It’s difficult to know where to start, there are so many flowers all vying for attention this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I think I’ll start in the front with some oriental poppies in the Bee and Butterfly border.
This one is such a pale pink, it looks quite ethereal.
The next one in the Bee and Butterfly border is the colour of a water melon.
Flowering in the border by the field is Thalictrum aquilegiifolium with its flower heads of lovely, dainty, lilac powder puffs.
Still in the same border is Geranium magnificum with a flower of Oriental Poppy Patty’s Plum behind.
Also by the field are some tall Campanula that a friend gave me with the rose The Countryman. I’ve been moving bits of this campanula to other parts of the garden, it flowers quite well in semi shade.
Further along the border is different Campanula, which isn’t this colour at all, it is much more blue!
I planted this Alstromeria too far back in the same border so it will have to be moved, I’m now thinking it would look rather nice in either the Sunrise or Sunset borders.
Lovely Sambucus Black Lace is in the pond area, such a beautiful shrub with gorgeous dark leaves which set off the pink flowers.
Libertia grandiflora is also by the pond, at the moment it is covered with white flowers and stand out from everything around them.
Further round towards the house is the rhododendron bed with the last rhodo to flower, this lovely dark red one, in front is the first day lily to flower with a few welsh poppies in between.
Moving round to the back garden and scenting the air for such a long way, so that if you follow your nose, you end up here by Philadelphus coronarius Aureus. Such a beautiful perfume pumped out by hundreds of flowers so that it travels round the garden. This shrub will be cut back as soon as flowering is over as it is encroaching over the lawn.
Going mad round a corner of the house is the little Mexican daisy, Erigeron karvinskianus, it really is making a take over bid and is swamping 2 of my troughs, so urgent action is needed! It loves it here where it’s roots are down in sand under the paving, although it survived being under water for I don’t know how many weeks in the winter.
Another plant that is well and truly at home in the garden here is Meconopsis cambrica, the welsh poppy. I have sprinkled seed in all my shady borders and they certainly brighten up the shade.
Forming ground cover in the rose garden is Geranium Kashmir White. It does spread a bit but that isn’t a fault as it is very good at keeping the weeds down.
So many roses are flowering at the moment in the rose garden. Starting at the top left and going clockwise are Shropshire Lad, Gertrude Jekyll, Buff Beauty, Ballerina, Bonica and Sharifa Asma.
Roses in the border by the field are, starting top left, The Dark Lady, unknown, Evelyn, The Countryman, unknown and climbing up the pergola is New Dawn.
Again starting top left we have Geoff Hamilton, Iceberg, Charlotte, and Regensberg which was given to me nearly 20 years ago as a Mother’s Day present.
The last lot of roses are on the left, climbing over the archway into the woodland, Rambler Snow Goose, The Pilgrim and lovely simple Rosa glauca with it’s beautiful foliage.
Patty’s Plum has been beautiful again this year, putting out lots more flowers than usual, I think the plants have benefited from our wet winter, although at the time I was rather worried about everything standing in water for so long.
Climbing up the wall under the kitchen window is Hydrangea petiolaris with Astrantia major Shaggy for company.
Looking like exploding fireworks or sparklers is Stipa gigantea planted behind the bar-b-que, which is next to the alpine scree. This is a relatively small plant as yet, I have a much larger one in the bed round the dead oak, but I can see this one from the house when it is backlit by the sun and it looks like spun gold.
On the alpine scree is Helianthemum Wisley Cream, with a variegated Yucca in the background. This is spreading a bit too much, so I think clipping back after flowering is necessary and maybe moving some of it to another area, to see how it behaves on a heavier soil.
In the border that wraps itself around the scree is a rockery which slopes towards the house. This allium is doing very well, this must be the fifth year that these have appeared whereas other alliums just vanish. Each one is now coming up with 2 heads so I think they are happy, the trouble is, I can’t remember which variety it is, can anyone help, is it Giganteum, Globemaster etc, as I would like to buy more, maybe I will just have to save seed and wait!
Yes, definitely more needed, the ones I planted last year aren’t the same variety so I don’t expect them to last.
These are in quite deep shade, but they don’t seem to mind.
The other side of the bed that wraps itself around the scree, has Campanula porscharskyana growing everywhere. Serious thinning gets done every year as it is spreading itself too far and into plants where it shouldn’t be, it is now almost a weed!
The purple Cotinus in the back garden is now flowering, once again, I have never seen so many flowers on it before, maybe in future I won’t complain when we have so much rain, I will try to think of all the flowers that will be formed the following year!
White foxgloves and Postford White candelabra primulas are flowering at the back of the bog garden. Soon the Iris ensata in front will be flowering.
Primula alpicola at the front of the bog garden is perfuming the air around it, such a delicate, beautiful perfume, this one came back from a holiday in Scotland and perfumed the car all the way home!
Another one in the bog with a super perfume is Primula florindae, this one is about 3 ft tall whereas P.alpicola is about 1 ft tall.
The yellow primulas are all starting to flower now, this is Primula bulleyana with some of my seedlings at the back.
Primula florindae Coppertones is another that I saw in Scotland, but bought it from a nursery in N Ireland that specialise in primulas, this also has a wonderful perfume.
Zantedeschia aethiopica has now opened up two more huge flowers, when they first open they are so pristine and elegant. I bought this plant last year from a garden visit and it has done so well in the wettest part of the bog garden, with huge leaves and flowers to match.
I will finish with a couple of general views of the bog garden. As well as all the primulas, the astilbes are starting to flower, there is one at the top left.
The view from the other end has a hosta at the front which is obviously very happy and the slugs and snails seem to have left this one alone, thank goodness!
So that is my wander round the garden this GBBD, I left the bog garden till last as it is my favourite part of the garden at the moment. I am so pleased with the way this border has developed over the last 2 years, there is still a bit of tweaking to do, but the plants are obviously happy with the amount of water they are receiving from the underground stream.
Many thanks must go to Carol at Maydreams Gardens for once again hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. June is a wonderful month for flowers, do pop over to see what is blooming all over the world!
It all looks wonderful Pauline. I’ ve noticed before that we have a very similar taste in plants. Many of the plants you show here ones that I grow and love too. I love all your roses and your bog garden is gorgeous. I love Primula florindae Coppertones and Primula alpicola. Lovely!
Thank you Chloris, I too have thought that our gardens are similar where the plants are concerned. I am so pleased at how the bog garden has turned out. I was inspired by Harlow Carr’s bog and quite a few gardens in Scotland, including Inverewe, when we up there a few years ago on holiday. We returned with the back of the car full of lovely plants which I have increased by sowing seed and what you see is the result!
I searched high and low for P.florindae Coppertones, having seen it in a garden in Scotland, and eventually came across a nursery in N.Ireland which sold it, I must try some seeds to see if they come true.
Pauline, where do I begin? So many of my favourite plants. Beautiful roses, but then your poppies grabbed my attention, I do want to grow some other kinds of poppies, I have some seed for one that is supposed to be like Patty’s Plum. But you saved the very best until last. I would put up with a lot of rain to have such a lovely bog garden, you have created a stunning scene.
Thank you Christina, that means so much to me, coming from you! I tried to move Patty’s Plum one year, the ones on the post grew from the roots left behind, she is quite a determined lady!
I am really enjoying the bog garden, it is almost looking as I hoped, just a bit of tweaking when they have all finished flowering. Some of the primulas are sterile, so there won’t be any seed for me to sow, I will have to split them instead. It’s so nice that something can be created from a spot that the previous people thought was such a problem area, thank goodness for the British rain!
Oh bountiful indeed Pauline – and your roses are so beautiful with much better foliage than mine, I think. I am definitely on the lookout for where I can put more of the beauties! Your primulas are gorgeous too – but you don’t need me to tell you that! I have also noted what you have said about the erigeron and the Campanula porscharskyana, both of which are quite new here so are not yet thuggish!
Cathy, most of the roses end up with blackspot eventually, the joys of living in the clear Devon air! The Erigeron likes the sand under the paving, it doesn’t like my soil in the rest of the garden, heavy clay. The Campanula seeds everywhere, maybe I ought to cut it back sooner than I usually do!
Hi Pauline,
Lovely photos; it’s hard to believe it’s the middle of June already. Time flies by doesn’t it?
Your Primulas are lovely; I’ve been widening my species too, but this year one doesn’t seem to have appeared yet. Will have to check when it bloomed last year.
Liz, some of my primulas are still waiting to flower, there are plenty of buds, so it should be soon, don’t give up hope! At last the garden here is looking as it should, when walking round now, I am seeing lots of flowers, not lots of weeds, it has been hard work, so maybe we can have a rest soon!
Your garden tours are such a pleasure Pauline. I’m amazed at your collection of roses, each one glorious–especially interesting is the Rosa glauca with that lovely foliage. It’s nice you’re enjoying your bog garden so much–a nice reward for your planning and care.
Susie
Thanks Susie, I do seem to have rather a lot of roses, don’t I! Most of them have a beautiful perfume so its a pleasure for the nose as well as the eyes! Rosa glauca used to be called R. rubrifolia, a much nicer name, the foliage is so lovely.
It’s lovely to see what is flowering in your garden Pauline. You really have a special place with so much going on everywhere – especially the lush bog area! I think I will have to try growing Patty’s Plum – love the photos!
The bog area Cathy, gets better every day as more flowers open, I’m out there first thing to see what’s going on!
Patty’s Plum is a good strong grower, I think planted in semi shade, the colour stays better, otherwise it gets burnt by the sun.
Wow, what a lot of colours, and of beautiful plants. Stipa gigantea is beautiful, I have it too. Your papaver looks great.
Sigrun
Lovely to hear from you Sigrun! The garden is very colourful at the moment with everything vying for attention. I think the Stipa is my favourite grass, it’s so beautiful when the sun shines through it.
Absolutely stunning, Pauline. So many beautiful flowers…Snow Goose is just my type of rose but you have many more I could do with if I had the space. Great combinations of Hydrangea and Astrantia and some very lively colours, look at this Alstroemeria! I’m surprised that you still have Primulas and Alliums though as your garden seemed so far ahead of mine. Well, enjoy it, it’s surely heavenly 🙂
Thanks Annette, the garden is becoming more colourful as each day goes by. The bog garden is the most colourful of all though with all the primulas, some though are still waiting to flower, so the colour will be continuing for a while. Some Primulas and Alliums have been and gone, these must be later varieties.
There is so much to enjoy here! I especially like that Hydrangea/Astrantia combination. Very lovely indeed!
Thank you Sarah and thank you for stopping by and leaving a message, it’s always good to hear from someone new!
I’ve always followed your bog garden with great interest. Most of the land at the lower levels here, down by the river, is very wet. It’s the perfect location for a bog garden in the future. If it looks half as good as yours I will be over the moon.
Good to hear that Geranium Kashmir White is a spreader. I thought I’d lost mine (kept it too long in a pot) but this year it’s put up one lonely stem with a solitary flower. Maybe there is hope yet!
Your area by the river Jessica, sounds very promising. How far does the river rise in the winter, some plants that I have in the bog can’t stand being constantly wet, I think I will have to raise my Rheum a bit higher as it isn’t happy this year.
I’m sure Kashmir White will soon start exploring once you have planted it!
All is so beautiful, and I love your bog garden! I also truly enjoyed your rose collages. I think I could get lost in your garden, examining every plant. I know you must find great pleasure in your garden walks. Thanks for sharing your bounty of blooms with us.
At last Deb, I am far more conscious of all the flowers and not the weeds! At one time all I could see were the weeds, they had grown so big with all the rain we had over the winter. I’ve had lots of help from the undergardener, I couldn’t have done it without him, but yes, my walks round the garden are very enjoyable at the moment, especially by the bog garden!
I love all your bounty – but the ones that make my heart flutter are the first 2 pics, the closeup of that pale pink poppy and the next one, a darker pink.
They are lovely flowers aren’t they Catmint, so fleeting though, they don’t last long unfortunately. It’s just as well that there are so many buds on each plant!
Oh Pauline your GBBD posts always leave me almost speechless. There are so many riches in your garden and I’m sure that you have not shown them all. Your mention of geranium ‘Kashmir White’ has reminded me that mine has not appeared this year. It was one of my favourite geraniums 🙁 Wonder if it could just be a matter of old age or whether it was the wet winter.
Thanks Anna, June is such a wonderful month with flowers everywhere. Sorry to hear that G. Kashmir White hasn’t put in an appearance for you, if you would like me to pot up a bit for you, just let me know with your address.
Pauline, What a beautiful post! Your Alstromeria is amazing. I’ve never seen one like it…..the colors, wow! You have so may different kinds of beautiful Poppies and Primulas. What a wonderful time of year!
Thank you Sally, the Alstromeria is all the colours of a wonderful sunrise isn’t it! I think June is a super time of year, all the hard work that everyone puts into the garden comes to fruition, it’s time to sit back and enjoy it all!
I love the oriental poppies in your garden, but then I was wowed by all of the beauty you have nurtured…The photos are amazing.
The oriental poppies are so photogenic aren’t they Charlie. So beautiful yet so fleeting and treasured all the more for being so.
Wow, Pauline! Found your garden through June’s Bloom Day. Absolutely stunning. It must be a blissful serene walk through your gardens. Your photographs and descriptions are wonderful. If I had to pick a favorite, it would Patty’s Plum. I don’t know if I can grow these in my zone, but I will look. Thank you for sharing. Your successes are inspiring.
Thanks Shelley for stopping by and leaving a message, it’s always good to hear from someone new!I have to admit, I do enjoy just wandering round the garden, but there is always something that catches my eye and I realise that more work is needed! Maybe if you are in a zone hotter than the UK, Patty’s Plum might be happier with a bit of shade, she tends to burn in hot sunshine!
Your garden is exploding with the most beautiful plants! I was so happy to see Buff Beauty, which I tried to grow several times but it was just too tender for the Winters. The roses are just fabulous!
Hi Jayne, Buff Beauty is one of my favourites, such a beautiful colour. Will you now be able to grow it, now that you have moved, or will it be too hot where you are?! I got our atlas out today to find where you have moved to, it is a long way to the south, your gardens are going to be so different now!