It is a little worrying how fast the months are passing by when I haven’t been anywhere! Already mid May and only a few weeks away from the longest day! I really want these weeks to slow down.
Today we’ll have a look in the gravel garden/sunny border:
(1) My favourite South African daisy the Osteospermum are looking really good this year, the white and pink ones (O. ‘Snow Pixie’ and O. jucundum var. compactum) are sprawling down the wall and into the gravel. “Tresco Purple” is growing back after I cut it down a couple of months ago so not featured here. I find if I don’t cut that one back hard the flowers become smaller and smaller.
(2) Hardy Geranium renardii has a mound of soft green, velvety, round leaves which forms a pretty background to shallowly, cupped white flowers. Mine has struggled to flower at the right time of year, but there is a pretty spray at the moment. I love the purple ‘eyelashes’.
(3) Agave Americana Variegata (in a container) enjoying being back outdoors basking in the sunshine.
(4) Climber Celastrus orbiculatus – or bittersweet vine is a strong-growing deciduous climber with rounded leaves, colouring butter-yellow in autumn, and inconspicuous greenish flowers followed by yellow fruits which may split to show scarlet seeds. Apparently a hermaphrodite form is available, so fruit can appear from a single plant. Mine is obviously a male as I do not get those lovely seeds. I wonder if I dare look for a female. As you can see on the third photo, the flowers are very much underwhelming!
(5) Alliums in the raised bed. All these have re-appeared from last year. Impressive given the wet winter! They are mixed Allium ‘Superglobe’ (different shapes and colours) and almost the same photos as I took last year!
(6) and for the final offering let’s step outside the garden for a minute and enjoy an early morning view of Alice, the derelict engine house at the bottom of the hill along with some newborn calves. My view every morning.
When I had a look at the post I wrote at this time last year I was amazed to see the exact six flowers that I had selected for today’s post. So I have changed them apart from the Osteos and Alliums as they are looking so good at the moment. It seems I am beginning to repeat myself…
As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to our host, the lovely Jon, AKA ‘The Propagator’ where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world.
Remember to stay alert out there!
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
What a great view to have – despite being able to step outside into the countryside our view from the house is of other houses! It’s always interesting to look back and see what was flowering at the same time last year. I nearly posted allium, astrantia and aquilegia again – admittedly they are all stunning! Your osteospermum is so pretty – it never seems to stay here when I have tried it. Thanks for sharing your six
I lost a very large Tresco Purple osteo and a lovely orange one when we were struck by the ‘beast from the east’, I am glad these pink and white ones have survived the wet winter, but some other plants haven’t. I don’t see any sign of either of my Heleniums.
That’s a shame, although I suppose we are lucky we don’t have extremes every year. Heleniums are one of the the things I have never had any success with – no idea why, and it’s not particularly wet here
I have come to accept that there will be losses. At the end of the day if a plant costs me as much as a bunch of cut flowers and lasts twice as long then I have gained! These Heleniums lasted two seasons so I can’t grumble. Well I can, of course, but I won’t 😁
That’s the best way to think about it, isn’t it? I was just thinking that I am happy throwing out tulips after one season which cost-wise is about the same as a herbaceous plant
Such a healthy looking garden and a riot of colour too. I would love to wake up to that view every day. So peaceful
Peaceful depends on who’s living next door. 😉
Oh yes, those cows and tractors can be very noisy…
Now THAT is a it’s Jude! Just wow 🙂. You are officially the only person I know wishing the days would pass more slowly!
I hate the winter months Tina. And we had such an awful one last year that we’d only just begun to get out of the house when lockdown began. I feel as though I have been in lockdown since September!
I remember you commenting on it throughout the winter months Jude. Such a bummer
I love a derelict building, and nothing says Cornwall more than a mine engine.
I know what you mean about time passing quickly. I think when every day is more or less the same that happens. Conversely a weekend away can seem much longer than two days.
Not sure when we’ll get a weekend away, but I know what you mean.
I agree with you – the days are flying past and spring will soon be over. I feel I should be achieving more – how did I manage before lockdown? Was the garden full of weeds, or empty of plants, what am I doing that’s eating up my time!
Your osteospermums are a treat and the alliums are beautiful – nice to see them at different stages. Your view is beautiful – so restful and calming.
The garden repeats itself each year. Sometimes with a few new plants installed and sometimes others have disappeared. Plants mature and look great one year and less so the next. Everyone enjoyed those glimpses of your garden, so I don’t think it matters if you feature the same plants each year, your readers will enjoy them all.
I definitely have plants which disappear! And weeds (bindweed) take up a lot of my time in the garden. Thank you for your lovely comment.
phew not just me then who is somewhat horrified by how fast the month is going. April feels like years ago . . . . then at same time it feels as though this weird world will never end. Most strange.
Thank goodness therefore for the beauty of your garden to keep us smiling. Such a beautiful post Jude xx
Renardii seems to have featured on a few sixes with people saying it’s not got as many flowers as others geraniums. Mines doing alright but is going to be shaded out by an old rose soon. Might divide it around the garden.
lovely view.
no surprise about the repeats, that is the nature of the rhythms of the year. both expected and welcome.