Lots of Colour

After all the very ordinary weather, we are set to have 2 or 3 decent days. It's so nice to wander in the garden with the sun out and just a gentle breeze. I can even smell the perfume of the flowers in the air for a change. Dianthus, rose and iris scents wafting about. By the time I've done the rounds Forget Me Not seeds are usually stuck to the bottom of my pants, or on my sleeves if I stopped to weed. I should be pulling them all out, now that they have finished.

The poor old echium fell over yet again and has been tied once more to its stake. My aim is for it to seed and get some babies popping up.

There's plenty of colour, and although not popular with everyone, I enjoy the vivid orange Californian poppies amongst my other blooms.

Perle D'or, Cecile Brunner and White Cecile Brunner are beginning their show

The irises I moved have grown enough to flower this year, and I see plenty of buds.

I remembered liking the deep colour of Congo Song, and thought perhaps this was that iris, but after searching for images decided mine has a better form, so I've no idea what it's name is.

Another pretty one, moved from mum's garden 

This is a new plant for me. I purchased it at the Melbourne Garden Show and I'm very impressed. It is Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna and probably came from Lambley's. The dark stems and purple flowers go lovely together. I'm hoping it will spread, or seed.

I can see some red poking through on the towering Gymea, so it won't be long til the flowers are out. I would say it is a good 30 years old and has turned into quite a large clump. Amazingly it stood up to the gales, although I imagine from now on it will be more vulnerable with the extra weight. The taller stem would be higher than our roof.

While the ground is moist, the Disporum Sessile Variegatum, the Corydalis ochroleuca, and the Hostas are looking lush in their sunny position surrounding the old bird bath and its succulents.

Spring Babies

The thrushes have been busy gathering food for their babies. I see them poking about looking for insects and spiders around the garden. When the weather is bad they land at the door, sometimes with a whistle, and I throw some broken up arrowroot biscuit out. It's quickly grabbed and they fly off to feed their chicks. Just before nightfall I can usually count on seeing them for one last feed. For the rest of the year they're around, but don't come looking for extra food.

No wonder they're busy, four hungry babies.

My first irises to flower. I don't do anything with these tough old ones and they flower year after year

I've bought some Heucheras this year and so far so good. I'm blaming Pinterest for my sudden interest in them, there are so many pretty colours, so many to collect. 

 The Cotinus coggygria had a severe pruning 18 months ago when we thought it might have to go to make way for our new driveway. Luckily we didn't have to remove it and it is making a slow recovery and now with its new dark purple foliage, a lovely backdrop for Heuchera Southern Comfort

         I'm enjoying the creamy coloured silky Californian poppies that I grew from seed and that have now taken over this spot. They can spread themselves around to their hearts content. That's a Kangaroo Paw Bush Pearl to the left.

The Roses

The Roses are starting to flower.

 Draped all over the chook yard is Souvenir de Madame Leonie Viennot which smothers itself in large pink blousey blooms. The thick heavy stems are starting to bow the roof. I would rather put in an extra support beam than cut those laden branches off. There's not much perfume to my nose, just a rosy smell.

Lovely pink Lorraine Lee is doing well even after being moved. The fruity perfume it emits is a favourite, plus its long flowering period.

La Reine Victoria has only a couple of cupped lilac pink flowers. It doesn't flourish in my garden and will soon be covered in black spot. The blooms are still lovely, so she stays.

Monsieur Tillier with its unusual shade of salmon pink flowers is out. I pruned its large old canes hard one year when when I was sick of it growing the wrong direction, and it hasn't really forgiven me.

Some old tea roses probably shouldn't be treated that way. Luckily I'm still getting flowers.

Lady Hillingdon, another tea, is always reliable with pointed yolk yellow buds and sweet perfume. The flowers open out, fading to cream.

I love the colours of Hugo Roller, looking almost edible with its strawberries and cream petals. It's another tea rose I've had for many years, with a lovely fragrance. Unfortunately if the weather isn't favourable in spring the blooms can turn brown, although this year I've had no trouble.

My Sombreuil has plenty of  beautiful saucer sized white flowers with delicate flesh pink centres in the newly opened blooms. Despite growing against a warm wall, it isn't the vigorous plant I see photos of elsewhere on the net. One thick stem that I'm not game to prune but loads of flowers at least.

The last pic is, I think, Duchesse de Brabant. I moved this one from mum's garden and it has done very nicely. The lovely soft pink nodding flowers and healthy foliage are a welcome sight.

More Self Seeders and Other Spring Pics

Some more plants that pop up on their own around the garden

Thalictrum aquilegifolium with its fluffy mauve flowers and aquilegia looking leaves

this Euphorbia which can be a bit invasive, but is such a lovely colour

and the lovely ornamental glossy leaved Angelica pachycarpa 

And an update on the Echium pininana. 

Surprisingly it seems to have made a recovery, and is standing up,

 

although the leaves have suffered with some browning on the ends.

   

My Narcissus Sundisc is out. Such a lovely little variety, each flower only the size of a 20 cent piece.

The Maidenhair found locally, which I suspect is Adiantum aethiopicum, has shot up with new fronds in a foamy mass. It has slowly filled this little area in front of Cocky's cage.

  

And finally, an achievement over the weekend, shovelling some stones onto the sedum bed. which has made it look so much neater.