Once the lovely sunny weather arrived in June, everything started to explode into flower and we felt that summer had arrived at last. It lasted for about 10 days, now it is back to rain, which we did need, and cold winds once more. There are so many flowers to share with you, I’ll start with a meconopsis, this time not the blue one, but the yellow Meconopsis cambrica which seeds gently round the garden.
Meconopsis cambrica
Californian Iris
These beautiful Californian Iris are in the bog garden, they are very small and must never be allowed to dry out, but also, they don’t like being waterlogged which can be a problem here in the winter but so far they are surviving and increasing.
Dwarf Bearded Iris
Another small iris, this time a lovely dwarf bearded iris which is very happy on the alpine scree and it also has such a beautiful delicate perfume.
Ajuga
Ajuga is forming nice carpets under deciduous shrubs and the bees love the flowers.
Euphorbia griffithii Dixter
Making a lovely splash of colour in a corner by the field is Euphorbia Dixter, the leaves adding to the tapestry as much as the flowers. It does spread but is easily controlled.
Camellia
It’s unbelievable that one of the camellias is still flowering with a few buds still to open.
Allium Purple Sensation
The Alliums in the border behind the alpine scree are managing to survive, thanks to all the grit that was incorporated at planting time to give them the good drainage that they need. A bit of a colour clash here, but the alliums are flowering on time whereas the azalea is about 5 weeks late!
Papaver orientale
All the oriental poppies are now starting to open, unfurling their tissue paper petals. This one is in the ” bee and butterfly ” border which is coming into its own now with lots to attract any passing insects. There have been flowers here from February in case any bees are tempted out in a warm spell.
Rosa The Dark Lady
Roses are also gathering momentum, there are quite a few out now, this one, The Dark Lady has a superb perfume first thing in the morning and also in the evening.
Chives
Chives are going mad, seeding everywhere, growing where they were flooded for weeks last year, lots for us to enjoy in our cooking this year!
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Wafting to and fro in the breeze in the woodland is this Thalictrum The flowers are so fine, like gossamer, seeming as delicate as a dandelion clock, but quite tough really.
Viburnum opulus
The snowballs of Viburnum opulus living up to its name, the shrub is absolutely covered with them this year. There are lots more this year, but each cluster of blooms is smaller than usual, they make such an impact at the side of the garden.
Rosa Buff Beauty
Rosa Buff Beauty is doing really well by the garage, this one is a cutting I took from one in the back garden.
Rosa Gertrude Jekyll
Also by the garage is Gertrude Jekyll which contrasts with the purple berberis behind it, such a lovely rose with the most fantastic perfume.
Dutch Iris Silver Beauty
Just a few of the Dutch Iris that I planted about 5 yrs ago, are still surviving. This one is really pretty and stands out in the bee and butterfly border.
Papaver orientale Patty’s Plum
The oriental poppy, Patty’s Plum, is going from strength to strength and looks better each year. I’m finding that they don’t like too much sun, the petals burn so easily if it is too hot, when is it ever too hot here?!
Polemonium alba
The white form of Polemomium seeds itself round the garden, along with the blue variety, they are easy to remove if there are too many.
Hemerocallis
This small hemerocallis is always the first one to flower, in the bed opposite the back door, I rather like its smallness in contrast to the big blousey ones that will soon be flowering.
Meconopsis Lingholm
I know I have just done a post about Meconopsis, but I had to include a photo of them here, I just couldn’t leave them out.
Peonia Top Brass
My first peony to flower is always Top Brass and it has a perfume to die for! A daily sniff is compulsory!
Clematis Lasurstern
At the side of the conservatory in the back garden is a clematis which was planted by the previous owners, I think it is Clematis Lasurstern, lovely blue/lilac colour.
Erigeron karvinskianus
Seeding everywhere in between the paving slabs is the little mexican daisy, Erigeron karvinskianus. The paving was under water last year, sometimes for a week at a time, so I don’t know how they survived, but some will need to be moved or we will be tripping over them and I don’t need any more falls in the garden!
English Iris
Near the front gate in the bee and butterfly border is a clump of English Iris, getting bigger and bigger as the years go by. I think I will soon have to split them to make more clumps through the border.
Rainbow in the bog garden
I will do a post about the bog garden soon but I will finish with a view from either end of the candelabra primulas that are now starting to flower and making that part of the garden very colourful at the moment.
Bog garden
Just as I used to visit the woodland each day from Jan.to April to see what had emerged overnight, now I come to the bog garden each day as more candelabra primulas have started to rise up with their wonderful tiers of flowers. Most were brought back from our holiday in Scotland 2 yrs ago and now some of their seedlings are starting to flower which is very exciting!
I am joining in with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, so please join with others by visiting Carol’s May Dreams Gardens to see what is blooming around the world.
You’ve got so many beautiful blooms at the moment. Loved the Irises, the Erigeron and the Euphorbia. Your garden looks absolutely lovely.
Hello Bernie, thanks for visiting and for your kind comments. Our gardens must be so different, apart from you having winter at the moment! I will now enjoy a wander around yours!
Wow, your garden is absolutely gorgeous Pauline, and some stunning plants!
Having read back a little way, our conditions are very similar. I have woodland, boggy bits(!) and slightly acid soil. When we moved in the garden was totally overgrown so I am having to undertake a huge clearing task as I go, and progress is slow. I will be inspired by yours.
BTW, it was almost certainly the pheasant who ate the fritillaries.. I caught ours in the act about half an hour after I’d bought the plants home from the garden centre. They were still in their pots! I ended up having to view them through a cage of chicken wire. 🙁
Lovely to hear from you Jessica and thank you for your lovely comments.
We do seem to have similar parts to our gardens, although I think I had the easier job because we inherited an almost blank canvas of wall to wall grass. It was just a question of carving out beds one at a time and having projects that lasted for about 15 yrs! I’ve now got to the stage where I am now rejuvinating the planting that I first did, I have learnt so much in the years in between.
What a shame the pheasants got your fritillaries even before you planted them. I have had the fritillaries for years now but this was the first time the pheasants helped themselves, I’m thinking because the field next door was so frozen, no natural food was available for them. Not nice to think that the only way we can enjoy them is through a cage of wire, maybe I ought to put seed out for the pheasant so that he leaves my plants alone!
Hi Pauline,
Lovely photos 🙂
Your Camellia is gorgeous! Oh yes, and look at Patty’s Plum. Still waiting for mine to bloom and don’t think it will this year… That’ll be the second year it hasn’t bloomed 🙁
It’s hard not to spend all spare time out in the garden at the moment… Although the plants aren’t definitely grateful for the rain, I do miss sitting out on the grass and lounging for the entire weekend! 🙂
Hi Liz,
I’m amazed the camellia is still putting out flowers, I’ve never had it flower in June before. I wonder why your Patty’s Plum hasn’t flowered.lets hope it’s just putting down lots of lovely roots.
It must be difficult to only have the weekend for relaxing or gardening, at the moment all our spare time is in the garden. Unfortunately it got neglected the last two years when my muscles weren’t behaving and it shows. As long as I can get it back to the way I like it, by the end of the year,then I will be happy.
Abundant certainly describes your garden! I especially like the Patty’s Plum poppy, I think I will try to squeeze in some oriental poppies, but I will heed your warning and try to find them a spot not in direct sun. Your bog garden is always a pleasure to read about so I look forward to a post soon. Christina
Christina, things have certainly started growing this month with the sun and rain together making ideal conditions. I think the colour of the poppies fades also in the sun, so in your summer heat they may be better in dappled shade.
The candelabra primulas have me out there each day, it is such a colourful part of the garden at the moment, I can’t believe how fast everything is growing. I’m just waiting for a few more different varieties to put up their tall flowers, then I will write about them.
So many cool climate lovelies! Nice to savor them when I came in from hot and humid outside.
Hi Nell Jean, good of you to stop by and leave a message. I don’t think my plants or I would survive in your heat! Our temperatures at the moment are still not as warm as they should be for this time of year. We had 10 days at the beginning of June when the temperature rose and we all thought that at last summer had arrived but now it is cool once again unfortunately.
All looking great. I smiled at your comment re the Erigeron – if you wanted it to grow where it gets too wet it would fail!
That surely is a gorgeous clematis growing by your front door Pauline. I’m pleased you posted another picture of your Mecs. Thank you.
Angie, the original plant of Erigeron died but I was so glad that it seeded into the paving, so that’s where it can stay, but not quite so much of it! The meconopsis are producing lots more flowers, I just couldn’t resist taking another photo!
That is a really admirable camellia–very striking. Your picture of the Rosa Buff Beauty shows it off perfectly. And I do like the coloring of Patty’s Plum–I never have had success growing any poppy, but this is worth trying again. Also I appreciate your notes about the different plants that self-seed. It’s very helpful to be forewarned and of course, if the plants are easily removed I find that good to know. All so lovely Pauline. You must be really enjoying yourself in your garden. Susie
It’s amazing Susie that the camellia is still flowering at this time of year, just one or two buds left to flower now. I do enjoy being in the garden at this time of year, either working or otherwise! When walking round there are so many different perfumes being carried on the breeze as well as so many lovely blooms to admire – super time of year.
Everything is exploding now. Each day something new has happened. I bought 2
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium this year, they are still small but beautiful. Your roses look stunning, and Gertrude Jekyll is on my wish list. The white polemonium is also blooming here, and I wouldn´t mind selfseeding. My peonys are on the way. Your boggarden also looks very nice.
Yes Gitte, I think summer has arrived at last, thank goodness. Your Thalictrum will soon grow and have its lovely flowers, I’m sure. Lots of roses are now opening, I just showed a few, but they seem to be everywhere and peonys are not far behind, they are extra special when they have a lovely perfume.
Some beautiful June flowers Pauline. Patty’s Plum’ is a peach. I like your irises too. I am wondering whether your Californian iris is the same as my Pacific coast iris. The flowers unfortunately do not last for long and are quite dainty looking. Mine usually opens in May but is late this year.
You’re right Anna, your Pacific coast iris is the same as mine. The flowers last for about 4 days but there are so many of them that the plant seems to flower for quite a long time.
What beautiful gardens! How wonderful to have a bog garden. I hope to put in a small pond in my garden and would love a “boggy” section. Right now it seems as if my entire garden is a bog with all the rain we’ve had! I love your collection of flowers and had to look up a few to see if they were hardy enough for my garden. Sadly the Euphorbia and Thalictrum are not, but hello Meconopsis! I am certainly glad you did not leave it out of this post.
Hello Kathy, thank you for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments. The bog garden that we have is caused by an underground stream in part of the garden, it is always wet there, no matter how dry the rest of the garden is. Some of the first meconopsis that we saw were at the Metis Garden on the side of the St. Lawrence River when we were there a few years ago on holiday, they had thousands in their wood, it was absolutely fantastic and I have been hooked ever since. I know the St. Lawrence is a very long river, but if you are anywhere near there, I think it was about this time of year that we visited!!
Where shall I start from? Your roses are gorgeous, I love that green eye on the Dark Lady and your Buff Beauty is much more yellow than mine, which flowers more on the apricot/beige side. Colours of roses may vary on different soil type.
I like that yellow meconopsis, although the blue ones are always more charming.
The bog garden is looking great, I’m looking forward to reading a dedicated post!
Hi Alberto, I thought you might like the roses! Buff Beauty fades to a much paler colour when it has been out in the sun for a few days, I imagine your hot sun starts to bleach it straight away, it could be that if it had a bit of shade the colour might be darker?
The bog garden is getting better and better each day, I’m just waiting for a few more different primulas to start flowering, then I’ll get writing!
You have a garden full of beautiful flowers, Pauline – with some gorgeous colours. I love all the Irises. I’ve been meaning to treat myself to a Patty’s Plum for years but have never got round to it. I really must for next year. I have a Rosa Buff Beauty that is beginning to flower, too – so many of the roses are starting to look glorious, aren’t they?
Thank you Wendy, I think iris,peonies and poppies bridge the gap between the spring flowers and the summer herbacious plants that will delight us for the next few months. The roses have suddenly started flowering here, a bit later than usual because of the cooler weather, but yes, they do look lovely.
I have been so busy that I forgot all about GBBD, oh well. Your gardens are spectacular. I especially like the primroses. All mine are done.
The weather here Carolyn, has been much cooler than it should be for this time of year, so lots of plants are still behind, they haven’t caught up yet. We have lots of primulas still to send up their flower stalks, I can see we will still have them well into July!
What a lovely photo of your bog garden! I wish I could grow the Mexican daisy, but they won’t do for me. You’ve reminded me I need to try the Dixter euphorbia, though, if I can find it here. Looks like your late spring has everything blooming nearly at once. Last week in France, I saw early irises and poppies blooming in tandem with climbing roses and showy, hybrid clematis. Incredible!
The weather Marian doesn’t seem to know what it is doing, so plants are flowering together as never before, we are getting some strange combinations. The original plant of the Mexican daisy died, it obviously didn’t like my soil, but thank goodness it set seed first! The bog garden gets better each day, soon be time to write about it!
Oh Pauline, it was SUCH a delight to read through this post and admire all your lovely blooms. I wouldn’t want to pick out any favourites from among them – as your title says, it is the abundance of them that is the real joy. By the way, I meant to tell you that my Bishop of Llandaff is beginning to make an appearance after all – how about yours?
Cathy,I’ve just been to have a look and yes, the Bishop and his children are now doing fine, thank you!
Each day, more and more flowers open, the lilies are now flowering along with Philadelphus so walking round the garden is not just a feast for the eyes, but the nose as well. I just wish it would all slow down and let me catch up!
The sun, as you said, kind of bleach the colours but different soil type could influence even more on rose colours.
I love the views of your bog garden! I also adore your camellia with the pink tinted edges, as well as your Meconopsis Lingholm. It’s a wonderful time of the year in your garden.
Thank you Deb, I like the bog garden too for its lush foliage and colourful flowers. The camellia had one very different flower on it this year, if it happens again next year I must try and strike it as a cutting to make a new bush. Normally the beginning of June is the best time of year in the garden here, that was when we used to open it for charity, but it seems that everything is still about 3 weeks late this year with the cold spring that we had.