Jo's May Extravaganza Part 2
Hello Everyone
Welcome back for part two of this May extravaganza!
Continuing through the Kitchen Garden onto the Iris collection. The whole collection was lifted a couple of years ago and didn't flower quite so well last year but they have all settled again and are back in full force. As individuals they are all so beautiful and together as a collection make quite a stunning display, photo 16.
Next door in the Glasshouses there are some delightful blooms. The Tradescantia fluminesis 'Variegata', photo 17, is exquisite whilst the Epiphyllum, photo 18, at the other end is definitely showing off. But if you look that stunning why not?!
Moving on across the Wisteria bridge, the Japanese Tree Peony 'Shugyoku Den' has flowered well this year, photo 19. The setting amongst the Japanese Lanterns is perfect. All of the flowers are as big as your hand spread out and some are as large as dinner plates. They certainly have the 'wow' factor.
This spring I took a walk through the Wild Garden. I always visit this area in Autumn for the colourful leaves, little did I realise what I was missing in Spring. This quiet secluded area revealed many delights including the Enkianthus campanulata. This unassuming tree looked pretty in the dappled sunlight, photo 20, but on closer inspection I saw it was covered with very pretty flowers, photo 21. They remind me of an old fashioned lampshade. On the opposite side of the seating area is the Acer palmatum. This tree never disappoints in Autumn and now I know it is an all-rounder. At first I thought it was starting it's autumn show early then I realised that it was covered with samara, a fruit with flattened wings, photo 23. It looked so beautiful in the afternoon sunshine.
The West Wall area in the Kitchen Garden has been cleared and all the Tree Peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa, have been moved to an area in the Rose Garden. They have settled in well and have certainly benefitted from all the rain we've had as they are flowering profusely, photo 24. There are many different colours but this is one of my favourites and it's a big hit with the insects too, photo 25. Although the main Wisteria hasn't flowered very well this year, the Wisteria in the Rose Garden has been in flower throughout May. At first it looks as though it's just a washed out pale pink colour but on closer inspection you see that the ends of each flower are a delightful dark pink to purple colour, photo 26.
Behind the Rose Garden is the Wisley Corner. This project was never quite finished but I have come up with a much better name for it and I now refer to it as 'Foxglove Corner', photo 27. Over the years the foxgloves have moved in and seem to thrive in the conditions here. One of Mr Bowles's principles was if a plant is happy then leave it, so who are we to argue with the boss. After all it is his garden!
Another area that is looking good is Tom Tiddlers ground. The different shapes and colours of the trees and shrubs are always pleasing, photo 28. Across Bowling Green Lawn in the new Euphorbia Bed is a Cotoneaster multiflorus, photo 29. This tree has also had an abundance of blossom this Spring and flowered for nearly the whole of May. Then finally in this area we have the splendid Alliums, photo 30. The beautiful deep purple is set off well against the flowering Choisya Sundance behind them. A wonderful finish to what I hope you have found to be an enjoyable visit to the garden.
Till next time.
Best Wishes
Jo
