LABURNUM HEAVEN

Yes it is that time of year to enjoy the lovely Laburnum

A very close look showing just one of the dozens of bees enjoying the sweet pollen, no shortages of bees in my garden.

The front garden is a bit of a pick and mix with a few remaining wallflowers.

House leeks on the roof to ward off evil spirits! Clematis Elsa Spath grows up a Guernsey cream jasmine which in turn grows up a Rosa Banksiae Banksiae. Just a few white flowers remain on this rose which was a cutting from my original growing up the back of the house.

Another glimpse of the Laburnum with white Winchester Cathedral rose,  Aconitum and geranium.
http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/winchester-cathedral

I love these Byzantine Gladioli they have flowered in this situation for many years and every year I promise myself I will buy some more and then forget to do so until they flower again. I have since weeded this bed but never photo and weed in the right order. The rose is Jayne Austin http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/jayne-austin

Sopie's rose which I think must be this one http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/sophie-s-perpetual

Bearded Iris name unknown but riddled with ground elder so surprising they are flowering because they like their tubers exposed and dry.

Baby Catalpa tree in a pot, grown from a seed, just something to play with because there will never be room for this to grow into a mature tree in this garden

One of my favourite Cistus, I lost the original plant years ago that had made a large bush but had thankfully taken cuttings and cuttings of cuttings which are shared with family and friends. This is however a very slow growing Cistus.

A few pots to fill a small space of concrete next to the drive. The Hostas were grown from seed from my Dad's Hosta the Bay and the Box were grown from cuttings.

A collection of rather straggly pelargoniums which will no doubt fill out now they are outside.

A WALK AMONGST THE COW PARSLEY

A short walk with Meg into the local woodland

I timed this walk in these woods just right to see the Cow Parsley

Sad to see the tree stump one of three trees which I posted about in 2010 http://joanne-orangecottages.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/walking-in-woods.html

It was after five o'clock when we did this walk so the sun is not so high and there is more shade.

Now and then Meg will look as if to say why are you taking so long.

A backward glance.

 What a pity the vandals have painted the tree

Another backward glance.

Out into the field on the edge of a housing estate.

Meg thinks she is going back home.

But she is easily encouraged onwards on our walk.

I am so lucky to have this open scenery within a few minutes of my home although we do have ticks here and Lyme Disease.

More houses across the field.

Homeward bound.

Meg not sure which way we will enter the woods today.

Hawthorn in flower the first bush has a pink tinge to it so has been polinated.

The second Hawthorn is still white - it is further round from the suns rays and perhaps was later openeing so hasn't yet been polinated.

Such a lovely old oak tree - I am sure it has lots of stories to tell

Last year I was filmed doing this walk for the Big Tick Project look at the second half of the video in this link http://lookingatlyme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/the-big-tick-project-thank-you-chris.html 

EARLY MAY GARDEN PHOTOS

                                               Montana Rubens I think.

                                    The president start of more to come as it flowers prolifically.

                                                             A shady corner.

A lovely new cherry tree which sadly lost all its flowers after this was taken and doesn't look at all well despite giving it plenty of water in the dry spell we had.

                   I even weeded the central path and dusted with sand to try to keep further weeds growing.

Another weeded bed this time I use grit to help keep weeds down, in a few weeks the cistus and sage should be flowering.

A sunny day early in May gives a promise of things to come. I am so pleased with the box although it will soon need clipping.

The back terrace shame about the water butt but it is so useful for rain water which has been diverted into it.

              My faithful companion or garden wrecker depending on my mood - Meg.

                                   Clematis Elsa Spath in a sunny position in the front garden

The president clematis again in the back, I had not realised how similar they look but it may just be the photos because the eye picks up blue/purple differently than the camera. I love them both though.

                         Another glimpse of my new cherry before it looked sick.

Choisya  a couple of years ago it was covered in Rose chaffer beetles and although I have already seen a number I have not seen quite the numbers of a couple of years ago
http://joanne-orangecottages.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/rose-chafer-bonanza.html

                                                       My vegetable beds.

                                              A final glimpse of my tidy path after the rain.

WHITE DOWN BLUEBELL WALK

Early in May we went to see the Bluebells in White Down near Abinger Surrey  http://fancyfreewalks.org/Surrey/WhiteDownBluebells.pdf

The camera doesn't do justice to the huge array of Bluebells.

Meg of course was in her element.

Out onto the open hillside of Blatchford Down where you have a stunning view of the valley below and to the Greensand hills beyond. Leith Hill is to the left of the dip and the Hurt Wood to the right