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.