The three As in May (and a couple of extras)

The three As in May are Aquilegia or Granny's Bonnets (above is a self sown one (I think)...

This was one from my sister's garden which has a lovely flower with lots of petals...

Then there's Astrantia and this may be Burgundy Manor but it could also be Star of Love.

The third is Allium, which I love but they don't seem to like my garden.  Even the ones I grew in large pots with the roses haven't come back as much as I hoped they would.  I like the ones I have got though. These are Christophii I think.

The couple of extras are this new acquisition, a geum (the label says Total Tangerine, but I am hoping it is Totally Tangerine). It will provide a fabulous contrast to all the pink and purple in the garden.  They are supposed to be good in pots so that decided me.  They are also supposed to flower for a long time and not require staking. 

The other extra is this lovely apricot foxglove.  I didn't think any of the apricot foxglove seeds I sowed last year did any good, so I think this may be a self-seeder from two years ago.  Whatever it is, it is so welcome!

Just because I can, here is another shot of the aquilegia.

It is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this coming week, so I shall be watching the TV coverage as usual.  It is always interesting to see which plants are popular. 

The three A's in May

May is all about the three A's - Aquilegia, Allium and Astrantia - and I love to see them.  Above is an aquilegia (Columbine or Granny's Bonnet).  They have moved themselves about and self seeded in various places too, so it is a surprise to see where they will appear next.  

My alliums in the border are not doing so well and I assume it is because they are getting too hot and dry in the summer months.  With this in mind, last autumn I planted some in the big pots with the roses,  as I thought that roses and alliums always look good together.  These are some of the ones in pots and so far, are looking good.

I enjoy seeing them gradually open up and become fuller.

For Astrantia, here is Burgundy Manor, a lovely deep red.  It is also in a pot where I can keep an eye on it. They seem to like a little bit of shade and moist soil.  I have some of the white varieties too but they are not  quite in flower yet.  They obligingly self seed, so I have several smaller plants in pots too. 

Some of my roses are almost in flower too, which is quite early, but probably caused by the very dry Spring/early summer we had/continue to have. 

RHS Chelsea week...and in my garden - all the As (along with a few others)

Chelsea Garden photos from the RHS Chelsea website

I have been enjoying the TV coverage of RHS Chelsea over the last week.  It is always interesting to see what the designers, construction teams and gardeners come up with.  I haven't ever visited the show myself, nor am I likely to - way too many people for comfort!  Sustainability, gardening with nature and the gardens being relocated after the show seemed to be themes this year, which are all good.  I liked bits of a few gardens including the area above from The Myeloma A Life Worth Living Garden by Chris Beardshaw.  My criteria is 'would I like this outside my back door?'  In the case above, yes I would, a lovely calm green space with ferns and a water feature. 

I also liked the Royal Entomological Society garden by Tom Massey with its wildlife and insect friendly (as you would expect!) planting.  The colours this year seem to be green, white and magenta/purple, and these could be seen on a lot of the gardens. 

There were some beautifully designed, constructed and planted stage sets such as Cleve West's Centrepoint garden, showing how nature takes over a derelict Victorian Terrace and bringing homelessness into focus.  I can appreciate this, but wouldn't want it outside my back door! 

With Chelsea over for another year,  what is happening in my garden?  It's the As - Alliums, Aquilegias and Astrantias.  Above is allium Purple Sensation.

I don't know that name of this allium, but is is another lovely one.  I think I may need more of these in the autumn.

Aquilegia Navy and White was the starting point for my aquilegias but they seem to have changed as they have self seeded about.

I like the darker purple of this one.

I do like an astrantia and have several of the darker ones.  Above is Star of Love or Star of Fire - I'm not sure which. This one is in the border.

Astrantia Burgundy Manor is in a pot and I love this one.  It is a stunner!  I have got three Astrantia Roma young plants growing on, which should be a nice pink shade.  I hope they will flower next year.

Other plants making a show at the moment are Philadelphus Little White Love. This took a while to get going but has started to grow and flower profusely.  As with most Philadelphus, it has a lovely scent.

The peony I repotted last autumn has rewarded me with more flowers than it has ever had.  

My latest camassia, Silk River, is nearly in flower so I am checking it every morning at the moment.   I am really enjoying the garden and the sunny weather has helped a lot, particularly after the cold Spring.  I have lost two agapanthus plants which were overwintered in the shed and obviously did not like the cold snap last December, and a few other small plants, but I am realistic and it just means I can replace them with something else (like another rose?) Funnily enough, I have got my eye on a new rose by David Austin, Dannahue.  I don't really have room for any more roses, but may have to squeeze this one in.  Speaking of roses, they have started flowering, so there will be a couple of posts to come... 

More stars of the garden in June

While the roses are always the stars of the June garden, here are some others which are bringing me joy at the moment.  Above is osteospermum Erato Purple Glow which is such a splash of colour.

Astrantia Burgundy Manor...

Clematis Perle D'Azur which has grown over the arch and is rapidly approaching the bathroom roof, in an attempt at garden domination. This clematis took a while to get going but is absolutely stunning this year.  

There is a rose under there too - New Dawn.

Here's the view from the other side.  The pink striped rose in the foreground is Ferdinand Pichard.

A 'new to me this year' salvia, Cerro Potosi, which has cerise flowers that are almost neon.  

This foxglove 'Apricot' was planted in the shadier border and has been beautiful.  I grew it from seed and am so pleased to see it looking so good.

I have enjoyed watching the flowers open and the bees have certainly liked it too. I need more of these in the garden next year...definitely.

Lots to enjoy in the garden

 With the sunny weather, the garden is blooming.  Tulips Ballerina and Brown Sugar above, in the border.

 I'm not sure what this one is - it was part of a mix a few years ago, but has repeat flowered.

 The inside of Brown Sugar.

 A pot of Negrita.

 It's not all about tulips though.  Here is a perennial Nemesia 'Confetti' which I have pretty much ignored but which flowers every year. 

 The scillas are coming to an end but that shade of blue is lovely.

 This was another tulip from the mix, but has also come back.

 Clematis Rosy Pagoda is still doing well.

 The lilac and Magnolia 'Susan' look lovely against the blue sky.

 This is Tulip Cairo which was a new one this year. 

 I received a patio apple from my sister for my birthday earlier in the year and it is flowering.

I planted a few tulip Danceline from last year in the border and several have reappeared.

 A world away from the brightly coloured tulips is this little viola - 'Freckles' which is very well behaved and seems happy in a pot.  I have a purple viola which seeds itself everywhere and is a bit of a nuisance.

Finally for now, an astrantia which is also in a pot and in a very sheltered part of the garden.  I bought it last year at RHS Chatsworth I think and the flower should darken to burgundy red as it ages.