Looking back on last month’s End of Month View it is amazing how much the garden has filled out in just one month especially given how dry May has been. The temperatures have also been unseasonably low and I think this has helped to make everything seem so very green. As you can see the irises have started with Bumble Bee Delight just showing in the bottom of the above photo to the left of the path. Just behind it is a Dutch Iris which seem to do very well here and I plan to add to next year.
Along the bottom path you can see the alliums have come into their own and the roses are about to bloom which I am really looking forward to. I added roses to this border last year and this is the first year when they will be really flowering so it will be interesting to see if they live up to the image in my mind. Throughout the garden there are aquilegias of all colours and types as I just love them.
The steps run up the end of the Big Border and are the access to the garden from the patio which the bottom and middle path lead off. The plants along the edge of the path are starting to soften the steps. I am really pleased with how the shed looks now, painting it has made such a difference. It has somehow lightened the wood and it all just sits so well.
The view from the bottom path across to the shed and you can see how full the Big Border is. I have done some editing but I think next Spring I might need to lift and divide some of the perennials to keep them in check.
The main woodland border is very full, possibly too fall. I really should have relocated the Hosta Sum and Substance or maybe divided it and perhaps the Solomons Seal. I think the hosta leaves add some good contrast to the smaller leaves but there is a lot of pushing and shoving going around.
Above is the newer planted area of the woodland border which was done last week. I really think I need to edit the Maianthemum as it is beginning to romp away. I suspect since the Acer has gone and the willow has been drastically cut back there is more moisture getting to this part of the border which the Maianthemum is enjoying. With a small garden I spend ages hoping plants will establish and then when they do I have to set to to reduce the new growth!
So there is my garden at the end of May 2015 looking lush and full and quite floriferous.
All are welcome to join in with the End of Month View, the more the merrier. You can use it how you wish maybe give us a tour of your garden or focus on one area through the year. All I ask is that you link to this post in your post and leave a link to your post in the comment box below; that way we can all find each other.
May 30, 2015 at 9:18 pm
The garden looks great. Your Alliums are a good way ahead on mine. I hope when they open they look as good as yours.
May 31, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Hi Ian
I do like alliums they add such a zing at this time of year
May 30, 2015 at 10:57 pm
That’s gardening. First you wonder if it will EVER get any bigger, then you wonder WHY did I plant this.
Looking doubtfully at the teensy proteas I bought at Kirstnebosch, and daunted at the Buddleja which plans to take over the whole garden.
http://eefalsebay.blogspot.com/2015/05/our-false-bay-garden-in-may.html
May 31, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Hi Diana
I would love to grow proteas, I bet yours will grow well once they get going
May 30, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Hi Helen, you’re right, your garden has really filled out. I love that aquilegia to the left of the steps – such attractive foliage even without the flowers. I really must grow some more.
Here’s my EOMV for May
https://duverdiary.wordpress.com/2015/05/30/end-of-month-view-may-2015/
Thanks for hosting.
May 31, 2015 at 3:22 am
I love watching the seasons change in your garden. Always delightfully inspiring
May 31, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Thank you Lynn
May 31, 2015 at 8:27 am
Hi Helen! I’ve made it this month. I love your steps up to the shed. Your garden is looking wonderful and a credit to all your hard work, definitely a garden to be proud of.
This is my contribution for the end of May http://hurtledto60.com/2015/05/30/end-of-month-view-may-2015/
May 31, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Hi Ronnie
Glad you can join in this month. Will pop over to see your garden now
May 31, 2015 at 9:17 am
HI Helen Your garden is looking wonderfully lush, Woodland border looks great, I’ve spent a couple of years trying to get mine to look full and yours looks really good.
My EoMR is here: http://www.blackberrygarden.co.uk/2015/05/end-of-month-review-may-2015.html
May 31, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Hi Alison
Thank you, it is amazing go quickly you need to start editing though
May 31, 2015 at 11:58 am
A bit of healthy pushing and shoving never harms Helen 🙂 I get the impression that May seems to have chucked more of the wet suff down on us but like with you it has definitely been a cool month. Your garden is flourishing on all your tender loving care and the thought you put into its making. Your procrastination over what colour to paint the shed has definitely paid dividends!
My end of month view is here : http://www.greentapestry.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may-2015.html
May 31, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Hi Anna
I think you got more rain than us. I like the plants being close but some of them aren’t looking their best because of it so need a bit of editing
May 31, 2015 at 12:55 pm
The aquilegias are really working for you. I’m glad I sowed some this year. I think the roses will too.
I’m still very much at the waiting stage and looking forward to the day when the Precipitous Bank looks established!!
Here’s my link: http://www.rustyduck.net/2015/05/31/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/
May 31, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Hi Jessica
I am sure your borders will look established soon, I think I have been here a lot longer than you have been at your house
May 31, 2015 at 12:56 pm
Your garden is looking wonderfully lush – it should be amazing when it all flowers. I especially like the white aquilegias dotted about. I think I am going to get some seeds of those and try to fill in my gaps with those and forget-me-nots.
Here is my end of month view. Thanks for hosting.
https://myaberdeengarden.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-may/
May 31, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Hi Annette
I dont think the garden will ever be completely full of flowers as I always have something going over. I tried borders with seasonal interest but it didnt really work for me.
May 31, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Looking really, really lovely Helen. Your contentment in the garden shines through your photos and you always give me so many ideas. I’m joining in again and here is my link:
https://homeslip.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-may-2015/
May 31, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Thanks Sarah and thanks for joining in with the meme
May 31, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Sorry Helen, wrong link (linking on the iPad is sooo frustrating!). Anyway here goes again:
https://homeslip.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-my-garden-in-may-2015/
May 31, 2015 at 1:32 pm
That’s a great word, “floriferous”, and some great garden views as well. Isn’t it strange that some garden plants go straight from “just planted” to “taking over the garden” without going through any stage in between!
May 31, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Hi Rachel
Floriferous is a favourite word of mine.
May 31, 2015 at 1:57 pm
it all looks wonderful. Alliums and Aquilegias are the stars of the May garden I love them. Every time I see your shed I think how good it looks . I have done a post but it is dull and wet here so I have not got many long shots. If it brightens up later maybe I will add another post. Meanwhile here it is thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-may/
May 31, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Hi Chloris
Sorry to hear you are feeling dull and boring, hopefully things will perk up soon
May 31, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Wow, your garden is looking great this month – I love the first shot with the Irises. The shed is looking good too, the new paint really works.
Unlike you, I am showing the very worst bits of my garden at the moment – my post is here. I will try to post some of the better bits at a later date!
May 31, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Hi Juliet
I have featured the worst bits of the garden in past years but then I got depressed as there was no real progress from one month to the next!!
May 31, 2015 at 4:43 pm
May has indeed created lush growth and it’s really filled out your borders. I love that Iris, Bumble Bee Delight, it does look like extra large bumble bees floating over your plants. I like how the aqualegia’s pop up all over, they give continunity and look ever so pretty. Overall the garden is looking beautiful, really beautiful.
Here is my end of month view – I have similar problems with the pushing and shoving… 🙂 http://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may-2015.html
May 31, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Hi Juliet
I love the Bumble Bee iris but yesterday I saw some of the tall bearded irises and I could believe how big their flowers were by comparison, huge. Thank you for saying the garden is beautiful that is very kind of you.
May 31, 2015 at 4:55 pm
A garden to be proud of, Helen! This is my EoMV: http://gradinameasialtefermecatorii.blogspot.ro/2015/05/end-of-may-in-garden.html
May 31, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Hi Anca
thank you and thank you for joining in with the meme
May 31, 2015 at 5:08 pm
I am unable to have a garden this year, which is like being exiled from my tribe, so it’s with much delight that for a time I get to peruse yours. 🙂
May 31, 2015 at 7:22 pm
Hi Shellie
I would hate not to be able to garden so I feel for you. Hopefully you will have a garden soon
May 31, 2015 at 6:09 pm
What a full and lush garden. I love how established your garden is, with mature plants that look strong and healthy. Everything is so well placed, with your beds being completely full but without overcrowding. You can tell this is the garden of someone who knows what the are doing, and has gone through many years of trial and error to get to a beautiful and proven garden. Since I’m in my early gardening days, I have much younger plants with some bare spots in the garden, or other crowded places. I look forward to the day that I figure out more what works and what doesn’t, but I know it will be a long (and mostly enjoyable) learning process. Here are the views of my Texas. zone 8b May garden. http://rebeccastexasgarden.blogspot.com/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may-2015.html
May 31, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Hi Rebecca
Dont be fooled I often have to dig up plants as they are too close together and I have bare patches from waiting for something to bulk up but I do use annuals and biannuals alot to fill gaps temporarily.
May 31, 2015 at 7:46 pm
hello Helen, your garden is looking better every month, beautiful, all your years of hard work, thinking, planning, changing, have definitely paid off, it has all come together now, I like the shed in the photos surrounded by plants, even larger gardens can have problems with shrubs that for years seem to never grow then shoot up and out and sucker all over the place, I have just posted my EoMV, thanks for hosting this meme,
https://islandthreads.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-may-3/
May 31, 2015 at 8:07 pm
I can’t get over just how much your shed blends in Helen, great choice of colours.
Your borders are looking wonderfully full. There is a fine line, I think, between established and crammed – I tend to over plant therefore my broders get crammed before they become established! Just one of my many bad habits.
Like you I am looking forward to seeing all my roses bloom together for the first time this year – I suspect yours will beat mine by a country mile!
Again, thanks for hosting, it’s a pleasure to take part.
May 31, 2015 at 8:07 pm
and I forgot my link….again!
http://mygardenblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may-2015.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Hi Angie
I can see a bit of colour now on the rose buds, just need a few days of sunshine and hopefully they will all flower. I doubt they will be better than yours but they are all together so might make more of a one hit impact!
May 31, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Oh so lush and lovely Helen – you must be thrilled! Lovely to see all the edges softening and it’s good to see gaps disappearing and getting to the point where plants need to be reduced in size instead – I will need to cut back some of my woodland edge border at some stage for this reason. My May EOMV is https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-getting-bolder/
Thanks for hosting
June 2, 2015 at 7:14 pm
Hi Cathy
I quite enjoy the editing. I have spent a lot of time in recent years on big projects so its nice to faff around with smaller problems like making more space.
May 31, 2015 at 9:25 pm
hello Helen, your garden is looking really nice, I like the views that include the shed among the plants, all your hard work and re organising is pay off wonderfully, I have posted my EoMV, thanks for hosting this meme,
https://islandthreads.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/end-of-month-view-may-3/
June 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Hi IT
Thank you, its amazing how photogenic the shed seems to have become which is lucky as it dominates the garden so much. Thank you for joining in again this month
May 31, 2015 at 11:07 pm
Dear Helen, your garden looks great! Very spring-ish! I love and admire your restrained color scheme. Somehow you also found just the right mixture between color pops and a calm and serene green back drop. I have to admit that I envy your dense and lush planting style. It requires lot of plant knowledge and I am sure it also takes a lot of work (planting, planting, planting and often trans-, when plants are getting too big or spreading too much), but I always think, it is what makes a good garden a great garden. I still have miles to go to achieve this look and our dry, hot, arid climate is not really supportive to reach this goal, but hopefully I am getting closer over time.
Here is the link to my contribution for this month:
http://www.organicgardendreams.com/2015/05/end-of-month-view-white-garden-bed.html
As always thanks for hosting this great meme!
Christina
June 2, 2015 at 7:22 pm
Hi Christina
You are kind about the garden. I went through a phase of focussing on time of the year for each border but now I think about colour more and I think the garden is better for it.
May 31, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Hi Helen! Your Big Border is really big: deep and full! Looks great! It was one of my projects last spring – to widen my main border. It is fun to fill it with plants now!
My post is here:
http://tanyasgarden.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-garden-end-of-month.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Hi Tanya
I think wide borders are the way to go, you can indulge your plant buying needs so much better.
June 1, 2015 at 1:30 am
We’ve had a very dry month of May here too, but still most of my garden is looking pretty lush. I think your woodland border is wonderfully full, it looks just right to me. My EoMV post is here: http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may-2015.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Hi Alison
It has been pretty dry here too but the last few days have certainly made up for it. Thanks for joining in again this month.
June 1, 2015 at 1:35 am
It was wonderful getting to enjoy your EoMV today, Helen! I’ve been caught this month by our internet data cap and missing everything bloggish as I try to make it to our June billing… 😛 I love your aquilegias, and the view up to the shed is so pleasant with the combination of foliage textures and colours. It can’t be helped about the crowding, I think, since one never really knows the final size (or vigour!) of the plants involved. I have always erred on the side of too much space between, and I much prefer the effect you’ve made here!
I’ve squeezed my own post in despite everything so here is the link: http://smallsunnygarden.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-dry-corner-and-other-garden-notes_31.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Hi Amy
I used to allow plenty of space to allow plants to grow and then spend ages weeding while they filled out, now I tend to go the other way or fill with annuals. Sorry to hear about your data cap that must be very annoying.
June 1, 2015 at 2:41 am
That’s always the headache with a small garden, whether to plant so it looks good now or in 10 years when the plants have matured. I have always opted to plant for the first few years and then remove and lift later on instead of having big gaps for ages 🙂 Your garden looks lovely and full, love the shed – and by the way, I have no longer got a shed envy, I now have my own, big shed. Yay!
Here is my EOMV post: http://graphicality-uk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/end-of-month-view-may.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Hi Helene
Hoorah you have a shed, popping over to see how the move went
June 1, 2015 at 6:30 am
I love columbines, too! I was given several by our neighbor, and they have almost all turned out to be different forms and colors. They are so airy and seem to dance above the garden.
Yours is looking lovely, by the way.
My post is at: http://www.linnaesgarden.blogspot.com
Take care!
June 2, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Hi Linnae
I love Aquilegias too, they really are the star of my garden at the moment.
June 1, 2015 at 12:51 pm
So much to say about how lovely the garden is looking, Helen. The woodland border is fabulous (and the viewer can’t tell that the plants are elbowing each other for attention!). The shed is an excellent, subtle colour, and the steps up perfect. I think I always notice how good your paths are (as well as the plants!) when I look at your photos. And aren’t you lucky to have Maianthemum romping away! I can only enjoy your pic and dream … By the way – really liked the Meme calendar you have added and followed the link to the original. Very, very useful, because I always get confused. My end of month meme is here: https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/an-evening-in-may/
Hope June is as good to you!
June 2, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Hi cathy
I found that meme calendar on someone else’s blog – it is very helpful isnt it.
Thank you for your nice comments about my garden.
June 1, 2015 at 3:42 pm
I love how your steps to the shed have filled in with such wonderful plants and growth…and that woodland border is fabulous Helen. I have Sum and Substance growing in my too small shade garden…I need to divide and move it. I love irises Helen and noticed Bumble Bee delight immediately in that first picture…it is aptly named.
Here is my post about my May garden:
http://gardenseyeview.com/2015/06/01/gardens-eye-journal-june-2015/
June 2, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Hi Donna
I keep underestimating how big Sum and Substance is – its a real whopper and I think needs more space so I need to move it at some point but where to is the question.
June 1, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Your garden looks so lovely and lush Helen, is your soil moist and warm, like ours is here ? I guess it is near perfect conditions for plant growth!
Thank you for hosting EOMV, my link is below
http://www.hoehoegrow.co.uk/2015/06/asay-tips-into-june.html
June 2, 2015 at 7:52 pm
Hi HHG
I think the soil must be getting warm as the weeds are starting to grow but it has been unseasonably cool the last few weeks which I think has slowed some things down. However it is now meant to be warming up so hopefully everything will really get going soon.
June 1, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Stunning again this month! Thanks for sharing!
June 2, 2015 at 9:56 am
Hi Helen. Im am joining your meme for the first time. I have contrasted one view from the end of May with the same view three month ago just to show the contrast. Next time my post should probably be bi-lingual.
https://feliximgarten.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/wechsel-der-jahreszeiten-end-of-month-view/
June 2, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Hi Felix
Welcome to the meme, it is so nice to have another blogger joining in.
June 3, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I’m a little late but finally posted my end of the month views. I really enjoy paying attention to a specific spot that this meme makes me do. Keeps me from being so scattered in the garden! http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2015/06/end-of-the-month-view-53015.html
June 3, 2015 at 11:18 pm
Looking just fabulous and not too full at all. That is what I am aspiring to !
June 6, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Late again! Here’s mine: https://edinburghgardendiary.wordpress.com/2015/06/06/end-of-month-view-may-2015/
You were right about your shed – the colour looks exactly right above all that lush greenness. Isn’t May a wonderful month in the garden.