Sunday, May 14, 2017

Early May in the Garden

The saying 'a watched kettle never boils' is very apt for a garden in Spring.  Weeks and days of waiting for plants to appear and flowers to open so, of course, whilst we've been away for a few days the garden has exploded into life and colour. 

All the fruits and flowers that were 'pending' have opened and ripened.  The first strawberries from the one plant in the greenhouse - all the others are in the garden.  They were so delicious after a day on the kitchen windowsill, the first strawberries always have that tart sweetness.

Aquilegias all over the garden

In a variety of colours

Geums
 Peony on the front garden, we thought we'd lost the peony on the back garden after the winter;  green leaves have appeared now but it is way behind this one.

 Ceanothus - on the front garden.

 Wallflowers seeded against the house, they seem to like it there rather than in the little garden on the front of the house.

Perennial Cornflowers (centaurea montana) we thought these were all lost after last year's flooding but a couple of clumps have appeared.  I love to see this flower in the garden so I'm glad it is still around.
 Azelea - this was rescued from the garden and placed in a pot after the flood we had last year left its roots standing in water.  It looked to be a lost cause even up to a couple of weeks ago but look at it now.

 Valerian from soft floaty seeds collected from the roadside in Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsula a few years ago.

 Lady's Mantle or Alchemilla mollis always looks its best early in the season and just after a rain shower.

 Wild Garlic grows under the trees near the shed at the top of the garden.  Every year we say we will make soup or pesto with some of it but somehow have never got round to it.

 Clematis Montana we had to cut this back a couple of years ago as it was strangling the tree next to it.  It's been given a frame to climb on and has bounced back quite nicely.

Rhododendron - Dreamland bought a few years ago from the Dunge Valley Gardens in the Goyt Valley in Derbyshire.  It's still not very tall but it looks healthy and has many flowers still to open.

I'll be back with a post about our few days away as soon as I've sorted out the photos.

24 comments:

  1. Your garden looks so colourful - I've noticed here how in the last week or so so many plants have burst into flower. So pleased your azalea and perennial cornflowers have survived. The wild garlic looks wonderful - really must look into growing some here. Our peony doesn't even have buds yet!!

    Look forward to reading all about your short break.

    I've just started the first Maisie Dobbs book - am really enjoying (totally different to anything I have read before!) :)

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    1. I hope your Peony flowers soon. I'm not sure if the one in the back garden that is so far behind the other will actually flower this year. I love those cornflowers and was so pleased that there were still some in the garden. Glad you are enjoying Masie Dobbs. I bought an early Merrily Watkins from the second hand bookshop at Chirk Castle on the way home, it's one I've not read. I found the books because I watched Midwinter of the Spirit on TV with Anna Maxwell Martin as Merrily ( I thought she was perfect as Merrily) and read that book and moved on the some of the others:)

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  2. I know exactly what you mean, I'll be keeping my eye on certain plants waiting for them to bloom and the minute my back's turned they do. Beautiful garden.

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    1. Thanks, Janet. Everything seems to flower at once in this garden, then we have another flourish later in the year:)

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  3. it is amazing at this time of the year the rapid growth that happens.Our previous garden was filled with Alchemilla Mollis.I love it but it does get everywhere.I can never have enough Aquilegia.It is said they are "promiscous

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    1. Both Alchemillas and Aquilegias spread so much don't they? They seem to thrive anywhere too:)

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  4. Wow! Isn't it all doing well. Such beautiful plants. 😊

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    1. It is looking quite good at the moment:)

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  5. There's lots happening in your garden :)

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    1. Yes, the pond is lively too plus the birds, squirrels and foxes all grabbing food for their young ones:)

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  6. You have just the sort of full gardens as I would like to have. You have planted some types of flowers I have either not heard of or have heard of but never planted. Thanks for sharing how your garden grows. I will try to learn from your good examples! xx

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    1. Thank you Gracie, there are some lovely plants flowering at the moment, I love to see them come back again at this time of year:)

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  7. Your garden is bursting with colour! What a wonderful time of year.

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    1. Oh, definitely Lorrie. May and June are wonderful times of year especially in gardens:)

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  8. So much beauty in your garden. I love it when I go away and the return is always wonderful in the garden. May and June are definitely the best months. B x

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    1. I'm sure the plants know when we've gone and think they will surprise us when we get home. We left little tight buds and came home to colourful blooms:)

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  9. You have lots of lovely plants coming into flower. Your comment about the peonies suddenly made me appreciate the ones we have. We have six red ones doing well and they're just starting to burst into flower. We thought we would lift some and give to our local daughter, but I know they don't like being moved. Looking forward to seeing Conwy blog post when you can. The Five on Friday featuring it seems to have disappeared when I click on it.

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    1. So sorry Linda, my machine sort of jumped and flickered then the screen froze and before I knew it the post I was preparing for later had published itself unfinished. I will publish again for this coming Friday's Five:)

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    2. I'm looking forward to your post on Friday.

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  10. Your garden looks so lovely! Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Jx

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    1. Thanks, Jan. It's my favourite time in the garden:)

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  11. Beautiful photos. May just makes you want to spend every possible moment outside.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks, Amalia, May is a lovely month isn't it?:)

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  12. Your garden is looking wonderful Rosie despite all the rain it was under last year. Your strawberries are further ahead than mine. Mine are all green at the moment. You have a lovely variety of plants and flowers in your garden. x

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