Growth is good, despite the chilly weather.
May is such a busy month.
Borders to keep free of weeds.
Checking that plants are not carrying disease.
Hops are starting to climb the obelisk.
Chives are a plenty. I like to chop the flower heads and add them to salad.
Cytisus x praecox 'Allgold'......Broom is not one of my favourite shrubs but the bees love it.
Persicaria bistorta superba........I have fallen in love with persicaria and have added some large specimens to the garden. I am beginning to understand the importance of statement plants in a border.
Clematis Miss Bateman.......I have a passion for clematis. I would say I am almost obsessed.
Clematis montana var. rubens........I am adding more and more climbers, many will scramble through shrubs and trees.
Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride'.....a gift, and very gratefully received.
'Blenheim orange' apple blossom......the old girl is at last in bloom. For me, she steals the show.
Tulipa 'black parrot'.....in the autumn I plan to plant 'angelique' amongst them.
Iris 'bold print'.........the first iris to bloom. There are many waiting in the wings. Rabbits loathe them, so they will be a wonderful addition to the garden.
It will be fun waiting to see them grow and bloom.
Please note the watering can........she most certainly is a fun little girl........
26 comments:
As always some stunning pics. I love your garden - it's so natural but very varied. Love the little gardener too and her cute poodle can! Start them early eh?
Jane
Hi Jane....Poppi and I have gardened together for around three years now. She is the perfect garden companion. I believe she is a natural.....
Very cold here too. Ice in the bird bath early in the mornings.
The spring bloomers love this cool weather. The flowers last forever when the temperatures remain cool.
Love your black tulip. I hope I can find one this fall. Would love to add it to my garden.
Marnie
Hi Cheryl,
Lovely to see so much growth in your garden, I wish I could boast as much but sadly I'm seriously lacking at the moment and in an strange twist the front garden actually seems to have more mature growth!
(I largely ignore the front garden, the back takes preference)
I'm loving your deep purple geranium, I have a lighter pink version and have been on the look out for the darker one.
You have such wonderful drifts of color in your garden! Columbine is something I love and which I apparently can't grow, lol. Poppi is just great. You are so lucky to have a granddaughter who truly likes to garden!!
That watering can is a hoot. Poppie looks very serious as she strolls around looking for a place to plant her flowers. What a fun day. It is cold and windy here too. The plants don't seem to mind as much as I do. Actually I don't mind either. I am not going out much today though. Those parrot tulips are fantastic. They seem as exotic as the real parrots.
Your garden helper (Poppi)has to be the joy of your life.
Love her watering can...can't imagine where you could buy one like that.
Love the Clematis Miss Bateman...so pretty.
Cool here also for another week, plants don't mind.
Cheryl, how thrilled Poppi will be to see her plants come up. A true gardener you have there with that wonderful watering can.
I love the parrot tulips and the Angelics will go very well with them. I also love the clematis. I don't blame you for being passionate about them. They are such a varied group of plants and blooms. Your garden will be even more delightful with their blooms growing up the trees and structures. Do you have Autumn Beauty? It blooms in the fall and is glorious.
The weather here is cold and nasty, with even a frost Sat. night. I want my spring weather back so I feel like planting. :)
Hope you had a great get away.
Hi Marnie....it does seem to be cold everywhere at the moment....so unseasonal.
I bought the black tulips after seeing them on a blog last year....so glad that I did.
Hi Liz....strangely my front garden has not done so well....the back is better. Obviously down to the amount of light and sun, in my case.
I love the geranium....would you like me to see if I can get you one? I believe my wildflower supplier may have some but do not hold me to that.
Hi Monica.....I do realise how lucky I am to have a little grand-daughter so interested in gardening.
I think it is just in some of us, don't you??
Hi LIsa....the watering can made me smile....her choice, of course.
I can honestly say she makes me laugh and smile every day that I am with her.
I could do with a little warmth. I am losing the long evenings, far too cold to work in the garden.
HI Patsi......the plants seem to be enjoying the chill air. In fact I have several clumps of daffs still in bloom. Never had that in May before.....
Hi Beckie....tks for recommending Autumn Beauty....I shall look for that. Would be nice to have one flowering as we approach the darker evenings.
Poppi is so fun.....she planted well. I just wonder what colour combinations will come up. I am not bothered....she had fun and the wildlife does not do colour co-ordination.
I had an amazing weekend. Went to Harrogate....North Yorkshire.
My sons girlfriend was in a play....went to see her performance. Also had lunch at a very famous tearoom 'Betty's'.
It was wonderful.....
Hope you and yours are well, and the weather soon warms up.
Great photos Cheryl. I am walking around my patch looking at what is coming up every day now. Lots of aquilegias, some seedlings and some that I grew from seed last year called Lime Sorbet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we'll see them in flower this year! Best clematis I ever grew was Clematis flammula - masses of white flowers in late summer and the bees loved it too. Really worth looking out for if you don't have one already - I suspect you might somehow. So lovely to read about passionate gardening and I want one of those watering cans - what street cred I'd have with one of those. Lesley
I always love seeing the little gardener. It's chilly here as well. I think the plants like a little respite from their rapid growth...just a little rest.
Dear Cheryl, So much beauty again, there is always such a feeling of serenity in your lovely garden, I think looking through your blog posts must be very good for the blood pressure :)
I too have fallen in love with 'Angelique' and think she will look wonderful among your 'Black Parrots'.
Apart from Bees your Broom should attract the larvae of the Green Hairstreak Butterfly!
Poppi looked so absorbed in her task, her watering can is (like her) so sweet :)
Poppi looks so serious planting the flowers and she has such a cute outfit. That colorful apron and a watering can are so fun!
And your flowers are beautiful. I believe it is such a hard work to see if the plants are healthy and do well. You're a very passionate gardener!
Hi Lesley...thank you re clematis flamula. I do not have one. It will be on my wish list now.
It is wonderful to walk the garden and see new growth and blooms. The cooler weather has kept much on hold, I still have daffs blooming. I must say that feels quite odd.
The watering can is fun. Perhaps my street cred would go up to if I used it!! Somehow I do not think so, in my case.....lol
Hi Jan....green hairstreak....tku I did not realise that. I am beginning to love broom a lot now.
I will keep a look out for any signs.
I like to think the garden is peaceful.......certainly there is always something to look at and that in itself is often calming.
Poppi loves the garden and to work in it.....I am so very privileged.
Thank you Aluajala, such a kind comment.
Poppi has chosen her daily clothes since the age of two. Her mother wants her to be who she is.....not what Mummy wants her to be. I love my daughter for that. Poppi mixes colours and yet they suit her well.
I am so very passionate about my garden and the wildlife in it.
I don't know what I would do if I could not garden every day.....
Cheryl it is cold here too!What happened to our promise of warmth and sun!
Nevertheless our gardens continue to fill in and yours is spectacular!
So many flowers in bloom already!I love you "Tulipa 'black parrot"..I will write in my garden journal to plant some in the fall..I love the color & tattered edges!I've never thought to put the flower heads of chives in salads!! I learn something new everyday from my fellow garden friends!!I too love Clematis climbing everywhere!
My hubby prefers they not be there.
How sweet is your little Poppi a future "keeper of the earth!"
Have a wonderful week in your garden!
Hi Anna,
I love the tulips.....they are so striking. I seem to remember that I saw them on a blog and that was it, I was hooked.
Most men, I believe, like a uniform garden. I live with an engineer, so straight lines are his world. I do not do straight lines....lol we compomise.
Poppi, for her tender years, has a connection with the earth and it's inhabitants. She picked up an ant last week and moved it to what she thought was a safer location.
It was on the patio with lots of people, she thought they may stamp on it. She has a good heart and is sensitive .......
We had a heavy frost last night....most unusual.
Dear Cheryl,
Poppi steals my heart every time I see her. The watering can is a perfect fit indeed as is the apron. Does she wear gardening gloves or does she like the feel of the dirt? I always take my gloves off after 5 minutes!
I loved the responce you wrote on how she moved an ant to safer ground. She is a true naturalist. Perhaps she will also learn to journal her gardening.
Always enjoy seeing your flowers and your wildlife. It is cool here too and rainy. Too cold for butterflies and only a few bees were out yesterday. Lots of birds migrating through. I am busy keeping the feeders filled.
You are a wise Grandmother to encourage Poppi to plant where she feels each plant wants to go. She is connecting and you are supporting her love of life.
I find I fall in love with plants that are the hosts for the butterflies. Broom is pretty and it would be a delight to see some eaten leaves. May IS a busy month!
I love the slow down and smelling the garden when I come to visit you.
Thank you.
Sherry
Lol, the watering can is perfect--I have a "pink poodle" type Granddaughter, too:) Such beautiful blooms, Cheryl; I love the irises. You will really enjoy 'Angelique' tulips; I think they're my favorite.
these photos were such a delight to my day ! thank you.
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