THE WEATHER -

Wet, Wet, Wet!! No, not the band - the weather!! Rain almost every day for the first two weeks, and not just showers, serious showers! At least I haven't had to do any watering this month...... Still we've had so much rain that some plants are beginning to rot, which is bad news. Quite a cool start to the month with dull weather as well as the very heavy showers. Thunderstorms on the 10th. By the 14th conditions were much drier and warmer (about time, too!), with some prolonged sunny periods, and beautiful warm weather continued for the next week until the 20th, when it became noticeably duller and cooler. Rain on the 21st. By the 25th, it had become very cold and remained so for the next few days. Warming up again with good weather by the 29th though, and remaining warm until the end of the month. Maximum temperature 25°C (78°F). Minimum temperature 3°C (36°F).

Melianthus major is a half-hardy evergreen shrub, with beautiful silver-grey leaves. I have grown it in the garden for about 20 years (I grew it from seed, which is very easy to germinate), and in all that time, this is only the second time it has flowered. The reason for this is that the flowers form on the previous year's growth, and usually, this gets destroyed by frost over the winter. The plant shoots up again with new growth in the spring though, but of course, it doesn't flower! However, last winter was so mild that the plant did not get cut back by frost, so this year, it has flowered! The last time it flowered was some time in the mid-90's, although I can't remember exactly what year. The plant is now around 6 feet high, and the fascinating flowers are towering above me! I will probably cut it back when the flowers are over though, as it gets very straggly.

I love unusual perennials, and this plant is certainly that! It is called Podophyllum hexandrum 'Majus', and grows to around 2 ft tall in my garden. The pale pink flowers are borne in the centre of each cluster of three beautifully marbled leaves. Once the flowers are over, a single red berry forms on each stem.

This is one of those plants which seems to have enjoyed renewed popularity over the last couple of years. It is called Cirsium rivulare atropurpureum, and looks rather like a refined thistle, although it is not spiny in any way. It is a herbaceous perennial, and what I like about it is that it is highly attractive to insects, especially bees. My plant has been buzzing with them since it began flowering at the beginning of the month. The flowers are long lasting, and freely borne, so it is what I call a good-value plant.

May is Magnolia time! I love Magnolias, and have five different varieties in the garden. Pictured above are two of them. On the left is Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel', which is deciduous, and bears beautiful deep pink buds which open to a pale shell pink. On the right is another deciduous variety, called 'Susan'. This bears the most magnificent deep purple buds, which turn a wonderful deep purple on the outside, slightly paler on the inside as they open out and mature.

Alliums are wonderful value! Not only do you get fantastic flowers, but these are followed in most cases by equally stunning seed heads - just the thing for flower arranging. The seed heads can be used fresh, or can be left on the plant to dry and then be harvested and used in arrangements. Two of my favourites are pictured above, and these are left, Allium 'Purple Sensation' which bears medium sized tall purple spherical heads, and right Nectaroscordum siculum. Nectaroscordum siculum used to be called Allium siculum, and prior to that, Allium bulgaricum, and can still be found for sale under both its previous names. The flowers consist of pendent bells, but the wonderful thing about this plant is that as the flower begins to produce seed pods, each of the flower heads turns upwards, so the whole seed head takes on a completely different look, like a cluster of miniature minarets! These seed heads are also good for use in flower arranging, either fresh or dried.

There are still a few tulips in flower this month, and this one is a real beauty, called Estella Rijnveld. It has beautifully fringed red flowers, streaked white. The flowers are long lasting, and each one is carried on a strong stem which supports the flower well without flopping about, as some tulips can do.

And finally.........

I wonder if he's got his membership card?

That's all for this month...... Happy Gardening!!

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Robin, Rook, Seagull, Starling, Swallow, Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Wren.

MAYTIME
Ursula Prout

Cool waters murmur as they flow
Beneath the flowering chestnut trees,
While butterflies flit to and fro,
Like petals wafted on the breeze.

Bright sunbeams gild the earth with gold,
The Maytime scene is bathed in light;
Bird-songs resound from glen and glade,
From early dawn to dusk of night.

The quietness of the countryside;
Its beauty and tranquillity,
Acts like a balm upon the heart
In search of true serenity.

So deep a peace pervades the mind;
So many anxious cares take flight,
As through the Maytime days we tread
A world of wonder and delight!