Spring is Yellow

 Of course, there are other colours in spring gardens, particularly the bright greens of emerging foliage, but it always strikes me how many April flowers are rich or pale reflections of the sunshine we also welcome to our gardens at this time of year.

Daffodils are a spring staple and I've already enthused over 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', which has almost gone before the end of March.

Just as it fades, 'Jack Snipe' opens.

I like this narcissus for its airy presence, as if it's on the point of taking flight. Being less bold in both size and colour than Rijnveld's creation, it blends better with other delicate spring hues. Another attribute is how quickly it forms large clumps, allowing me to spread it around the garden, as well as give some away to other gardeners.

This is also prime time for Corylopsis pauciflora, which is anchoring a corner by the house. I celebrate its flowering every year, and this year it seems better than ever.

I tuck my birdbath under the overhanging branches so that only small birds like the house finches can get access to it.  When I had it in a more exposed location, local crows were inclined to use it to wash various disgusting bits of food they'd salvaged from neighbouring green bins.

"Pauciflora" means "few flowers", which used to surprise me until I saw a specimen of Corylopsis multiflora, which has double flowers hanging in pairs.

Under the Corylopsis, among blue-flowered Anemones, the slender stems of Tulipa turkestanica display their starry flowers with golden centres.

They never spread as vigorously as I'd like, but they'd probably prefer conditions more like the stony hillsides of Central Asia that are their natural habitat.

In the same bed are some snow crocus in complementary colours.

I think the yellow one is 'Cream Beauty', but as these came to me in an unmarked package, I'm only guessing.

My last spring yellow is the aptly named Ranunculus 'Brazen Hussy'.

It's a small plant, but the combination of those waxy, golden flowers with the dark, metallic leaves creates a contrast that is hard to miss. Like a lot of its family it spreads, but so far only a little and only in its immediate vicinity. For now I've been happy to let it do that, and since it's easy to dig up, I'll have even more plants to share with friends if it gets too enthusiastic.