CHERRY BLOSSOM AND RHODODENDRONS
Welcome back to our slightly chilly garden. Despite the May weather being a bit of a damp squib, the garden is getting its party clothes on.
1. Cherry Blossom
The cherry trees have blossomed this week. These have frilly double flowers; one palest pink and the other white. They do look pretty with the light scattering of bluebells under them.
2. Rhododendrons
Also bursting into vibrant flower this week are the Rhododendrons. Both the large flowered hybrids like this one....
and this rich cerise one ...
And the deliciously scented vibrant yellow Rhododendron luteum.
3. Parrot Tulips
The last of the tulips have arrived in the their fancy outfits too. First up is the wonderfully gothic Black Parrot.
While Estella Rijnveld has the dashing flounces of a flamenco dancer.
Each in their own way is totally beautiful to me.
4. Geum 'Banana Daiquiri'
Sticking with the party theme (and I've got this far) here is one of the cocktail series of Geums. I don't think I've ever had a Banana Daiquiri and I'm not sure I would want one to be honest, but you can't blame the plant for being landed with this name.
Here it is towering over Geum 'Primrose Cottage' which I featured last week.
FYI you can't beat a Pina Colada in my opinion.
5. Veronica Gentianoides
Looking very demure by comparison with all these gorgeously bedecked visitors, is Veronica Gentianoides. A growing clump of freshest pale blue spires which I propagated from a small patch found growing in the garden when we moved here.
6. Hello Wall
(Said in my best Shirley Valentine voice.) This corner of the Rose Garden has been hidden by a prostrate Juniper since we moved in, and in all probably it's been there since the 1970s. But sadly it is no more. It had been dying back for a while and an inspection last weekend found that it was covered in orange jelly like fungus which the an internet search told me was Gymnosporangium sabinae. It seemed like it was time to remove it. The Dryopteris had been growing happily under the Juniper and can stay there for now, but I need to think what to plant in its place.
You have such lovely plants. The combo of the Geums with what I'm guessing is Erysimum Bowles Mauve is gorgeous, and that Veronica is so pretty. Although it's sad about the Juniper, how nice to have a wall planting opp, what are you thinking of putting there?
ReplyDeleteWell spotted - it is Bowles Mauve. I'm not sure what to put in the place. Something that would trail over the edge a bit would be good. Perhaps a procumbent (ground cover) rose would do that.
DeleteI like the old exposed stone bit of the wall, and that space is calling out for some interesting planting, which I hope you will share with us in due course.
ReplyDeleteI had been wondering exactly what was under there and it was better than I thought.
DeleteLovely selection. Funnily enough I've been pondering getting Geum 'Banana Daiquiri' (and a few other varieties). I'll definitely be adding it to the list now! The yellow rhododendron is pretty and the blossoms are a show.
ReplyDeleteIt's the scent of that yellow rhododendron that is so wonderful. It carries over a wide area when it is warm (if only it would get warm).
DeleteAll the rhododendrons have started here too… Some are ahead of others but the vast majority are in bloom.
ReplyDeleteI notice that I don't have yellow rhododendrons like your beautiful yellow Rhododendron luteum and yet I have a lot of different colours and varieties.
Although that's its proper name, I would call it an Azalea as it is deciduous. It's the scent that makes it worth having in the garden in my opinion.
DeleteSo many gorgeous flowers but I especially love the tulips.
ReplyDeleteI really like the Veronica. It is quite a deceptive plant I think - it's so non-descript and flat for most of the year, but puts on a really decent show once it flowers.
ReplyDeleteThe Parrot Tulips are great. I've not grown any this year; I'll have to rectify that for next year!
Yes - it's just a small basal rosette most of the year, but it is useful as it flowers in that May gap.
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