Bluish, Pinkish, Mauve



The onions, Allium aflatunense are a little past their best now. They continue to look good 'bobbing' amongst the catmint, Nepeta racemosa Walker's Low and the pheasant grass Stipa calamagrostis growing along the base of the pergola.



Pink Sea thrift, Armeria maritima, grows under the roses along the tobacco drying barn. It's really multiplied this year and thus earns its keep.



There's a big swathe of Catmint 'Six hills giant' planted around the gable end. It's the perfect partner to the un-named yellow rose which 'cloaks' this area and looks perfect when the Echinacea and Globe thistles appear behind and to the left of the stone head who we affectionately refer to as Brian.




Myosotis or Forget-me-nots have really seeded themselves about this spring. I've noticed that many more 'gardened' looking types are appearing for sale. Some have really stunning variegated foliage and I reckon worth a punt. The name was likely calqued from the French "ne m'oubliez pas".



Geranium 'Johnson's blue'. I have other blues that flower for much longer but I still reckon this to be the best blue of all, a true blue.



Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' growing with Gypsophila repens 'Rosea', sometimes known as 'Baby's breath' or Soupir de bébé .

On the subject of Cranesbill, it seems almost by accident that I've accumulated quite a few varieties without any conscious effort to do so.

Still to flower is G. psilostemon, G. oxanianum x psilostemon 'Patricia' , Geranium endressii ' Wargrave's Pink'. The low growing G. cinereum 'Ballerina' and Geranium x riversleaianum 'Russell Pritchard' are making an appearance and very late is the the true wildflower Geranium phaeum 'Somobor'.



Blue and pink aquilegia or columbine. These do fine in the shady fern border down by the river and eventually get replaced as the Japanese anemones come through.



Finally, above, last week was one of the last 'hurrahs' for the spring flower fetes with the bastide of Monpazier hosting one of the later events, time flies.

Comments

  1. I suspect that you are a bit warmer in the Dordogne as my garden is way behind yours. Lovely photos.

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  2. I have your France-envy...

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  3. Um...well, it's early here. I meant to say...I wish I were in France :-)

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  4. I just need to find a source for your ancient stone walls here in my contemporary Atlanta subdivision....then I'm sure my garden will look just like yours! (In my wildest dreams.....)

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  5. I love your pictures! The pergola is great! Carla

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  6. Lovely flowers Rob. I must try some Alliums. The pictures with the Sea Thrift and the Catmint with the bust are gorgeous.

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  7. Lovely. Why does everything just look better in France?

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  8. Your place is so enchanting Rob! Lovely blooms bathed in your special French countryside light. I love the song like your quote "ne m'oubliez pas"... are you referring to that... was it Edith who sang it... I did try to learn it once accompanied by my guitar... time does fly ... it seems like blooms are rushing into their own so quickly now. It is great when our gardens give us gifts of self sown plants.

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  9. It all looks superb, Rob, but as Tim said so well, those background walls would make anything look perfect. Love your geraniums, especially Johnson's Blue.
    Frances

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  10. May flowers are the prettiest! I love forget-me-nots, but they won’t self-seed for me.

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  11. Funniest thing looking at your pictures. First because I have most of what you captured on you pictures in my own garden. And, second, because we appear to be synchronized at the moment.
    The cranesbill, the catnip, the sea thrift... it's all blooming right now.
    Beautiful pictures.

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  12. Six Hills giant is my fave catmint, but I use more of Walkers along paths. You have a perfect yellow and blue with the rose. I am just now getting armeria going...another that likes to be ignored in difficult places.

    We hiked from here, around the Cap and back...probably 12k. Wine on the balcony as I write. The good life!

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  13. What great flowers, and combinations. Its so strange to think of Spring nearly over when this has been our first decent week.

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  14. Gorgeous pics, I think you must be a whole month before us... But soon my alliums will flower, and this year I have them in abundance:-)
    Have a nice weekend!

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  15. janet asks ~ why does everything look better in france?

    rob says ~ because it is!

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  16. Hi Rob. You really are a garden artist aren't you? Those colour and texture combinations are just wonderful! Brian is looking good in his wall pog surrounded by catmint!
    (mind you, my forget-me-nots are better - she said, sulkily!!!)
    Have a great weekend :)

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  17. You do have beautiful geraniums, Rob! I just discovered that a deer loves them, as well as roses. I needed to bring a canon from my east coast colonial trip! Alliums are striking!

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  18. It sure is looking great there! I love all the Catmint you have. Mine always flops a bit because it's not in full sun. Brian sure has quite the view!

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  19. Nice pix, my fav is the catmint one.

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  20. It's warm here Rob but looks so much warmer there :)

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  21. Hi Rob
    The pergola is looking good with lots of under/side planting.

    It is a great time of year and lots of interesting flowers you have in your garden.

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  22. I wish I could have it looking so lovely! I always like to read/see what is growing in your garden to give me inspiration! Starting from scratch again makes me so inpatient as I see so many lovely things!

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  23. Hi *** I'd like to know how much heat that the plant Lavender can handle, I live in Florida and put two into the ground in my garden it started to dry out until I started watering every morning ... please help me with this * Thank You Rosemary ***

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  24. Your garden is looking sooooo beautiful, love all your selection of flowers!!! Sad that my aremerias where all eaten by rabbits.
    Cariños, Rob,
    Maria Cecilia

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  25. Gorgeous colors and beautiful light...nowhere like France...sigh.

    Christine,
    Publisher, Anarchist Potager
    http://anarchistpotager.blogspot.com/

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  26. Your spring garden wears many of my favorites, Rob. Stellar photos ... the catmint and bust, a knockout! I hate to see May end ... it's my favorite month. A rewind of these beautiful days would be delightful!

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  27. Beautiful pink flowers.
    Et passe une bonne soirée.

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