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. 

2023 - a year in plants

I had seen a lovely idea for a review of plants during 2023 on a blog I follow (Elephant's Child - the blog owner is in Australia) and she said she would like to see my version, so here it is.

January 2023 is Winter flowering honeysuckle, (Lonicera Fragrantissima or Purpusii) which has small flowers, but on a sunny day they pack a punch of lily of the valley scent.  

February is the 'common' snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis.  One of my all time favourites.

March had to be the daffodil - Narcissus Tete a Tete.

April is Tulip Ronaldo, which for me is a reliable repeat flowerer and lasts well in the garden.

May is the Allium, which could be Purple Sensation or Globemaster.

June is all about the roses in my garden and here is Rosa Eyes for You.

July is Salvia Amistad which was a joy and delight all the summer and into Autumn and Winter.

August is Hibiscus Syriacus Oiseau Bleu, again a reliable and beautiful plant.

September is Helianthus Lemon Queen which is a perennial sunflower and can be a bit of a thug. I love the cheerful flowers.  

October is Liriope Muscari which is left to its own devices and flowers away each year.

November is Salvia Cerro Potosi which is a vibrant fuchsia colour and continued to flower through the summer and right up to December in 2023. 

December is represented by Camellia Yuletide and it did flower in December 2023.

So, there is my review.  I could have chosen many others, such as clematis, hydrangeas, astrantias, jasmine, miscanthus etc, but they all get their moment on my blog during the year anyway.  I wonder what plants will do well in the coming year?

Some of the 'A's

It's that time of year when the aquilegias and alliums start to flower.  I think the aquilegia above is a seedling from the original plant.

The alliums are also starting to make their presence known.

The way the raindrops were sitting on the miscanthus leaves stopped me in my tracks one morning.  

We had some much needed rain as it has been really dry through most of April and into May.  I like the way the drops of rain are just sitting there.

Aquilegia Navy and White, I think.  

They are pretty flowers.

Rhododendron Tinkerbird is in flower again and the lovely jasmine perfume is wafting around the enclosed patio space when the sun shines.  I potted this poor plant on recently as it was in a small tub and this may also have shocked it somewhat.  It isn't looking too healthy at the moment as the leaves are mottled, which after some research, seems to be due to the Pieris lacebug/Rhododendron lacebug. I shall give it a feed and possibly a spray with some invigorator once the flowers are over.  The roses are just starting and there will definitely be photos to follow.  

More star plants (for Chelsea week)

It would have been RHS Chelsea this week and as the show was cancelled, the BBC have been looking at the last ten years of the show with the presenters in their own gardens.  There have also been films on Youtube.  In my own garden, there are lots of star plants.  Above and below is Rhododendron Tinkerbird which has pretty flowers and the most gorgeous jasmine scent which wafts round the garden when the sun is shining.

The flowers are a lovely combination of pink and white.

Some of my lewisias are flowering too...

This one has pink, apricot and coral coloured flowers.

The blue aquilegia is flowering well this year.

 Iris sibirica is in a hot and dry part of the border, so shouldn't be looking quite as good as this as it prefers slightly damper conditions, but it is lovely to see it.

 The stainless steel spheres echo the alliums really well and it is a happy coincidence that there are three alliums here.

 Another allium.

 Gladiolus Byzantinus is flowering too, although I don't have as many of these as I would like.

 Of course, those divas of the plant world, the peonies, are delighting me...

...this is a patio peony (Athens, I think) and is grown in a pot.  The peonies I planted in the border are not as happy as this one. 

This double red astrantia is hidden behind a rose and easy to miss.  I am not sure of the name but it could be 'Star of Love' and came from RHS Chatsworth two years ago.  

The garden is doing me proud this May.

Great Excitement! (In my world, anyway...)

 I almost feel as though this post should be preceded by a drum roll!  However, in the absence of sound effects, I would like to announce that my peony Athens is flowering!  It is absolutely beautiful and I am delighted.  I know that this isn't world shattering news and in the great scheme of things, it means very little, but to me at this moment, it is wonderful.

 Isn't it beautiful?

 In other news, my clematis Warsaw Nike is flowering for the first time with velvety purple petals.

 Clematis Crystal Fountain is also putting on a good show.

 Alliums are still in flower too...

 and allium Christophii is just unfurling.

 It has lovely silvery lilac flowers.

Cirsium rivulare atropurpureum is also coming into flower, echoing the peony which is behind it on the border in a pot.  The cirsium may be a short lived perennial but this is its second year with me and it is doing well since I potted it on.

And finally...another look at the peony earlier tonight, just starting to go over a little.

There is another bud getting ready though.  I do need to get these peonies potted into bigger pots as they are drying out very quickly, which can't be good for them.  I have promised myself some gardening time on Sunday and in the meantime, I'll water them daily.
After all that excitement, I may need to go and lie down...

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.