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Tuesday, 26 May 2015

My Star plants

It's a bit of an in-between time in the garden, in late May.  The roses are in bud and lots of other plants are getting ready, but the tulips are over and the Spring flowers are fading.  So, what is there to look at in my garden?
 Magnolia Fairy Blush in its second year with me and looking very pretty.
 An aquilegia my sister gave me - I don't know what the variety is, but I like the delicate pink and white flowers.
 The stalwarts of the May border - alliums.
 Another aquilegia bought last year and not planted out or potted on yet - shame on me!  I wonder whether it would seed with the white one and make a pale blue variety?
 Erigeron karvinskianus which has pretty white and pink flowers.

Reliable Geranium Phaeum, or mourning widow, to give its common name. I think this might be Lily Lovell, but am not sure.
 Geranium Phaeum Album - a lovely plant.
 Clematis Crystal Fountain just unfurling.
 More deep purple Geranium Phaeum.
Finally, another geranium, versicolor, I think, but I could be wrong.  I love the veining on the petals. This one seeds all over the place and is trying to take over, but can be removed easily. I let it stay where I want it to be, but take it out if it gets too unruly!  So, a few plants to enjoy and keep me going while I wait for the roses, peonies and clematis to flower.
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10 comments:

  1. gilly26 May 2015 at 17:57

    Ooh, I have garden envy! It just all looks so beautiful :-) xx

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    1. Ellie Foster26 May 2015 at 19:03

      Thanks, gilly. The featured plants are looking lovely, but there is still quite a bit of gardening stuff to sort out and put away in the shed. I just wish I had a bit more space for more plants...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Elephant's Child26 May 2015 at 20:53

    There is always something to revel in isn't there - as well as more work. In my case a LOT more work. I am very fond of columbines and have lots, but don't know your glorious geraniums. I can see a quest ahead...

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    1. Ellie Foster26 May 2015 at 22:19

      Thanks, EC. There is always work to do in the garden - I have a long 'to do' list, but keep ticking one or two things off (and then adding one or two more!). The geranium phaeum are hardy perennials, and are shade lovers, but mine have managed to seed themselves into sunny areas too and are growing away happily. They flower at this time of the year in the UK and then the leaves stay around before disappearing during winter. I find them really amenable plants! I have only got a couple of the columbines, but do like them, although here in the UK, downy mildew has been wiping them out - I believe the national collection has been decimated by this disease. I am hoping mine won't succumb...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. handmade by amalia26 May 2015 at 21:12

    Never a dull moment in a garden. But all your hard work is paying off, it looks lovely.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Ellie Foster26 May 2015 at 22:22

      Thanks, Amalia. My ambition is to have something flowering throughout the year, but I haven't quite got there yet! I do have some lovely plants which I have steadily built up in the twenty-ish years we have been here. (I keep finding another one or two (or twenty) plants which I just must have - I think I am a plantaholic!)
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Amy at love made my home26 May 2015 at 23:14

    Your garden is so beautiful!!! What gorgeous flowers, I love all of the blues and purples!! xx

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    1. Ellie Foster27 May 2015 at 09:36

      Thanks, Amy. I do have a lot of lovely plants, although I have definitely run out of space now. To get down the path, you need to develop a side-stepping dance, weaving around the pots and being careful not to trip up!
      I don't have a designed colour scheme, but nature has been very helpful and made it all co-ordinate. Once the roses are in bloom, the garden moves to pink and purple and then towards the end of the summer, it changes to purples, reds and oranges (well, that's what I hope will happen). I have only recently decided that I like orange in the garden in Spring and Autumn.
      I really enjoy seeing the colours change through the seasons - one of the many joys of gardening, isn't it?
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. POIROT27 May 2015 at 04:38

    The pink magnolia looks so cute. I like it.

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    1. Ellie Foster27 May 2015 at 09:38

      Thanks, Poirot. It is a lovely plant and I am hoping it won't grow too large. It is a relatively recent introduction from New Zealand, where it was bred. I think you can also get a cream version and a white version too, but I like the delicate pink colouring of this one.
      Happy gardening!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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