Blossom time
It is hard to imagine that just over a week ago it was chucking it down with rain and the garden was sodden. We have had a week of wonderful, dry weather and temperatures here reached 25c for a day which was, with all the small plants growing on in the polytunnel and greenhouse, quite long enough! Watering suddenly became an urgent job, especially for newly planted or moved shrubs and herbaceous plants. I have started planting out some annuals and tender plants (rather optimistically) in an unusual belief that the weather has turned. It is cooler now but no rain is forecast for the next week.
The fine weather has resulted in a mad surge of growth and flowers. The two Malus ‘Freya’ are, as usual, clouds of deep pink blossom. So far, there has not been the loud buzz of honey bees which is a sign that the blooms are fully open.
Either side of the drive the apples are in full bloom and as lovely as any ‘ornamental’ trees.
Magnolia ‘Daphne’ is always delightful and when the flowers open they make me pleased that I chose this, possibly the darkest of the ‘yellows’.
It seems that we often get a dry spell at this time of year because the viburnums often wilt with prolonged drought. But I think the soil is well-charged with moisture this year and the Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’ which is now in its third spring, is a lot happier than in previous years. The willow herb is not deliberate companion planting!
Much less sophisticated is Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, commonly called the snowball bush. It is a common garden shrub and the season is rather short but It works hard to please and the globular flower heads are lovely from their green immature stage to when they mature to creamy white. They are less beautiful as they go brown and, of course, there are none of the berries often associated with the wild forms.
Even the eucalyptus has produced lots of flowers this year.
Rosa willmottiae has flowered well this year but it is as beautiful and prickly as the great woman it is named after. Of all the species roses I have planted this has been the least satisfactory. The growth is gangly, the shoot tips all die back so the plant looks a mess and it is really spiny. But the greyish foliage is attractive and the small flowers delightful, though not scented as far as I can detect. I will persevere as I am sure the fault is mine.
At ground level, I always fall for the charms of pink bluebells. I bought these as ‘Miss World’ but I do not always trust bulb suppliers (this spring with lots of miss-labelled tulips reinforces that).
And in the lower, ‘wildlife’ pond the bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) has spread slowly and is currently in bloom. The delicate, white flowers, opening from pink buds are ridiculously beautiful for a plant that spends its life rummaging about in mud.
And I have tried a rhodo again. So far, every rhododendron I have planted (the big, blousy, evergreen hybrids) have slowly died and I have not really mourned them. Japanese azaleas and the deciduous rhododendrons (azaleas) have all been OK so I am not quite sure what the issue is. I love to see the big rhododendrons in other gardens and they are among the most spectacular of hardy shrubs. It is just that I am not sure their hulking masses look right here. But I am trying again – and more of that next time.
The Biking Gardener 
Growth has indeed been tremendous and last week’s weather has allowed full days in the garden. That Magnolia is very good, one I must keep an eye out for and find a corner for here in the garden.
I can’t believe that Wednesday it was actually too spend in the garden and we spent time sitting in the shade. Much nicer for garden work today.
What Eucalyptus is that? Eucalypti are very common here, but I do not expect to see them in other regions.
I bought it as E. coccifera. It is from tasmania and should be hardy to -10c. It is in a spot that is wet in winter and has never been damaged by cold or wind here. The flowers should be white but they develop a pink tinge with age which is nice but makes me question the accuracy of the name. Only a few species are widely grown here and E. gunnii is by far the most common.
Oh, the snow gum (or actually, one of a few species that are known as snow gum). Eucalyptus coccifera may be more specifically known as the Tasmanian snow gum. It is one of only a few species that I noticed in the Pacific Northwest, although I suspect that more would perform well in mild climates there. Although several species of Eucalyptus are common here, Eucalyptus coccifera is strangely rare. Almost all Eucalyptus trees grow from seed, and some exhibit genetic variability. Some are VERY variable. Floral color of Eucalyptus ficifolia is generally bright red, but can be orange, pink or even white. Pink blush on white flowers of some species is not particularly rare.
Only species with white flowers are hardy here which is why I am pleased with the slight pink tinge. Several dwarf forms of E. gunnii are being sold now – I am not sure how they are propagated since, as you say, they are usually grown from seed. They are always expensive so perhaps they are micropropped.
I sort of wonder also, since some of the modern Eucalypti are cultivars rather than varieties. I know that some ‘can’ be grafted, but the success rate, at least back when I learned about it, was too low to be practical. I have seen grafted specimens only in pictures, but not available from nurseries. I would like to copy some at work by cuttings, but I do not expect favorable results. Now that I think of it, Eucalyptus globulus ‘Compacta’, which was formerly common here, is a cultivar.