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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Nature in the garden   
The Garden in May

After the cold March and April a warm spell in the middle of May has been most welcome. Blackbirds are raising young and the house martins are rebuilding their nest at the apex of our gable end. 

What strikes us most every morning is not only some new flower opening but also the interplay of light and shade on the fresh foliage of plants. From left to right: Iris Quechee, Centaurea glastifolia, Macleaya Kelways' Coral Plume, Cynara carduncularis, Verbascum bombyciferum. 

Iris QuecheeCentaurea glastifoliaMaclayea Kelways' Coral PlumeCynara carduncularis (Cardoon)Verbascum bombyciferum

Centaurea cheiranthifolia (below centreground) looks fresh and clean in May. Carex testacea in the foreground continues to show off its rust-coloured leaves. 

Aethionoma grandiflora (left foreground below) is smoothered in pure pink flowers in May. It tomes brilliantly with Centaurea Blewit (right) and Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ears) (left centre). Allium Purple Sensation (top centre) was one of the stars of Chelsea, but watch out it is a prolific self seeder.

 

One of our favourite plants in May is Euphorbia griffithii Fern Cottage with its orange foliage and floral bracts. Behind it a large block of Lonicera nitida Baggesens Gold provides the ideal backdrop - much derided because of its use in commercial landscaping this is a very useful, tough and attractive evergreen.
May is also the month for the first flowers of Centaurea. These photos were taken on the 13th.
Top down: C.triumfettii stricta, C.montana Carnea, C.montana Purple Form, C.montana Purple Prose.




Top down: C.cheiranthifolia, C.montana Purple Heart, C.montata Alba, C.triumfettii Hoar Frost.