Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – April 2017

This is my first Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. Those of you who have seen last weeks blog Tulip Mania will realise that we have hundreds of tulips in bloom so I decided that there would not be a tulip in sight this week. So here goes:The side of our house is very shaded and we really focus on ferns, hostas and rodgersia. The snowdrops are long over but we have planted Erythronium Pagoda commonly known as dog’s tooth violet ‘Pagoda’ due to the shape of the tuber.At this time of year there are plenty of leaves as well as the delightful flowers. Once the flowers are over the leaves decay very quickly.

Erythronium ‘Pagoda’

Another interesting plant collection for this time of year are Epimediums. This one is Epimedium Akebono. Here they have been planted beneath a standard rose in a planter. Planting like this was a bit experimental last year but so far it is looking good.and the flowers are delightful.

Elsewhere we have Epimedium x versiclour Sulphureum planted around the base of a tree. This seems to work very well in an area which is often dry and shaded.Lastly we have which is one of those plants that we were given without a name. On the RHS website there are 384 different varieties of Epimedium so there is plenty to consider.

In this circular bed we have created a ribbon of plants going through the middle. Over the spring these change from Iris Reticualata, to Anemone Blanda White Splendour, to Brunnera Mr. Morse now and in the future Tulip Hageri Splendens (sorry I used the tulip word but they are not out yet!) and then Anemone Wild Swan. Brunnera Mr. Morse is a very nice Brunnera, similar to Brunnera Jack Frost but with dainty white flowers.

This time a shrub; Viburnum carlesii Diana .The scent from these flowers is outstanding.

Fruit trees are in blossom everywhere. This is a Morello Cherry which is considered the best sour cooking cherry for the UK.

Ipheion uniflorum

and lots more spring delights.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is hosted on the 15th of each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Visit her blog to see what is blooming in gardens around the world.

Gardening Hours
This week	Total since June 19th	Average per week
42	721	17

This was our busiest week since June. Luckily we had some fantastic weather with temperatures up to 25c. That’s summer not spring but I am not complaining. Most of the work has been weeding and tidying up the borders in readiness for summer.