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Geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell', Lathyrus vernus, Lia and Juliet's supper club, painswick rococo gardens
Dicentra spectabilis alba
Writing my blog has shown me how much my mood is affected by the weather. It’s a fairly obvious observation that we feel happier when the sun shines and glum when it’s grey and wet but somehow seeing how I write over the course of the year, my choice of subject matter and how these reflect the weather outside has emphasised just how much it impacts on me. I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Sejal again on Saturday night. A fellow attendee at Lia and Juliet’s supper club in Bristol she also reads my blog and it was interesting that my preoccupation with the weather and, in particular the amount of rain we get in Wales had been noted. Of course, my last post will have done nothing to change the perception that I am obsessed by the weather. So I thought I should try to redress the balance a little and write about the plus side to all the rain we’ve had in the last week or so. And I promise that’s the last time I mention the ‘r’ word, in THIS post at least.
The garden has become lush with leafy, green growth at last. I love this time of year when the plants fill out. The crab apple in full blossom, followed by its leafy canopy and the acer in the far corner of my garden screen the fence, neighbours’ out-buildings and houses. The garden starts to feel enclosed once again and I no longer feel like I’m on display to the whole world as I potter about. There’s a point where the change in the garden is quite sudden and it always takes me by surprise. One day I’ll be stood, looking out of the kitchen window and think ‘wow when did that all happen?’
Lathyrus vernus
A wander around brings a few squeals of excitement as plants I had completely forgotten about have reappeared like my Lathyrus vernus for instance. I first saw this at Painswick Rococo Garden in Gloucestershire flowering in late March and thought it was a lovely little plant. Last year I tracked one down but when it didn’t seem to be poking through the soil I feared I might have lost it. But fear not, it must have just been biding its time through the cold spring and it has emerged with its delicate purply-pink flowers.
There’s also been the discovery of a small patch of red campion by the side of my path. I’ll admit I do have a tendency to forget which plants I’ve bought and what I have put where. I do envy people who have an encyclopaedic knowledge of their plants, especially when their garden stretches to acres but it isn’t something I’m blessed with. I’m convinced, however that I have never purchased a campion plant so its appearance is an intriguing but welcome addition to the shady border.
There’s reacquainting myself with favourite plants. The pure white hearts of my white dicentra which would normally be going over by now dangle above the foliage of geraniums. The white and purple forms of viola cornuta which edge my paths and self-sown aquliegias that have popped up all over the place. I’m also eagerly anticipating the new plants added to my back border. I finally got around to removing some of the astrantia that had taken over but wanted to keep a soft, feeling, almost hedgerow-like and so have planted some foxgloves and wild carrot in there. They are still a while off flowering but should look good by mid-June.
The espalier apple is looking good and has timed its blossom opening perfectly with the crab apple so that pollination should be ensured, just as long as the bees can brave the cold. There are fewer forget-me-nots than I would like. Even though they self seed I would normally sow some extras in June or July for the following spring but I forgot last year. So I’m making a note to remind me when I come to sow my biennials in a month or so.
Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’
Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’ is just coming into flower. I love its rich purple colour which stands out so much more now that we have painted the fence. I love the contrast between the purple flowers and the bluey-green background. It doesn’t have a long flowering season but is out just long enough to grab any available light before the canopy of the crab apple casts its shade on this corner. It has been a bit on the chilly side recently to linger in the garden but if I shuffle the plants around in the greenhouse I can linger in there with a cup of tea and appreciate my spring garden at last.
wellywoman 
Hi! The disentras are so lovely. I also found that writing in my blog has made me realise more things about myself, just because the act of writing probably makes you think deeper (though mind you my blog is not really a deep blog…). With regards to your preocupation with the weather I wanted to comment on mine. I lived in the UK for a few years and the bad weather didn´t upset me at all because “thats the way it is there”. Where I live now in Barcelona, whenever we have a touch of bad weather I don´t like it, because you just expect to have nice sunny days all the time! It may sound quite weird… Enjoy your spring garden! 🙂
Unfortunately the last few years have been bad, even by British weather standards. Our seasons are all muddled up and it’s making growing difficult. We were meant to get a climate more like the Med with climate change instead it’s just become much more unpredictable. I know what you mean though if you expect something you don’t tend to be disappointed. 🙂
We can’t help mentioning the “r” word can we, in this country. This morning I found a rodgersia which had grown huge under the canopy of a bush, and a climbing hydrangea which I was going to dig out because the leaves looked so twisted and sickly, this year they are fine and it is going to be covered with flowers which it never has been before. Is all this due to last year? My Geranium phaeum is spreading everywhere because I never remember to dead head it, mine seem to carry on flowering for ages so possibly I should give it the chop even though it is still flowering.
My geranium phaeum is huge and really needs dividing next year but then it doesn’t flower as well in that year. Fortunately mine doesn’t seem to self seed.
I share your joy – I just love it when the garden here is in full leaf. The atmosphere changes as a fresh green backdrop steadily emerges ready to support the flowering plants as they open. And yes it always takes me by surprise. I anticipate that it’s two weeks off here since surrounding trees are only just unwrapping their leaves.
I think because the weather has been so cold this year we’ve been waiting for warm weather but a lot of plants have just got on with it. Loving the trees at the moment, clothed in their vibrant green.
Don’t worry about that last article which was about weather ,it was so good that I sent it to my sister who lives in Ireland where it is even wetter!
Thank you Joan, that’s very kind of you to say. 🙂
What a gorgeous colour geranium Lily Lovell is, I must look out for that one. My dicentra has just come in to flower, I must also add the white variety to my list too as it’s a beauty. I think the weather definitely affects my mood, it perks me up no end when I wake to sunshine streaming through the curtains.
It is a very pretty colour. I was hoping for the white form but couldn’t find it. Oh for some warm sunshine to stream though the windows. Here’s hoping.
It’s funny how we sometimes concentrate on one aspect when we sit down to write. It will be much easier to see the positive side of the cold wet winter and spring if there’s a lovely sunny summer to look back on it from!
I added a Geranium phaeum to our garden last year, which is just opening pale lilac flowers for the first time, they are elegant plants if short-flowering. Love the deep purple of yours – especially against your painted fence, as you say.
Don’t we deserve a lovely long summer after all the miserable weather? It is a pity phaeum don’t flower for longer but my shady corner would probably be too dark for them anyway once the tree canopy is in full leaf.
All gardeners are obsessed with the weather, it goes with the territory! I do like Geranium Phaeum, like it likes shade, but possible dry shade, a useful property in a plant. Enjoy spring while you can, Christina
I think that all gardeners are preoccupied by the weather WW 🙂 Yes the wet stuff definitely has it advantages and the rainfall in the last week or so has really been appreciated by the plants. They seem to have really lapped it up. I’ve been looking at my clump of ‘Lily Lovell’ this week wishing that I had divided it as it is now simply huge. Have you noticed how much the bees like it too ?
My clumps need dividing too but they never flower quite so well the year after dividing so I’m reluctant to do it. Will have to tackle it this time though as it’s taking over.
Your photos are really lovely, I know that feeling too of wow, when did that all happen, especially at this time of year, its quite incredible.
Thanks Julie, It is a lovely time of year when the dull and brown of winter give way to green.
A most enjoyable post, and good pictures.
Surely all gardeners are obsessed with the weather and their moods affected by it, I certainly am!
At this time of year day to day changes in the garden and on the plot can be quite noticeable, and which I always find surprising.
At the moment I wish that we had some sunshine and warmth, both of which have been lacking for too long again. xx
We’re still waiting for that warmth. I’ve never known so many northerly winds at this time of year.
Please don’t stop complaining about the rain! I do it too, all the time, as you know. In fact, after a great day of sunshine yesterday, it is now pouring down again. You and I probably have the two wettest blogs in the blogosphere!
🙂 I think it would be impossible for me to stop complaining about the rain. To be honest at the moment it’s the cold that is driving me to distraction. You must be wondering if you’re ever going to get a growing season up there?
Lot of rain here, too, but it does make the garden(flowers and vegetables) grow really well. Plus when the soil is wet it is easier to pull out weeds!
Have a wonderful day!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
There’s always a silver lining. 😉