End of Month View May 2014

Here we are at the end of May and how time flies when you are having fun!  The doldrums I found myself in at this time last month seems to have shifted and I am now feeling a bit more positive.  I've accepted the fact that I can't split myself in 3 and at times somethings just needs to take a back seat.  Taking the back seat of late has been blogging and reading blogs.  Having said that, I am determined to continue with my committal to my End of Month View postings.  It will be great to see what I've missed in your gardens, I'm willing to bet I'll notice a huge difference.

End of Month View April 2014

The month of May continued to be exceptionally dry here, we've had a few showers but no where near as bad as it's been in the rest of the country.  The grass seed that had only just germinated in April's post is now looking good.  It's been mown twice - one thing we do well here in Scotland is lush fast growing lawn.  The natural stone edging is doing exactly as I had planned.  Just level enough for the mower to skim over without the need of edging each and every time.  The stones are still a bit grubby but will get a good going over with the power washer later in the year - some of the grass seed has also managed to germinate in amongst the plants.  I just need to be vigilant and remove it when I find it.  It seems I've unleashed a demon too!  Mares tails have started appearing.  That's one weed I don't want to take hold.  Again, vigilance will be needed to keep on top of it.  



Not so red Lupin!

The border is now filling out - some things I'm happy with and others are annoying me.  My discontent is 4 fold.  Oriental Poppies (Pattie's Plum), don't seem at all happy.  The cause of their unhappiness has me baffled - Oriental Poppies tend to do well here. Next on the list of discontent -  Helianthus Lemon Queen, I've used this to fill out the back section (until Viburnum sargentii Onondaga matures)  between the Deutzia and the Cardoon.   Of 3 plants only 2 are thriving.    I'm not sure if I need worry about that though.  At the rate they are growing, it seems I have seriously misjudged how quickly they will fill out!  Filling the gaps between the alliums to the right of the cardoon.  Planting in that area is rather patchy - again, due to my misjudgement on how their neighbours would perform.  I've temporarily used some Candelabra Primula I had growing elsewhere.  I had bought a peony (P. Fragrant Pink Imp) to do the job of filling in, then promptly changed my mind.  Another day, another purchase, Verbascum Clemantine (now planted at very back of top border) didn't do it for me either.  I think I'll leave it be for now.   My final disappointment is the red Lupins.  They have all settled in and are producing flower buds and the first bud to colour up just happens to be purple!  It will be interesting to see what the other 2 produce.    

End of Month View May 2014
Just before the sun goes down behind the house for the night

 

It's not all negative, I do have to keep reminding myself of that.  I find it difficult to focus on the positives rather than the negatives, I doubt I am alone in that respect.  Let's see what's pleasing me.




Viburnum sargentii Onondaga
 The leathery foliage is as impressive as the bronze coloured buds before they open

Geum Bell Bank and Primula beesiana

Aquilegia vulgaris William Guinness

If we stand to the back of the border looking back down towards the house, the yellow of the Euphorbia polychroma contrasts nicely with the purple of the Allium and Aquilegia.   

 

Allium Purple Sensation, Aquilegia William Guinnes and Euphoriba polychroma 

I took a huge risk in moving a couple of peonies into this border back in March, one was already well into growth and had buds, the other had just come out of dormancy.

Peony buds fattening up

3 buds on Itoh hybrid Border Charm

Up on the back tier the Cotinus I planted to contrast with the Sambucus nigra Black Lace is positively glowing!  I've added a Clematis montana Marjorie to the back corner.  I had previously ordered this at my local nursery.  I can't remember where I had intended to plant it but it's found a home here.  I've had to use some plastic netting to protect it from the cats, they will insist on climbing the fence in this corner.   



Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit and floppy Verbascum Clemantine 

To the right of the Sambucus is where I've chosen to grow my coral bark Maple - I've filled in round about with a selection of perennials, all growing elsewhere in the garden except Geum Flames of Passion.  Primula aurantiaca are just about to come into flower, Himalayan cowslips, Knifophia, Ligularia and Astrantia will flower later.   The rambling rose (R.'Félicité Perpétue') growing on wires (espalier) was originally meant to be fence cover and although doing a great job, I think is now out of place.  The jury is out until it flowers.  By which time I'll have a better idea of the impact it will make.  I fear that I may have too many white flowering shrubs in this area.  

 

Acer palmatum Eddisbury

Last and certainly not least for this End of Month View, although technically not part of my End of Month View, it is contained within the same border, therefore I've allowed myself to include it and will continue to do so for the remainder of the year. 

 

I've longed for what I call a proper tree in my garden for a long time.  Space and telephone lines always put me off, scared me I suppose you could say.  I was having a wee wander around a local nursery, not really looking for anything specific, just browsing, as you do! I came across Sobrus Autumn Spire, tolerant of a windy site, columnar in growth habit, good autumn colour and suitable for wet situations (this area has on occasion flooded) - it ticked all the boxes.  I grabbed it with both hands and proceeded to the check out.  The Rowan was coming home with me come hell or high water!  There was quite a bit of juggling around in the car.  We finally got it in in one piece, phew!   Mum's options were to jam herself in a tight corner in the back of the car or have a cup of tea and wait for me to come back for her.  She chose the former and thankfully both mum and the tree got home unscathed!   

 

I'm fair chuffed with this and what a difference it makes, the height it adds really does 'finish' the area off - surrounded by Philadelphus Belle Etoile, Ligularia the Rocket and Astilbe Deutschland amongst others.  I hope it likes my garden. 

 

That wraps up my EOMV post for May, all that's left is for me to do is to thank you all for reading, wish you all a good weekend and if you want to join other garden bloggers who post their End of Month Views, please join us over at The Patient Gardener's Weblog, where Helen kindly hosts this meme on the last day (or there abouts) of every month.