Random blooms
As it gets bigger and has more blooms I admire Ribes valdivianum more and more. It is similar to, but more subtly coloured than, Ribes x gordonianum. But there appears to be a problem and Ribes valdivianum should have separate sexes on different plants and have downy racemes of flowers. So my plant may not be Ribes valdivianum at all. The true species is native to Chile and Argentina and was introduced in 1926 from San Martin de los Andes in Argentina. If this is not the right plant I would like to know what it is because it is a lovely thing: not as showy as Ribes sanguineum but pretty.
I am delighted to say that one of the pears is full of flowers. ‘Beth’ has decided not to produce a single bloom and nor has ‘Clapp’s Favourite’ but ‘Concorde’ is covered in bloom. All three are the same age and have had similar pruning though ‘Clapp’s Favourite’ has had the odd long branch removed because they get very leggy and then collapse under their own weight so I have had to shorten them. Fortunately ‘Concorde’ it is self-fertile so I should still get a pear or maybe two. Last year there was none, though there were very few flowers. Perhaps this year?
My seven Prunus padus ‘Colorata’ are just starting to bloom. They were only planted in the autumn but I am pleased that most have produced a few clusters of bloom. The flowers are small and pale pink, opening from pink buds, and lightly (ie. barely detectable) fragrant. I now have to wait for them to grow so I have great clouds of pale pink flowers.
The Biking Gardener 
My one pear tree – ‘Conference’ – has limped along year to year in poor health and I have dithered over removing it or not. Similarly, I have Cydonia oblonga which I adore when in blossom but it becomes covered in mildew and loses all its foliage in summer and rarely produces fruit yet I can’t bring myself to remove it as I like is so much. Ipheoin is a very strong grower here as is Ajuga ‘Caitln’s Giant’ and I love the latter. Those ribes are very beautiful.
That does not sound good about your pear. I am hoping my ipheions do as well as those in the grass near the house at Mount Congreve – but I doubt it!
Ajuga reptans looks great. I have never seen it do well. Yet, it is still available from nurseries. I have no idea why it does not perform well here.
It hates heat and drought and gets mildew badly in those conditions.
I do not see mildew, but I do not get close enough, and the leaves do not get big enough to show symptoms. They do get crinkly and crispy though, so likely have mildew underneath.