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| 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 | |
| Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec | Nature in the garden |
 The Garden in May
2007
Apart from one cold blast in early March, it seems we've gone straight from winter into summer this year. With no frost to damage the blossom we are looking forward to bumper crops of plum and apple this autumn. |
 May
is also the time to admire the glossy new foliage on trees and shrubs. One of
the best is the Purple Hazel, Corylus maximus Purpurea, with its glossy bonze
leaves following April's deep pink catkins. Some books say that this form
is sterile, but it does set good quantities of nuts. The shells are
reddish-brown and horn-shaped and in clusters of 3 - 5 nuts. The nuts,
although small, are very sweet and tasty. |
| The Bearded Iris are coming into their own. Dwarf varieties continue to flower (after starting perhaps 2 weeks early) and the medium and tall varieties are at their splendid best. Perhaps the most surprising feature of these plants is the strength and sweetness of their perfume. Check out our Iris pages for full details. | |
 The
ensata and sibirica Iris, normally June flowers, are already in bloom adding
height and grace to the garden. At the end of May, watch out for Iris Sawfly
caterpillars particularly on water Iris. These small grey grubs nibble away at
the edges of leaves. They are easily picked off and squashed! |
 Iris
are also valuable for their leaf colour at this time of year. The bearded
varieties often have glaucous green leaves. Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata"
has attractively striped yellow and green leaves. Later these will turn
plain green in the summer sun. |
 The
perennial cornflowers, Centaurea, are in full flower now and will bloom on and
off right through to October if deadheaded and cut back hard after each flush.
These are excellent, drought tolerant plants that attract bees and butterflies.
Check out our Centaurea collection
for more information |
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