Springtime Is Bloom Time

The springtime here is a bit early and it is now drifting into what one might rightfully
call, "early summer"; although, you might not think so with these cool temps that we are presently having. I think that it is the extreme dryness which has been with us here that is 'forcing' the plants to producing flower buds, tricking them. It had been dry, but there has also been a persistent wind coming from an east-southeasterly direction. Most of the folks on the allotment complex have been giving supplemental water for for a few weeks now.

Well, but I am straying off on a meteorological tangent here, and that is not my intention.
What I want to share today are some pics of what's growing and blooming in the flower garden at the moment.

The first thing is the Meconopsis sheldonii 'Lingholm'. I have been trying and trying to get one of these to bloom. I have tried germinating seeds, buying plants that die, but now, it seems that I have found a place that the plants like.


In the same area are a couple of Arisaema's. This green and white one (Arisaema triphyllum)--


...and this purple and white one(Arisaema atrorubens)--


These plants are not native here, as far as I know...and were a gift for which I have not enough words of gratitude for.

The gratis tulips I received from my potato seed supplier have turned out pretty nice and at the right time of day can look quite stunning in their out-of-the-way location.


This iris is also from that batch of free bulbs that the spud dude sent me.


This corn flower (Centaurea montana) looks exotic to me. It looks like a delicate bit of natural artwork.


This Pulsatilla seed head always looks so interesting to me, especially with the Forget-me-nots as a backdrop.


This Geranium 'Ann Folkard' really stands out like an illumination in the front bed.


The Oriental poppies are beginning to crack open now--first the orange ones; then a little later, the dark red ones...just a few more days to go for those.


This "borderline weed"-- the Hesperis matronalis , which I love dearly, with it's fresh colours and sweet, sweet fragrance.


The Clematis 'Mrs. Cholmondeley' is always more lovely than fotos can show. It is growing a bit each year.


The first three blooms of the Knautia macedonica are out and the plant is still quite low.


The Clematis 'Josephine' is blooming its socks off!


The Wisteria is on its last legs now.


And finally, an overview of one aspect of the flower garden. All the Forget-Me-Nots have been yanked up from this section--an all day job that has left stiff back muscles in its wake. The compost bin is full though.


Taking advantage of the dry weather has been at the top of the to-do list--the veggie and flower plots take precedence over everything. I just planted out some courgettes and red squashes yesterday in-between pulling FMN's, and today they are being rained-in. I am well chuffed.

p.s. Can anyone identify this nameless Clematis with certainty? It has been "dormant" for a few years and now it blooms. The tag is long gone.

 

Hi Sjoerd,
WOW,..that first picture is an eye opener!,..Meconopsis sheldari 'Lingholm',..beautiful,..can i have your permission to use it as a screen saver?.

Your Arisema are beautiful,..and as for the Gratis Tulip,..out of this world,..the screen lit up with your Geranium,..all lovely plants and pictures,..sorry i don't know that Clematis,..i bet someone will name it.

i love the layout of your garden,..the winding path going off somewhere looks great.

 

Your photos are exquisite as always and your garden looks a delight! I can't possibly pick a favourite, but I have a soft spot for those Arisaema. They're so different from other blooms despite their neutral colours.

 

Things are looking great in your garden Sjoerd! I've always loved Menconopsis but not sure it will grow here. I love anything blue! Josephene is gorgeous Sjoerd...I'll be looking for that one here. Do you think your other Clematis could be 'The President'?

 

Thank you PHILIP--What nice things to say! Of course you can use that pic for a screen saver; however, it is vertical...if you would like a horizontal one instead-- say the word.
Thanks also for your compliment on the garden's layout. It is not very large, but I have put lots of features in it and all the paths are not straight so that I can psychologically fool myself into thinking that it is larger than it really is. haha.

Thank you, TONI--You always are so encouraging with your complimentary comments. I did have to look that word up though. --Thanks for teaching me a new word.
That little white flower in number four is a Forget-Me-Not. I have blue ones, pink ones and white ones. In that tulip foto, you can see the white and the blue ones.

Thanks DROOPY--for your nice comments...although I know that my garden pales to yours once it gets going. I am total agreement with you about those Arisaema's. They really are so different from everything else. I am always attracted by 'different'.

Wow EILEEN!--Thank you. I feel like my flower garden is different every year, in spite of the fact that I am slowly adding more and more perennials. Like most folk's gardens--mine is always in a state of change...and if it isn't, I transplant something.

Cheers, FRANK-- I enjoyed the 'blast of colour' myself. I like seeing the plants as fotos instead of in situ sometimes.

 

Thank you Sjoerd,
its a stunning screen saver!,..i just love that colour blue,..and of course being a flower all the better,..i adjusted the picture to fit the screen.



( photo / image / picture from Philip Nulty's Garden )

 

Spectacular pictures Sjoerd, I have to remember to breath after viewing.

Jerry

 

NETTY--You may be right about that. I will look at the bloom more closely tomorrow when it has opened more fully. The name seems to ring a bell.

You are more than welcome, PHILIP--It looks quite nice on your monitor. It appears that you made your screen have a black background and it all just fits very nicely that way. I am glad that you are happy with that.

Hahaha---Thanks JERRY-- yeah, because if you don't, you'll be as blue as that poppy!

 

Go-o-llllly.... Wow. Those are beautiful.... I'm kind of speechless. What a spectacular group of photos. Gosh.

 

Sjoerd, They are all beautiful!!!! the blue flowers are my favorites, also! Thanks for sharing them with us.
I saw Netty thought Mr President for your clematis, but what about Elsa Spath, any chance that name rings a bell? I have book that has a page of very good photos, but the president is taken from a different angle and perhaps the filter or light changes the color in my book, the Elsa Spath is a closer match in color and anthers, but I can't tell if the petals are the exact same shape. Do know which group the clematis is from? 1,2, or 3? this makes a difference as to when the proper time to prune is, and may affect the poor flowering habit for you.

 

Lovely blooms Sjoerd. Another guess on the clematis is 'Serenata'. The electric blue poppy is stunning. I also like the photo of the Pulsatilla with the forget-me-nots in the background. I also enjoyed seeing the winding pathway through lottie...very nice view.

 

Thank you so much, DAISY-- What a nice thing to say, I am glad that you liked them.

Thank you CAROLYN-- I am pleased that you liked the blue ones. The Elsa Späth is a possibility, to be sure. The name does not ring a bell. with me. You know, a number years ago I had the opportunity to pick up a few clematises that were half-dead for a good price. I thought that I could bring them back. The others have done well, but this one had sort of hung back. When I think back, I am not even sure that there was even a label on that particular plant. I will look at the pictures on Google and compare then to what's growing in the garden. I need for that clematis to open up more so that I can see more clearly how the reproductive organs appear once they have relaxed and opened more.
I do not know for sure what the Type is, but since it is blooming now, I would guess a Type 1. I suspect that the poor flowering may have been from it's sorry state when I bought and planted it. I can recall that it almost died that first year. I was never sure if the wilt was acquired from me not planting it deeply enough, or if it had some disease when I got it.
At any rate, it sort of suckled-along for a few years but now seems to have grown out of its weakened state and seems to want to participate. I am thankful for that.

Hi GAIL-- Thanks for liking the foto display, and suggesting the possible name. I will look at pics of this type too. Glad you liked the overview with one of the paths--just last week the place was filled with thousands of Forget-Me-Nots. It was a job getting those cleaned out!