Tag Archives: May

Six on Saturday: 2 May 2020

02 Saturday May 2020

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Forget me not

Do you feel a little bit like I am feeling? I feel as though we didn’t really ‘have’ an April. The days and weeks of lockdown are merging and although we did have some standout weather, we strangely haven’t been anywhere or seen anyone. It might be that May is going to be the same. Weird.

That said, the garden is making rapid progress now. The warm weather, the rain and longer daylight hours are creating a massive growth spurt. If we were going places and seeing people we might have missed the detail of this happening. My six today reflect the changes.

Above is a carpet of forget me nots, drifting across the ground, encircling the box ball ( loosely ball shape). By next week they will need ripping out as they begin to set seed. The space they leave behind will be perfect for annuals.

New Zealand Lilac and fennel

The fennel has doubled in size since last week and the NZ Lilac which is not a lilac at all is starting to open. It has no scent to enjoy which is disappointing but it’s flowers are very pretty.

Sweet cicely, purple cow parsley, flowering Thalictrum and Sambucus

The froth from umbellifers has filled out more. The Thalictrum has opened its pinky flowers and the sweet cicely has opened more flowers. The dark divided foliage of the Sambucus is contrasting in a pleasing fashion with the divided foliage of the the green and white sweet cicely.

Emerging lilies

I really like the dark pointy leaves on the spines of lilies. These flower well each year and are a very very dark maroon lily. On the lookout for the orange lily beetle so far so good.

Alliums are opening offering purple clusters of star shaped flowers to make a globe. They are a splash of interest, a layer of colour after the tulips and before the Hydrangeas flower.

Looking through to the seating area

Looking through the emerging red heart shaped foliage of the Forest Pansy. My favourite shrub/tree. It’s petals dropped in the rain but still the beautiful foliage is emerging.

These are my six for this Saturday joining our host The Propagator and other bloggers from around the globe.

Have a good week wherever you are. Stay safe and thanks for reading. D.

Garden Visit: The Malvern Show

10 Friday May 2019

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Yesterday I visited the Malvern Show. RHS members day, we arrived just after the show opened.

The weather was inhospitable but we gardeners have the right gear for all weathers. Undeterred, we headed in!

Gabriella Pill Mediterranean Terrace

Defiance by Sara Edwards at No 30 Design Studio

An artists studio at home. Jessica Makins Garden Design and Hartwyn Natural Builds.

These are garden buildings created from old shipping containers. Brilliant. The gardens all made use of raised beds and vertical structure which included a framework for climbers or shade. A sense of enclosure. Coordinated planting. These garden creations could be adapted or copied for new build houses with small plots and city gardens/ courtyards . Inspired creativity on more modest scale.

Alas the BBC coverage on Gardeners World this evening did not see fit to interview the youngsters who created these gems. A lost opportunity. Trying to attract young gardeners? Not sure I believe the RHS knows how.

In the floral marquee, the plant exhibitors were top quality.

Chrysanthemums

Succulents. A few of the spectacular exhibits.

My favourite plant vendor was this chap

Sunray Plants, selling a wonderful selection of sempervivums.

The Malvern show was really very enjoyable, despite the weather. If you are in the area or have time to travel to the show, it is a good day out with some inspiring gardens and top rate vendors.

Coverage by the BBC may have missed an opportunity for some fresh faces but the highly respected Carol Klein and Adam Frost were there.

The Malvern Show is on all weekend. Details at http://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk

In a Vase on Monday: green and white

06 Monday May 2019

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Hello Cathy. Here we are again, Monday. My vase this week is green and white, against a “skimming stone” coloured wall and arranged on a proper linen tea towel which came from a house sale at Winslow Hall, Buckinghamshire.

Featuring Solomon’s seal and Brunnera ‘Betty Bowring’ at least that is the variety I have noted down. The Brunnera came from a WI stall years ago and then a division from my last garden. A fresh green with tiny white flowers, it too likes a shady spot.

The containers are a flask and my Japanese thumb pot which I purchased a couple of years ago at Darsham Nurseries, Suffolk.

I love Solomon’s Seal however the slugs and snails do too, so I am more than happy to take a few stems now, before they do.

Polygonatum x hybridum

Arching stems with pendulum bell like flowers they seem to like my heavy clay soil.

I hope you enjoy your ‘extra’ day this weekend. Make time to look at Cathy’s blog, link above, to see some other Monday vases. Enjoy! D.

Six on Saturday: Heather

04 Saturday May 2019

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Is it me or is this year galloping by? My garden is surging ahead, almost without me. I am inundated with weed seedlings but the dry clay is making it almost impossible to remove them properly. Weeding is a frustrating and almost futile exercise. How we need some rain but at night only please!

My Six to share with you and The Propagator this Saturday are these:

Euphorbias are at their most splendid at this time of year. Fresh and bright, eye catching

Cercis candanensis

I have had this Forest Pansy tree for at least eight years, initially it was in a pot, now its home is in a raised bed and this is the first time it has flowered. Very exciting to see. It is, honestly!

Borago officinalis

Once you have got borage in your garden you will always have it. These are self sown. Glorious colour and nectar for the bees. The flowers are a lovely addition to a gin and tonic, frozen in an ice cube. Talking of G&T….

This is Geranium macorrhizum

It forms large clumps of fresh foliage which when brushed against or crushed smells distinctly like gin and tonic.

Trifolium repens atropurpureum

A great ground covering plant. With purple toned clover like leaves it is attractive and interesting.

Myosotis arvensis

Some class these little beauties as weeds. Not me, I adore their particular shade of blue. So cheery. I think they look rather classy under the foliage of Sambucus nigra Black Lace.

Forget-me-not.

In memory of Heather, my kind and generous friend, Mother in law and Nanny. 20/6/40 – 4/5/12 . Remembered every day. How I would have loved to share this garden with her.

D.

In a Vase on Monday: the latest arrivals

21 Monday May 2018

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I am feeling that spring is passing by far too quickly as lots of the early flowers are finished. Now the first of the Astrantia and Geum Totally Tangerine have appeared.

There are Persicaria affinis and bisorta. I love the little sprays of Trillium and the umbellifers Anthriscus Ravenswing and Sweet Cicely.

The latest addition is the pale yellow flower Trollius Cheddar a favourite of mine from Chelsea last year. Sorry but the colours in the pictures are not quite right as they are under electric light.

If you haven’t done so already please pop over to Cathy to see the vases today.