Another day, another few photos. The weigelia is possibly the best it's ever been this year.

No sooner do I mention that the aubretia isn't doing too well this year than it takes off (see right) and adds a whole load of colour to the garden!

As you can see there's a good variety of plants in flower.

These plants now live in the gravel garden - they were the white of the red, white and blue for the Queen's jubilee a few years ago.

I've got quite a lot of the bedding in now. Yellows, golds and creams in the patio beds (no photos yet) and petunias, snapdragons and bedding dahlias in the bed on the left. Petunias and snapdragons also in the small bed under the robinia tree. Hope they all manage to grow rather than get eaten!

Things move so quickly at this time of year so I've added a few more photos. Might add more as May progresses!

Plenty of colour in the garden in May and the Clematis along the fence is doing its bit in style.

The pot clematis are also doing their bit as are the self seeded aquiligia that seem to be everywhere.

We have a small bed filled with lily of the valley but there seem to be quite a few at the far end of the pond as well.

We have a very friendly robin around at the moment. He's a regular helper when I'm gardening.

Although the bluebells have just about died back, these harebells (I think that's what they are) are in full bloom.

The Judas tree is just starting to come into bloom.

We have forget me nots everywhere!

I love this bush - the flowers are a really good mix of white and pink.

Most of the tulips are done but these pretty ones are holding their own.

They go well with the red kale!

The aubretia doesn't seem to be as prolific this year. No idea why - perhaps it's time to introduce some more.

Lots of blossom all around the garden.

Another star at this time of year is the tamarisk. It's coming into its own and it looks like there are plenty more fronds to fluff up.

Snow in summer adds a different colour range into the main bed.

The wallflowers haven't performed as well this year but those that have flowered are doing well.

I really must get round to trimming the privet into shape!

The red robins are doing well this year. The tree on the right was given a really good prune in autumn and seems to be repaying me nicely.

There are lots of daffodil (and other bulb) leaves to be cut down before I can put the bedding in but it's not quite the right time yet - another couple of weeks and I'll get the shears out.

The cotinus has come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of days.

The lilac flowers have just started to open - they smell lovely.

Another plant that self seeds - I love the leaves but I'm not so keen on the fluffy, yellow flowers.

The roses in the front garden are always the first to flower. Surprising because they are east facing but perhaps they benefit from the warmth of the house.

The red roses are also starting to flower but they are always later than this lovely yellow one.

The bees love this ceanothus - it sounds like the bush is buzzing during the day.

If all the strawberry flowers turn into fruit (and we get them before the birds do) we should have a real feast.

Frost was forecast so everything had to be tucked up to protect it.

 

I'm growing courgettes in sacks this year to see how they fare.

Jonathon's favourite veg (not!)

Early and salad potatoes are growing in sacks.

The main crop potatoes are coming along nicely.

The french beans are starting to climb up the posts. It's the first year I've grown these (I usually do runner beans).

The freesias came from Christine and have grown well in my shed.

That's it for this time - more next month.

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