Heat Wave! Well, it hasn’t rained for almost a week, which amounts to the same thing in this neck of the wood. Do not fear, rain is forecast once again for next week so I will bask in all its waterproof-free glory whilst it lasts. I will live, defiantly, in the moment.
May is possibly my favourite month, it is the anything is possible, all mistakes have been forgotten, I’m sure it is meant to look like that, pre-reality check month. A torrent of positivity and, to add to the joy, now we have sunshine. Fabulous. I think we had better get Six on Saturdaying, there is no time to waste. I’m certain our leader, the indomitable Jim at Garden Ruminations isn’t hanging about, tempus fugit, hay must be made!
Shall we start with a bang? This little evergreen azalea, unnamed and brazen, is a pocket rocket at the moment.
Last week I popped into a local nursery that specialises in bedding. I was passing quite close by and there would be no harm in doing a recce. Just for a look, you understand. I came away with two lemon verbena plants and this Bergenia ciliata ‘Dumbo’ that I rescued from the bargain bench. Lemon drops and a baby elephant, irresistible.
A self-seeded, possibly bird planted, Welsh poppy unfurls its flowers with all the elegance of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Gosh, that was a bit poetic, I think the sun must be getting to me!
The only candelabra primula to make an effort this year is this white, yellow-eyed, beauty.
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ is slow to leaf but well worth waiting for. This small tree has done so much better than the specimen we left behind in North Devon, it must be enjoying the clay soil and the (almost) incessant rain. This living in the moment is trickier than it sounds.
Underneath the pear tree is now officially known as the Guano Bed. It is here that the bird feeders hang, the sparrows squabble, the starlings bicker and our other avian visitors try to avoid the chaos. And it is here that the birds poop, covering all vegetation with a splattering of guano. Hidden, under protective foliage, are the iridescent pearls of Solomon’s Seal flowers.
Another SoS completed, it is getting much easier as the garden wakes. I hope, wherever you are in the world, you are managing to live in a perfect moment. I’m trying.
Off The Edge Gardening 
For a little while I thought you might again have been targeted by an overflying seagull or have been pursued by migratory horde of pooping stink bugs. 😉 And yup, it hasn’t been a good year for primulas but azaleas are positively romping. Now time to water the garden; I’d like to get that job out of the way before tomorrow’s storm, when I’d get wet.
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I did get “blessed” by a seagull a couple of weeks ago. It’s supposed to be lucky. Waiting for my lottery win …..
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I used to have a similar azalea, bought from Woolworth’s (remember that shop for plant bargains?) it was called ‘Wombat’ seriuosly! Glad you’ve made the most of the sunny weather, I see an ominous weather warning for tomorrow 🙄
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All our acers are from Woolies, much missed! How funny it was called Wombat. Such a mixed week, weather wise, goodness knows what the plants are thinking!
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What a stunning azalea, a real eye-catcher.
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Thanks Rosie, I’m very pleased with it
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Before reading, I wondered where guano was going to be explained… It’s indeed a beautiful description! 😂
The welsh poppies haven’t reseeded this spring, or at least I don’t see them yet. This azalea is truly a beauty ! Love it.
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I’m sure they will pop up eventually, maybe even next year. The azalea is lovely, I am wondering if it is going to stay small (ideal) or get big (not so good for where it is).
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I love your pocket rocket Azelea. The birds just love to poop. Some house sparrows took up residence on our guttering above where we sit … needless to say I had to move them on. Sad but necessary
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A whole lot of pooping going on!
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The azalea is truly giving it’s all! I thought you were composting with bat guano with the headline. The Solomon’s Seal blooms are so pretty and soft.
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We do have a few bats about, not sure they contribute much on the guano front! Lovely to see them fitting about though.
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Your flowers and foliage are more interesting than . . . the title.
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Ha, ha!
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Your Azalea is a real knock out colour, they are wonderful at this time of year. My candelabra primulas have just started flowering, such lovely flowers and they like all the rain that we have had! Like your orange Meconopsis cambrica, all mine seem to be yellow, don’t know why?
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I don’t know why either, it would be nice to have both, oranges and lemons. Would you like some seed from this one?
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ohh, I love the Candelabra and birds are a double edged sword. I have a water fountain they love but I can’t deal with the guano!
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It is a bit yukky!
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Lovely selection and many things here I really struggle to grow! My candelabra primula, cercis, welsh poppy and Solomon’s seal all under-perform for a variety of reasons! Glad you are enjoying the good weather. I know exactly what you mean about May’s optimism. In the spirit of which, I’m going to pretend it isn’t going to rain today, and get out there and garden anyway.
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I’m amazed the Solomon’s seal does so well where it is, it is very dry and total shade, the guano must make all the difference.
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The Guano Bed! Ha! Alas, the birds use the swing seat here. I love the heart shaped young foliage of the Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy.’
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Oh, not ideal, especially if you are sitting on it! 😀
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The evergreen azalea must be making your garden glow – it’s fabulous. The Cercis is getting ready to put on a fabulous show – I’m impatient to get a glimpse of it in full leaf, so that’s a photo request please. 😃 We have garden birds that make a bit of a mess too, but we’re close to the sea, so we also have seagulls that fly overhead and splatter everything from the start of the drive, over the house to the end of the back garden. They’re at their best in May and right after husband finishes cleaning the car and stands back to admire the shine.
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I bet that goes down well! I’ll remember to put a full foliage photo on (oh, say that out loud, it feel great) later in the year.
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Fabulous! I think you were telling porkies when you told me that you only had a small garden, or else it’s a Tardis!!
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I do have a small garden, the plants are also very, very small 😀
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