'We're almost there'...

A quick tour before open day to see what is catching the eye:

The self seeded Foxglove has just opened in front of the Siberian wallflower and Allium 'Purple Sensation'...

...along with the Anchusa azurea...

...cooling things down on the patio is the Polygonatum x Hybridum Striatum...

...along side the Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata'...

...and a delicately marked water Iris ( may be 'ensata' Japanese Iris)...

...the white Wisteria creating a welcome entrance to the restyled Oriental Garden...

...now with the Trinity Stones repositioned and a gravel river running from the water spout to a whirlpool...

...in the White and Green garden...

...Allium 'Mount Everest'...

...the white Hesperis matronalis...

...and the white Aquilegia are obeying the rules.

By the arch the Viburum opulus (guilder rose)...

...with the Clematis 'Nelly Moser' peeping out from underneath.

Through the arch purple Hesperis matronalis... 

...an unusual 'nature' created Aquilegia...

...and a cheeky Welsh Poppy, Meconopsis cambrica seeded amongst the Lysimachia ciliate 'Firecracker'

In the 'Woodland Walk' Geranium sylvaticum 'Album' is lighting up this shady area...

...along with Iris 'Holden Clough'...

...and Clematis mont. 'Broughton Star'.

The Box has had its summer trim...

...and so have I.
It took a lot longer to trim the Box!

Scones and cakes are being baked, cream & jam is ordered, plenty of tea & coffee in stock.
All we need now is good weather.

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.

'April showers bring May flowers'. Old English Proverb.

This year the April showers have waited for May to arrive.

Some of the May flowers in Our Garden@19.

We hope they will still be flowering at the end of the month.

The Lilac, in the South facing front garden, was here when we bought the house, it is a darker colour in real life than in the picture.

The narrow border along the drive is planted with Iris and Catmint...

...two unknown Iris...

...this one might be 'Alcazar.'

Any ID help would be appreciated.

This raised bed edging the patio is planted with Siberian Wallflowers and Allium 'Purple Sensation'...

...which could be described as either a 'Bold' or 'Brave' colour combination!

Calming things down and covering a large area in the Green and White garden is the

 Clematis montana 'Wilsonii'...

draping over the Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea'.

Weigelia 'Victoria' with dark coloured leaves, always flowers profusely, with Euphorbia  palustris providing a zingy yellow...

...to complement the A. 'Purple Sensation'.

In the shrubbery, Rhododendron Yak flava is in full flower.

Ending in the Oriental Garden, Azalea 'Panda'...

...is brightening things up during the (April) showers.

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.

Please take a seat...

Jerome K. Jerome

“I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
― Jerome K. Jerome

It is important to have plenty of seats in different areas of the garden. It is a well know fact gardeners find it difficult to sit in their own garden and do nothing!

With visitors coming seating is even more important.

The Box Bench on the patio was a little rotten in parts, a replacement was ordered...

No self assembly required?

This was apparently a miss-print on a well know website.

When assembled, The Rose Bench and Table look very good and match some of the other patio furniture

A gift from a very kind friend.

An inherited bench on the edge of the White & Green Garden.

I decided to paint the legs black to complement the white pots planted with Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb'.
The Grand Children christened it the 'Shaun the Sheep' furniture!

These old white chairs were in need of a coat of paint!

I thought bright blue would be a contrast to the yellow of the Euphorbia palustis which has a long flowering period.

The Banana Bench...

...with Clematis Pearl d'Azur and Pathencissus quinquefolia on a curved trellis.

The Oriental Shelter in Winter 2010...

...and spring 2010.

Please take a seat...

The view from my favourite seat in the Summer House.

...Tea and Cake anyone?

Tree following. May

 The buds on the Acer negundo Flamingo that I have chosen for the tree following meme are now fully open revealing their pink edging. 

Worcestershire has long history of Fruit Blossom Trails.
I thought, as a seasonal extra, I would show you some of the blossom on our fruit trees.  This has been exceptionally good this year.

Please follow the Blossom Trail in Our Garden@19.

Crab Apple 'Golden Hornet'

Espalier trained Pear 'Invincible' growing over an arch.

Pyrus 'Invicible'

Fan trained Cherry 'Sunburst'.

Prunus 'Sunburst'

Espalier Apple 'Blenheim Orange'

Malus 'Blenheim Orange'

Malus 'Grenadier'

Malus 'Roseette'

Malus 'Kidd's Orange Red'

Malus 'Worcester Pearmain'

Malus ' Herefordshire Russett'

All these trees have been planted in the garden since 2004, when we bought the house.

I hope you have enjoyed our Blossom Trail, we hope for no late frosts and a good fruit crop.

Please click on any photo to create a slide show.

The answer to April's tree following bark quiz is: Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)

To visit other blogs Tree following click on the link to Lucy Corrander's Blog Loose & Leafy http://looseandleafy.blogspot.co.uk