some of the columbines in May

 A very nice blue columbine in the newly renovated little rockery in the front garden.  Unfortunately there will be no columbines in the rockeries.  I generally let them self seed all over the garden.  I am going to start controlling them a little better.  Most of them are finished blooming and I am letting them form seeds to continue the show.   I have the little gold rock wall more or less finished now.  I have 4 saxifragias transplanted in the top level, a lewisia tucked into an upper corner of the second level.  The second level will hold the bigger of my tufa rocks and more saxifragias.  The top level will hold the smaller tufa rock and 2 or 3 more saxifragias.  More of the progress in the June photos.

 This one,  I also removed.  It is a nice clear blue, but it is in the space where I now have a pink and one of the gentians.

 A very nice nearly white columbine. They look good backed by lots of dark green plants.  Cedars perhaps.

 a close up of the light blue one.

 The light blue with one of my very best mauve ones.  I don't seem to have a photo of the mauve in May.

 This columbine is a dark purple, that is not showing up in these photos. 

 This pure white one is growing in the cut garden where I hope to keep it growing end self seeding every year.

 I could not capture the perfection of the columbines.  Must try on a less sun filled day.

 This is a favourite.  It grows by the sun dial circle by the California lilac.  I must move some of the seed to the cutting garden.  Hopefully it will come up there.

This area in the center garden room at the front has a nice color combination growing under the burgundy of the smoke bush.  The geum, Mrs. Bradshaw, looks good with the golden blossoms of the silver sedum.  The geum is slowly forming a clump, with a little more care and attention to feeding it compost and water.  I have just dead headed it and will wait to see if it produces more bloom.  This little bed is beginning to look pretty good.  There is this part of it; and the unseen end of it has alliums in the spring and some sea thrift that need a bit more care.  And then there is the new gentian next to the gorgeous campanula globorata, that is just out-doing itself with dark purple up-facing bells.  The campanula is at the juncture of the stone path that goes more or less east and west, and the stepping stones that go up past the little rockery and the stepping stones that go down to the thyme circle; going north and south.  The iberis in white and in bloom earlier, is across the stone path from the campanula.  Both of them have their time as the plant  of the month at this juncture of the inner garden paths.

The gentians

GENTIANS:
    Gentiana Acaulis - in front of the big gentiana (gentiana         stemless)Gentiana acaulis, commonly known as stemless gentian or trumpet gentian, is a much-loved, dwarf, mat-forming, blue-flowered, alpine perennial that typically grows to only 4” tall but  slowly forms a spreading ground cover-like carpet to 6” wide or more. It is native to alpine grasslands, rocky meadows, screes and alpine/subalpine coniferous forest at altitudes up to 9700’ in a number of European mountain ranges including the Alps,  
Pyrenees, Apennines, Cevennes, Cantabrians, Carpathians.  
Glossy, evergreen, elliptic to lanceolate leaves (to 1” long) grow in small basal rosettes which form a tufted carpet over time. Showy, deep gentian-blue flowers (each to 2 1/2” long) in the shape of upward-facing trumpets bloom singly in May-June. Flowers appear to sit directly on top of the basal foliage (flowers are stemless as indicated by the specific epithet). Each flower has 5 sharp-pointed corolla lobes (petals) and a green-spotted throat. This gentian is noted for its deep true blue flower color.
      ****June 16/20 Moved to the front rockery.  It is next to the Campanula glomerata from Sandy.  Added peat moss/sand/pea gravel and compost from the back bin.  The bottom  leaves were going yellow.  I think it really needs that compost. Watered it in. 


Gentiana septemfida var. lagodechina  is a low-growing perennial to 10cm (4 in) tall, with trailing stems clad in paired ovate leaves and ending in 1 - 3 mid-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers 4cm (1.5 in.) long in late summer.  Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. Suitable for the front of borders. Performs best in sunny conditions. 
      ****June 16/20 - Moved to the front with peat/sand/pea gravel and some leaf mold. Added a bit of compost from the back bin. It has long stems and needs 1.5 foot diameter space.  It is next to the dark maroon coral bells (heuchera) and above the red hens and chickens. Watered it in. 


Gentiana depressa  is a tufted to cushion-forming, semi-evergreen perennial with dense, overlapping, ovate, dark green leaves and, in autumn, bell-shaped flowers with pale green tubes and blue petal lobes. Evergreen
Gentiana depressa (Gentiana depressa) will reach a height of 4 inches and a spread of 12 inches after 2-5 years.  
Suggested uses: Rock, Ground Cover, Gravel, Cottage/Informal   
Cultivation:  Grow in reliably moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil.  Plant in full sun where summers are cool and damp. Provide shade from hot sun in areas with warm, dry summers. Suitable for an alpine or rock garden.   
Soil type: Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage: Moist but well-drained
Soil pH: Acid Light
     ****June 16/20.  Moved it to the front.  It is next to the pinks and just in front of the Gertrude Jykle David Austin rose.  Gave it peat moss/sand/pea gravel/decomposed bark mulch and some compost from the back bin.  Watered it in.  Must remember to keep it watered.

May renovation of the front little rockery

 In this photo from May 9th I have the stone path cleaned up and the bluebells and montebretias dug out.  The ibiris is in bloom.

 May 9th the aubretia, hebe, globalaria, lithodara (Grace Ward), and the mountain avens are in bloom.  I have started to straighten the little gold wall and back fill the edges with clay and pot shards.

 This is the widening of the stone path where it goes between the smoke bush and the California lilac.

 The path narrows again as it passes the smoke bush and goes around the little sundial circle.

The campanula globerata grows next to the stepping stones that go down to the thyme circle.  Beside it I have prepared a space for one of the gentians that I have now moved from the back garden rockery. 

The space beside the columbine (which has been taken out and replaced with a dianthus) is now filled with one of the gentians. 

More progress on the little gold wall.

 This area by the gold wall now has the lily and a columbine removed.  The bed has had more drainage sand and pot shards added, along with a bit of compost, some chicken scratch and some good top soil.  The red mossy saxifragia and the saxifragia paniculata from the back rockery were added with little tufa rocks separating them.  The Saxifragia from in the Rex Murfitt cement pot from Butchardt gardens has been added  to the same area by the little gold rock wall.  They are top dressed with some pea gravel, chicken grit and a smidgeon of tufa rock dust.  Keeping them watered in, and hopefully they will like the spot where they  are now. I have given the cement pot that held the saxifragia  to Paul S.   Rex Murfitt grew saxifragias in these cement pots from Butchardt gardens and there was a sale of his stuff when he moved to the care home a few years ago.  Paul said that he is going to plant one of Rex's saxifragias in the pot.  When I downsize in a few years who knows what might happen to my garden, so its good to have things go to someone who appreciates them. 

 This hebe is in full bloom on the 9th of May.  It is now finished blooming and dead headed.  A bit of compost added.  I do not remember seeing blooms on the Wulfenii beside it. The Aubretia is next to the Wulfenii, has now finished blooming.

The west coast planter has the umbelicus plant in it.  The other malva self seeded thing has been pulled out and the lovely little Primula auricola is in this pot.  The soil has been enriched a bit. I need to add chicken grit top dressing to this pot.   I need another special plant for this big pot.  Something that might hang over the edges.  I have some dragons blood sedum that might just do the trick. 

 This is looking over the 4 foot diameter sundial circle to the 7 foot diameter thyme circle.  The polygala bloomed earlier and the little arctic daisies are just now coming into bloom.  I need one more plant to fill in the side of this circle in the bottom of the photo. The soil needs improving.  But the polygala and the daisies are growing very well. Maybe a portulaca would not be too agressive in this spot.

This is looking from the stone path down the 3 round pavers to the bench at the back in its nook. The thyme has been fed more compost in spots.  I keep the bamboo leaves picked off of it.  The thyme is beginning to fill in again, with attention to the watering and addition of good compost to it.  It is in bloom now.  But there does not seem to be as many bees as there used to be on it. 

 The big lava rock from the Clearwater area that I will need to find a special spot for.

 The smaller lava rock that is now in the first layer of the renovated little front rockery with this red hens and chickens, a silver foliage with yellow balls plant (I forget its name) and a little saxifragia with silvery foliage.  I have added more compost to these plants and chicken grit top dressing.  They are all doing much better with a little attention to the care and weeding of the bed.  

 This interesting rock now sits by the silver sedum and the sea thrifts.  I have taken the sedum back a bit to give the other plants in this bed a chance to grow.  This is under the smoke bush tree and the area I sometimes call the center or smoke tree bed.  There are getting to be some interesting plants in  this little bed.

 This is a very special rock that Bryan gave to me.  It is from Yellow Knife.  It was so sparkly and nice when he gave it to me.  I must see the Rock Hounds shop about getting it polished up again.  Although, it is gaining a different kind of mossy type character now.  I will have to find a special spot for it.

 A close up of Mrs. Bradshaw geum.

 This is the geum and the sedum  in bloom at the same time with the burgundy leaves of the smoke bush above.

 The sedum has crossed the little stone path by the sundial circle and a couple of tall bearded iris are sharing this little space.  

 An overview of part of the front garden from the front entry way.

 This is the portulaca that grows in the Magnolia bed.  It is far too shaded and needs a much more gravelly bed.  It is suppose to be easily propagated from cuttings, so maybe I will try to add some of it to the sundial circle.

 The smoke bush garden room.  The campanula glomerata is in full bloom now.  It is a gorgeous deep purple color with lots of up facing bells.  You can see the little empty space beside it where the solar light stands.  I have now planted the stemless gentiana in there and it is doing fine.  Hopefully I will have blooms on it next year.  Along the other side of the campanula there are some globularia plants.  this bed needs more compost added to the soil.  There is a hebe in there that has never bloomed.  But it is a good evergreen plant with a nice form and dark green foliage.

A closer view of the sundial circle.  You can see where the edge needs some vigorous plant that needs gravelly soil to grow there.  Perhaps the portulaca will be perfect for the difficult spot.  

May in the garden: Some of the perennials.

 Since I keep the bird bath full I am seeing more birds on the deck.  The house finches are frequent visitors.

This nest is under a heather  next to the little boxwood hedge.  I could not trim the boxwood hedge until the birds hatched.  On May 9th the Rofous sided Towhee's nest was empty.  I had checked a day or two before and thought I saw some feathers on some pretty big baby birds.  I did not take pictures or stay too long as I did not want to disturb the birds.   Apparently the birds do not take very long to lay the eggs, hatch them and the babies are ready to fly.  Rofous sided towhee

 The humming bird was enjoying the wall flower for about 3 - 4 weeks as long as it was in bloom.  It still has few blossoms now.  But I shall dead head it and see if it produces more flowers.

 This wallflower grows by the entry to our home.  This is how it looked on the 3rd of May.

 This is it on the 24th of May when the humming bird was feeding.

 Some of the tulips were still in bloom at the beginning of May.

 The bleeding heart plant was huge this year and the blossoms lasted a long time.  

 The tree peony that grows by the entry way to the house.  The magnolia, this big peony and the wall flower are all in the same area and put on quite a show in May.

 This primula veris grows by the rhodos by the steps up to the back deck.  I have primulas growing along the stepping stones in the moss/water garden room.  This plant was being crowded by the purple hellebore that grew under the rhodos.  Just a couple of days ago I removed the hellebore and few other weedy plants from under the rhodos.  I am sure the rhodos and the primulas will now grow and look much better.   I am letting the dame's rocket and foxgloves grow across the stepping stones in the fig tree bed.  These plants put on quite a show after the bulbs in the area were finished.  I have cleaned out most of the weeds in the fig tree bed and it is looking a bit bare in spots.   I might need to encourage some sort of little ground cover for under planting the rest of the tall plants in this bed.

 This lovely little veronica -- not sure which one it is -- grows along the edge of the fig tree bed  across the stepping stones and their moss from the epimediums.  As you can see this was before the area was weeded.  I shall try to encourage this little plant to go everywhere in the fig tree bed.

 This little veronica grew at the edge of the stone path in the front garden.  Just the other day while trying to find it, I seem to have pulled it out or it was taken over by the more agressive erodiums and the chartreuse ground cover.  I love the color of that ground cover.  The little veronica had the same color leaves.   I shall have to find another one and a place for it, in the new little renovation at the front.  It is a lovely little thing.

 This allium is on the east side of the pond.  I am trying to encourage foxgloves  and maybe a lupine to grow in this area.  I have a yellow blooming  loosestrife  that has established a big clump, growing in the area now. 

I have had this creeping phlox (sublata) for many years.  It has grown to overhang one corner of the retaining wall by the steps up to the old sidewalk.  It is lovely in bloom and looks good otherwise with its nice  dark green needle like  leaves.  As I cleaned up around  the rhodos I see I now have given another little rock plant from years ago, that is growing along this rock wall some more space to grow.  It has bluish foliage and dusty blue flowers that look really very nice in this shaded area.  It might be another veronica.   It, too, will benefit from my taking out the agressive hellebore and  any others. (Photos in the posts for the June garden)

 These are the perennial geraniums that grow along in front of the cedar hedge in the 5 foot strip between the neighbours on the west side and our driveway.  They are excellent plants.  The only thing that seems to grow threw them is the bind weed.  The morning glory is a constant annoyance.  It grows all along the side of the neighbous property and has for as long as we have been here.  I don't know how to tell them that this is not a pretty flower that we want growing here.  The geraniums do a good job in keeping the weeds out.  Maybe I should just plant them all along this edge of the driveway.

This little erodium grows in the rectangle on the west side of the boulevard garden.  It is a very good edging plant for the tall white flowering veronica spicata, and the other taller plants in that bed.  Across the little privet hedge from this plant grows the big French lavender.   So its a good color combination.  I just need to get the erodium to spread out a bit more. 

 Here is is  later in May still blooming.  And it is still blooming now.  

 Here is the French lavender spreading out over the grass.  You can see that this is before the crocuses have hardened off and I could cut down the grass.  

 A close up of the lavender.  NO bees on it!  It is usually covered with bees.

 In this photo you see the little erodium, the honeysuckle privet hedge and the lavender.  This is after I had cleaned up this boulevard garden room.   The daisies get pulled out because they would take over the planet if you let them.  The bouquet of daisies lasted a long time!

 Another closer photo of the creeping phlox.!  I need more of this well behaved plant!

 Years ago I planted this gas plant by the cedar hedge that separates my property from the boulevard garden.  Also planted valerine, a hebe and a companula in this spot.  They are all hanging on, but not doing as well as they could if I took better care of them.  They will need compost if and when I get time to do it.

 I like the form and ease of growing this solomon's  seal.   It grows in the bed next to the little rockery at the front.  This is where I am renovating the area to enlarge the rockery.  I have left the  gorgeous wine colored jackamani, some of the montebretias (for the humming birds) and the solomon's seal in an area of about 6 feet by about 7 feet.  This area  backs on the cedar hedge along the east property line, and the little boxwood hedge that borders the grass path.  I spent a lot time in April and May digging out montebretias and bluebells, from the rest of this area to create more space for the gentians, saxifrages and any other plants that will fit.  The area borders on the stone path.  Well... more on this later with the pictures.

 This Star of Bethlehem sparkling white flowers popped up in the rectangle just discussed in the boulevard garden.  Another lovely in plant in bloom.  It did not last long and then was gone.

This is another older plant.  It was put along the newly made cedar hedge in the back garden.  It is now over shadowed by the western red cedars.  I must cut out a bit of space for it to peek out.  I cannot remember its name.  I must give it more compost and water too.