Allium Nectaroscordum

Allium Nectaroscordum - I have thought these flowers were quite exotic looking would be good to photograph, so last autumn I bought a few bulbs. To be honest I forgot all about them after I planted them until a month ago when I wondered what was coming up in one of my pots. They are so easy to grow, although a little taller than I thought. But more interestingly from a wildlife point of view is the fact that bees absolutely love them. 

Sahara or Southport

It's more like the Sahara than Southport at the moment. All the lawn has turned to dust with just the occasional weeds surviving. Other than the odd shower I think early March was the last time we had any significant rain.

Alliums - Where did they come from ?

A patch of six allium flowers is currently flowering in the middle of the lawn. This is a real mystery since we have had the house two years now and they have never appeared before. It is also amazing that they are flowering so well in the middle of a desert which is the current state of our lawn.

From Blues to Pinks

The garden is changing colour as the April blues fade the soft pinks of May arrive with Geranium oxonianum.

Spanish Bluebells

The Spanish bluebells have put on a real show this year, they are really taking over. The shaded area just outside the patio doors is the last place for them to come into bloom. Reading below I think we have a selection of hybrids because ours are scented.

Native bluebells...

• have narrow leaves, usually about 1cm or 1.5cm (about half an inch) wide

• have deep blue (sometimes white, rarely pink), narrow, tube-like flowers, with the very tips curled right back

• have flowers mostly on one side of the stem only, and distinctly drooping, or nodding, at the top

• have a distinctly sweet, fruity scent

• inside the flowers, the anthers with the pollen are usually cream.

Spanish bluebells...

• have broad leaves often 3cm (over an inch) wide

• have paler blue (quite often pink and white), conical or bell-shaped flowers that have spread-out tips

• have flowers all around the upright stem

• have almost no scent or an unpleasant onion scent

• inside the flowers, the anthers with the pollen usually blue (although this may vary a little).

The hybrid between these two is also very common – they’re actually more abundant than Spanish bluebells now - with a whole range of intermediate characters. The hybrids are often abundant in gardens, along hedgerows and road verges and in woods near to urban areas.

No, it's not Autumn

No, it's not Autumn, early May and the Acers are in full colour. All the leaves are fresh and pristine on this seven lobed Acer palmatum.