This one has rich wonderful colour, especially against the grey stone wall. so this deserves to be the last of my six this week.

Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.