… the alliums in flower.
The long borders in June
After last year’s disappointment (when they were mostly reduced to sludge by heavy rain) they were a fine sight.
I originally planted one hundred A. aflatunense, twenty A. rosenbachianum and ten A. globemaster. They have increased dramatically in number and bulbs have mounded up to the surface. I won’t need to buy any more.
Dotted about the place (but not in the long borders) are a personal favourite: A. Christophii. But then you all know and grow this one. Don’t you?
I didn’t show you the aquilegia fest this year either. I prefer darker colours like A. vulgaris ‘William Guiness’ but
surprisingly I’ve softened on my former disdain for the self-sown pinks and
even the yellow and pink. Who’d have thought?
From a single plant bought at Great Dixter, I now have plenty of A. chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’ – it flowers for longer than the others but is an equally prolific self-seeder. I’ve rather let it run riot.
I only recently learnt that columbine (one of aquilegia’s common names) is derived from columbus – Latin for dove. I’d never noticed them before, but now I find the five, fine-necked and intimate doves blatantly obvious. I can’t say that I see eagles though; aquilegia comes from aquila meaning – you’ve guessed it – eagle. Does anyone see eagles here? Very long-necked eagles maybe.
Photo taken in 2011
Sadly, I no longer have my favourite – A. canadensis. We used to sell these little darlings at the wholesale alpine nursery (they are only a few inches tall) and trays of 30 in flower would be snatched up eagerly by customers. But strangely I can’t recall ever seeing them in a garden centre. If I had I would have grabbed a couple or ten.
Another plant that is over now and I don’t see for sale is pretty Silene fimbriata. (Well, I saw it for sale once at an open private garden and bought a small pot). It spreads by rhizome and I now have two large clumps (it doesn’t self-seed in my experience). I shall dig them up and divide as I can certainly use more of it. It is happy in dry conditions – I grow mine under
a Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ in the rock border.
Did I show you my rhodohypoxis collection in flower,
my self-perpetuating nigella patch
or the peonies up against the house? I think not.
And my pride and joy – Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’ – flowered and faded without a murmur from me. I planted this out fours years ago from a five litre pot and it has grown faster than I hoped.
Common spotted orchids flower in patches of unmown grass
May and June zipped by so very quickly and whilst I did take some photos
Hawthorn and rhododendrons – June 2013
I didn’t get round to posting any.
So – there has been a lot happening down at the Priory
Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’ above a cappuccino (!) of Alchemilla mollis
I just didn’t show you any of it.
Shame.
The Anxious Gardener 
They are all very beautiful. It’s amazing how fast summer is going by, isn’t it?
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Really zipping by. Could be having frosts in about ten weeks! So soon!! Dave
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What a treat, I so love alliums and on mass like that they look spectacular. Worth the wait. I like the Aquiligia chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’ and Allium combination especially.
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Hi Annie, there is so much flowering at the moment – it’s just finding the time to post about it. But I thought I’d better do a quick catch up first. Dave
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There comes a point each year when the garden grows and flowers almost too fast to keep up with, and dozens of photographs are taken and set aside in the flurry of activity, never to see the light of day! Glad that you shared yours with us!
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Or maybe more than dozens, Sara. I was so busy that I couldn’t seem to find the time (nor inclination) to post about all that was happening. Bit more on top of things now, especially as the heat has slowed the grass right down and so there is a lot less mowing. D
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Maybe you lost your blogging mojo there for a while – it’s good to see what was flowering even if we aren’t seeing it at the right time.
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I did, Elaine. That and being physically exhausted – May and June are just such busy times, I was working extra hours trying to keep on top of it all. Still am! Dave
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That border with alliums is stunning, Dave. Did they really increased their number in only one year time? Incredible. I have too heavy soil to grow them successfully, shame.
I like that dark aquilegia very much but indeed I like all aquilegias. I’m trying to get them established in my garden and I hope they self seed and create new colour mix.
Rosa moyesii pairs beautifully with that alchemilla, please make the gardener know…
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No, Alberto. The alliums have been there for four years or more now – really time I dug them up and used some of the bulbs elsewhere in the garden. Gardener informed re moyesii – he blushed. D
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Wow, look at all those beautiful things we didn’t see! The gardens look great, Dave — I am envious of anyone who can get a border to hold together, let alone look superb. I have a dwarf version of the A. chrysantha with upward facing blooms that I’m really loving. It needs a LOT of shade… And I apologize for being a know-it-all ex-musicologist, but I think columbine refers to Columbina, a pantomime/commedia dell’arte character who often dresses like Harlequin. (Only with a bonus apron, of course.) No idea about the eagles. (Except that they’re a rock band from the 70’s.)
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Jim reckons the eagle comes from the talons of one?!? (Just checked Wiki actually and they say this is the case. Who knew?). Can’t find any mention of it being derived from Columbina on any site. They all go with the dove story, I’m afraid. Perhaps it is a ‘special’ musicologist theory – and a fine one. I don’t suppose it really matters though, eh? I’ve always liked the name Granny’s Bonnnet myself. Dave
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Hmm. I know I didn’t make it up, but that’s not actually the same as, like, information. Granny’s Bonnet is a fine name.
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Those allium, and pretty much everything else is a fine sight indeed. Isn’t summer gorgeous this year? We’re loving it!
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It is a pretty damn fine summer, Boys if a little too hot for some of the more strenuous tasks about the garden (not complaining though). D
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I have A. canadensis – grew it from seed from Special Plants. It is just popping its seedheads I could try and collect some if you would like.
Love your rhodohypoxis – bought my first one at the weekend at the local alpine show. Any advice on growing. I plan to keep it in a pot
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Hello Helen, yes please to the seeds! I’ll do you a deal if you like. In return I’ll send you some rhodohypoxis next winter when they’re dormant. I wrote a post last year re them – https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/05/17/rhodohypoxis-fervour/ – which I think covers most things but let me know if not. Dave
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Its nice you showed us now. The moment is not lost if you have taken photos. Love the Alliums, and I’m envious they multiply for you.
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Alliums don’t increase in number in Italy, Christina? I wonder why. Dave
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I think because there isn’t enough rain during the growing season. Drumstick alliums do return and sometimes self seed
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That figures – drumsticks do well in a very dry bed I have. D
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I’m glad someone else feels this summer is going at a faster rate than usual and I’m glad you’ve managed to share these great plants with us. The aliums are superb and put my flowering leeks to shame. I wonder if the aquilegia have aquiline shaped petals?
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I won’t have a word said against your leeks, Amelia. After I posted, a friend said that he thought the inverted flowers look like eagle’s claws? Don’t know. D
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Nope, you didn’t show me Dave! Beautiful photos and garden and plants, every particle of them. I especially like your Alliums. Why is my garden such a scraggly old wreck in comparison? Humph!
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I suspect, Faisal that were you to employ a gardener for four days a week your garden might look neater – but then my own garden most certainly would too. Dave
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Fabulous post and photographs by the way Dave!!! Xx
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Ta, Ady. Dx
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Amazing, beautiful photos and as always, your sense of humour ripples through them all. Thank you!
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Thanks Alison. I like a ripple. Dave
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All absolutely fantastic! Love them all but especially all your fantastic alliums, Aquilegia canadensis, Silene, rhodohypoxis and your lovely orchid. An orchid has popped up here, here’s hoping it will seed around.
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Hi Pauline, most years I have two or three common spotted orchids in the gardens. Often they pop up in the least expected places – ie nowhere near where they have been in the past, so I’m not sure how the seeds traveled. Sometimes they are in the middle of the lawn and I have to spend weeks carefully mowing around them. They are my favourite wild flower in the garden certainly. Dave
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Lovely pictures, particularly liked the A. canadensis but I liked them all really!
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Good choice – they are very pretty. D
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