James Galway Roses

May is always a delight in the garden, with a myriad of new flowers coming into bloom. Let’s start with the Roses.

Roses

“James Galway” is already overflowing with glorious pink perfume, that I sniff on a regular basis. The bees love it too!

“Pilgrim,” is now in full flower, but in this photograph, she is just about to blossom:

“Paul’s Scarlet” has been with me for a few years, and I have successfully added new plants taken from cuttings. It is gradually covering this fence:

I have a number of other Roses including The Generous Gardener, Princess Margarita, Peace, Double Delight…

Cottage Favourites

My childhood home was filled with cottage garden perennials, which hold many happy memories. Sweet William always remind me of my mother, who died when I was 14. I grew these plants in her memory, from seed last year, and I am thrilled that they are now flowering:

The neighbouring Carnations were taken from cuttings of a bunch of flowers. They will blossom in a gorgeous shade of coral.

Did you know that Sweet William and Carnations belong to the same family – Dianthus?

A Bright Border

This border contains an explosion of different colours. The purple flowers of Honesty are already turning to silvery seed pods, that are perfect for floral arrangements. The vibrant orange of the Geum enhances its more mellow hues.

Meanwhile Salvia “Hotlips” is busy producing lots of little red and white lip shaped blossoms, that always make me smile.

Very soon, the lime green fronds of Alchemilla mollis will brighten up the border’s front edge, while Geranium psilostenum’s magenta petals continue the bright theme.

At summer’s end, Crocosmia lucifer will cast a vivid background in deep shades of red and orange, Rose “Princess Margarita” will be covered in pale orange petals, and my Fuschia will overflow with dainty fairy like cerise and white droplets.

A Quiet Corner

At the far edge of this bright border, is a quiet corner, home to a precious angel who has lived with me in a number of homes over the years. The matching urn stands guard by its side.

Aquilegia

Another favourite cottage perennial is Aquilegia, which brightens up a number of shady areas in a variety of hues including blues, pinks, white, yellow…

Candelabra Primula

Meanwhile, in another shady area in my front garden, these Candelabra Primula are creating floral clouds of joyful colour:

I feel blessed that each and every day of my life is filled with the joy of floral colour, regardless of sunshine or rain.

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.