I’m talking about the lovely dainty Erythroniums which grow in the woodland. They flower for such a short time, I’ve always said don’t go on holiday at this time of year otherwise you will miss their flowering altogether. They are such beautiful flowers, like miniature lilies, only growing about 6 inches tall. I had forgotten to keep a check on mine until we were shown those in Monty Don’s garden last Friday, so first thing Saturday I came to check on mine and found that one of the flowers was almost over.
I can see one flower at the top has almost finished, I spotted them just in time. I must clear space around them so that I can see them more easily, there is too much foliage and weeds hiding them By the time you read this the nettle will have been removed!
I do like the way the petals sweep back making them look like a turkscap lily.
I then looked at my other Erythroniums and found the E. White Beauty under a rhododendron was just coming into bud and the others at the left hand end of the woodland were just starting to flower, maybe another couple of days before the petals sweep back. This one has nice marbled leaves too.
I did have a lovely pink one once, E. Knightshayes Pink, named after our local National Trust house, but moved it into the woodland a few years ago and haven’t seen it since unfortunately, will have to see if I can get another. Even though the flowers are so fleeting, I feel they are worth the space as they are so beautiful, I will wait until more flowers are out before taking more photos.
Beautiful plants and in flower here, southeast Ireland, also. E. ‘Knightshayes Pink’ is in flower and perfectly beautiful.
Yes, I do regret moving E. Knightshayes Pink, but I thought it was too wet where I had it originally Paddy. You must show a photo of it then I can enjoy yours instead!
It’s a good thing you watch gardener’s world or you would have missed these little delights. Gorgeous they are.xxx
I would have missed them wouldn’t I Dina, that would have been dreadful! x
Beautiful flowers Pauline and well worth the space they take. I bought one a couple of years ago and have only had a couple of flowers on it so hoping for more this year.
I agree Denise, they are worth it. I have found that they take a few years to settle in, the ones I have now are putting up lots more flowers than they did a few years ago, sometimes we have to be very patient!
I have a purple one whose name I have temporarily forgotten which I bought as a plant rather than a bulb and that has come back happily at least twice – but I used to have a yellow one which I must check on…thanks for the reminder!
I’ve been checking all my others this morning, some white ones flowering now and more yellows about to flower, but the one under the rhododendron has lots of buds, I’m so glad I didn’t move it but just pruned a few branches away so I could see it better! No sign of either of my pink ones.