Our village of Hanley Swan has for the last few years held an open gardens during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. I usually plant tulips in the garden and pots to provide colour and interest during the weekend. This year it looks as if my plans are in jeopardy due to the early spring weather. These pictures show some of what might still be on display.
The pictures are in order of flowering.
In the raised beds…
In the pots…
This year the tulips are two weeks earlier than previous years. I have moved some of the ones in pots into the shade to try and delay their flowering until the open weekend.
Either side of the Summer House doors.
In the White Garden.
In the Blue Border.
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew, Robert Burns 1785.
What is affecting your plans this spring?
brimfields.com 
You have some delightful tulips Brian – I especially like the lily flowered ones like China Pink and Tres Chic, both of whch are new to me this year and opening out nicely now. I certainly wouldn’t expect any of mine to be flowering still in early June, not this year, anyway. What are you going to do to try and delay yours flowering? Nothing untoward affecting my own plans, not yet anyway, but we could probably do with some more rain!
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The tulips will be replaced with dahlias after the spring bank holiday, Monday 1st May,to give them time to settle in and flower ready for the June NGS opening.I have changed the description, on the blog, of the bank holiday Cathy.
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Yes, I was a little confused with that 😉
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Sorry Cathy, sometimes you assume others know what you are talking about!
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I probably just didn’t read your post properly in the first place 😉
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I particularly liek the shape and colours of the Peppermintstick, Brian!
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It is a beautiful and delicate tulip.
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What a great collection you’ve got Brian! I really like Tres chic. And I also have Spring Green just about to open. I find the white ones appeal to me more and more. Luckily we have no plans that could be foiled here, but the cold snap over the next few days has called for emergency protection for some tender herbs planted out recently! I could wish you some cold weather to keep your tulips from all going over too soon, but I am sure there will be plenty to look at in your garden anyway! 🙂
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Thank you Cathy, I like Tres Chic, it is a new one for me this year. They are forecasting a cold snap here this week.
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Beautiful series!
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Thank you Belinda.
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What a splendid collection, I like the composition of sugary pink ballade in the border against the lime euphorbia and punchy blue of the chairs. Moving the pots was a good idea, fingers crossed that shade and a cool snap will hold them back for your visitors.
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Thanks Kate. The euphorbia also goes well with the Allium Purple Sensation that follows the tulips.
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Queen of the Night is rather special. We have no tulips here apart from three that have mysteriously appeared in a bund of earth that was made in one of the fields. They add a splash of red, but look rather incongruous. Hope you manage to hold them all back because they’ll make a sensational show.
I thought of you the other day as we were walking north of Worcester and came across a community orchard and I remembered you writing about the community orchard you’re involved with.
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Where were you walking to find the community orchard?
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We were walking along the Monarchs Way and came across the orchard.
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You have some beautiful tulips I think I need to acquire some more.
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You can’t have too many this time of year Sue.
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What a beautiful collection of tulips. I hope some will last until your open day. I think I have some Spring Green or very similar which I am very fond of because they look so happy in so many different backgrounds. Amelia
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Thank you Amelia, it is one that as you say can blend with many other colours.
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Beautiful display, Brian. Looks like you need a walk-in cooler! Well, at least we bloggers are getting to enjoy them. 😉
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I thought I would share them while they are still looking good, I am pleased you enjoyed them Eliza.
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Super collection! I hope all goes to plan for your event …
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Thank you Anna.
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Your tulips look really beautiful Brian. We have the same problem when clients plan to open their gardens the first week of May. In the past we have tried leaving the planting until the end of January which helped. We also put all our pots under green shade material which held them back just enough. But this year we are struggling as it was so mild through march and now we have a drought. We found the double peony tulips were last to flower. And Queen of the night is still in bud here. Good luck with your opening events Brian. All the best. Karen
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Thanks Karen. The joy of gardening in the English climate!
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Having travelled and worked all around the world, there’s nowhere I’d rather be :)) x
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I’m so pleased you posted these Brian. They are delightful….wish I was closer and could come and visit your garden. I’ll be planting bulbs in my new garden, and I think tulips will just be the ticket for that early display.
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I look forward to seeing your display next year. Do you ever come up to the Malvern Spring or Autumn show?
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Oh My goodness, what a display! I particularly love the whites. Really splendid, Brian.
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Thank you Lynda, especially Tres Chic, very elegant.
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Too bad I am coming by your post so late, but what a lovely one, Brian! Your photo of the peppermint stick tulip is probably the first to really make me want to grow it 🙂 Is it the clusiana type? If so, it has at least a fighting chance here, or so I understand. I love the glimpse from your white garden – most inspiring! Mine needs a deal of work… 😉 Best of luck with holding the tulips for that opening!
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Thank you Amy. I am sorry I don’t know what type of tulip peppermint stick is. It is the first to flower in our garden.
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I have just looked on the bulbs website, yes it is a clusiana type.
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All lovely but Peppermint Stick is my favourite, such a beautiful photograph certainly helped!
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Thank you Gill.
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What an impressive gathering, I like the creation of sugary pink song in the fringe against the lime euphorbia and punchy blue of the seats.
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Thank you.
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Mindblowing Pictures. Great Work and Great Efforts i must say. As an Photographer i can understand that how much important it is to capture moments like these specially when it comes to nature. You have to be patient and calm all the time in order to capture perfect picture. I am also an Wildlife and Nature Photographer and you can have a look at my work at http://www.nitinkhanna.net and let me know how you find it. I would love to hear from Photographer like you.
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Oh what a fine display of tulips Brian. I hoped that you curbed their eagerness by placing them in the shade and that they didn’t go over before the open garden event.
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They did just hang on Anna.
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Absolutely lovely, early or not. I would like to have the Queen of the Night variety.
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Thank you.
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