End of the Month - May

The thing I love about the garden in May is that it turns from being about finding lovely individual plants or flowers to photograph, to being about combinations of plants, to swathes of loveliness and texture. Obviously this requires selective angles and focus - there's plenty of the garden that is unkempt or not working or frankly, out of control, but let's ignore those for now.

The shady side of the garden.

This side is generally the pink and white but mainly green bed, except when I forget and put random things in. This happens because I'm forever giving things a try here to liven it up - it can be a bit boring and green, but not at the moment.

Brunnera, Aquilegia foliage and Euphorbia cyparissias - leafy brilliance...

the same Euphorbia with a variagated Hosta (look nearly no holes!)...

the lovely purple foliage of a Sambucus Nigra with the zing of Euphorbia amygdaloides.

Self seeded and interbred Aquilegia rambling amongst everything with their shades of pink and purple...

the contrast of the bright bordered leaves of the Weigela and the cool blue of the big Hosta, set of with lovely flowers (the munching has started here - grrrr)

 

the less chewed side of the big Hosta with the Euphorbia and Aquilegia.

The sunny side.

This is largely purples and whites and can get really baked, but at the moment it's looking lush.

Allium Roseum, Iris, Erysimum Bowles Mauve - all intentional, orange Oriental Poppy - not so much, but I do love it and it will stay to add a splash of anarchy to my tasteful mauves!

Spanish Broom behind...

Allium Christophii, Allium Roseum, the mad poppy and the purple Abutilon and white Choisia in the background.

Alliums, dark Heuchera and Geranium sanguineum...

white Astrantia loving the sun...

Gladioli byzantinus, Rosebuds and Silene vulgaris bought as a bargain from a nursery about 5 years ago...

which looks gorgeous every year bobbing amongst the sage leaves and the Roses and requires zero effort from me.

The Viburnum (I think Opulous but it is inherited so can't be sure) is blooming. It is lovely now but very dull at all other times, grows far too fast and has such a prime spot that I am forever hacking great lumps out of it and treat it largely with contempt. This month it is forgiven it's inconvenient shade and galloping suckers (but I can't promise anything for next month!)

The bottom of the garden

The dappled shade area that's blue, white and yellow.

Gorgeous Aquilegia green apples...

Starry white Astrantia amongst lush Hostas and Forget-me-Nots...

Tellemia and Foxgloves (they were meant to be white but never are!) against Acanthus (which is getting huge) and Sambucus canadensis (which isn't).

Hostas, Astrantia, Aquilegia and Ferns. Even the compost bins at the top don't look too bad. The snails have well and truly started on these Hostas though - grrrr.

 The 'rockery' bed...

that isn't a rockery bed really, I keep removing stones because they are in the way so now it's just a slopey bed with the odd stone in it. I've never really liked rockeries anyway.

Ornamental Strawberry with dark Hellebores in the background.

The lovely combinations don't mean there haven't been stand out performers this month. My favourites have been...

Angelique Tulip - my only successful Tulips this year and they certainly performed!

and my Banksia Rose.

Gorgeous little flowers gleaming in the sun and perfuming the air.

Dripping with buds and flowers on arching branches.

And if we hadn't had the Beast from the East there would have been even more...



can you see the tiny frosted buds?

Grrrrr!



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