Welcoming some new friends

Like any gardener, and as a collector of plants, it is always good to see old friends return for another year of flowering. But more exciting still is the joy of making new acquaintances.

Muscari Touch of Snow (main picture) was picked up from a garden centre just before we had to stop being out and about.

But more usually my purchases come in the form of bulbs or seeds requiring patience (or lots of patience) and of course a sense of anticipation.

Two sets of bulbs have repaid the waiting this week.

This spring, new friends include the tiny Muscari atillae (above) and the deep dark Muscari commutatum (below).