WHATS LOOKING GOOD IN MAY 2014

Iris chrysographs................


Best shot that I could get of it in the sun - it's actually a lot darker.

 

None of the plants are minding the rain we've been having, unlike me! The blooms on the Rhododendron which open to a paleish pink are literally the size of footballs. It's 1 of the Walloper family, it perhaps would be better named as of the dolloper family as it is some dollop of a plant!

 

Sheal for a garden that was slow starting you have some very good specimens now.

 

Love it longk such a beautiful colour.

Silu - lovely display of rhododendrons.

 

It's getting there Annie, thanks! The annuals have been in weeks now but they're at a standstill, I think it's lack of heat and sun.

 

You were probably stood next to me Kristen

 

I get depressed the moment I step into the Marquee ... every pant perfect, no munched leaves on the Hostas, Delphiniums 20' tall, Lupin flowers all perfect and not an aphid in sight ...

!!

 

If I could just get aphid free that would be a start!

 

I guess this is why I'm no longer interested in flower shows - every item on display is intended for the sole purpose of looking at its best for those few days, the plants are manipulated so much that they no longer reflect reality.

Normal gardens are much more interesting, and you can see what is flowering at different seasons, what their growing conditions are and can also work out if there are any potential down side. Personally I'd rather buy a plant that is looking good in Wisley Garden then one excellent specimen at Chelsea Flower Show.

Maybe I'm just getting old and cynical

 

I am interested in seeing the true colour of varieties (catalogue descriptions are often rubbish, and if I look at half a dozen websites selling a plant they either all have the identical description [which may well be wrong], or they all have different descriptions of the colour, and are ambiguous). Numerous varieties, side by side, is handy in that respect (and answers my "Which variety is the best red" type questions)

I'm also interested to see varieties that I have never seen before, and which might be of interest to me. Taking Hostas as an example, even if they have no slug damage, and are totally perfect and utterly unrealistic in the Real World, I can see relative heights, leaf sizes, strength of colour variegation and record in my little book "Yuck" or "Must have!"

There is the opportunity to pick the brains of the growers too. For example: I am indebted to Heuchraholics telling me that, on my heavy soil, as a broad-brush approach I should choose larger leafed cultivars

 

The herbaceous bed has come on a treat this year. A few shots taken from different angles:









This Delphinium simply appeared in the corner of the vegetable plot as a seedling a few years ago. It wasn't particularly in the way, so I just left it to its own devices. It just gets better every year.



The wildflower 'meadow' area with a few ox-eye daisies in amongst the grass, looking good in the evening sun.

 

Fabulous Trunky

 

ooooh....

and
aaaaaahh.......
such lovely colours @Trunky,
thank you for sharing these this evening,
Jenny

 

Wow, that is something to aspire to! It looks fantastic.