The Photographic Gardening Diary - Plant Compositions in May

Convallaria majalis growing under a roof of large green and white hosta leaves 

Meconopsis cambrica, the Welsh poppy that I introduced to our garden with seeds from the seed distribution scheme of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), UK, a long time ago. In early spring the RHS sends seeds to their members, if they wish, and often of very interesting varieties. Here the fine yellow and orange poppies have found their place among azaleas; wild strawberries have joined them.

Geranium himalayense "Gravetye" under the  shrub Choisya "Aztec Pearl" with blue bells in the background

The very interesting fern Athyrium nipponicum var. metallicum next to the large green leaves of Phlomis russeliana (not yet in flower) and Carex pendulum in the back.

Meconopsis cambrica growing through a blue greyish hosta

A rare filled version of Salomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum "Flore Pleno") with Acer palmatum dissectum

 

Plant of the Month : Helleborus

At this time of the year another perennial dominates my garden. It is Helleborus or Lenzrose (spring rose in German) and they are not "bores" at all. Several species and subspecies grow here in abundance. Their favourite area is a very dry place unter a huge Cedrus atlanticus  where they seed freely and appear in many different shades. In early spring, we cut off most of the old leaves to give room to the flowers and the new leaves that appear afterwards.

This year we also have a Helleborus niger (Schneerose or snow rose), which strangely is called niger despite being a brillliant white (the seeds are black?) - I planted it a couple of years ago, but it appears irregularly (and never for Christmas, when it should be in flower) .

Helleborus lividans is a fresh green species (Nieswurz)  and similar to Helleborus argutifolius, which is another fine species with leaves with serrated edges.

                                        More Hellebores

 An update on the Camelllia : Mary Phoebe Taylor is now in full bloom and will hopefully stay that way for the next couple of weeks if the weather stays mild.