Whilst there are a few tulips still clinging on, the majority of bulbs flowering now are Alliums. Above, Allium Purple Sensation, matching beautifully with the stalwart Erysimum Bowles Mauve behind. Funny, I don’t remember that combination last year, and yet they were both there!
In the Swing Beds, Nectoscordum siculum (not a true Allium, but in the family), are just starting to bloom. Last weekend my daughter, old enough to know better, took great delight in peeling back some of the papery sheaths to help them on their way. I think she missed this one.
In the Drive Bed, Allium Violet Beauty, planted new for this year.
Sharing the Drive Bed with the Alliums are these Erysimum Ivory Giant
and growing on the fence above, Rosa Snow Goose, in bud and fully open.
In the new Bronze Bed the Calendula I grew from seed last year, Calendula Sunset Buff, are one of the first things to flower. I love the soft apricot colouring.
Annoyingly, not all of the seeds I planted seem to be Sunset Buff. These two, whilst very jolly, were not what I had in mind for the bed, and so I’ve now moved them out to the raised cutting beds.
A few daffodils are still blooming, this one, the very late N. Sinopel is in the Grass Bed,
these are N. Bellsong, in the greenhouse pots,
and these N. Lieke.
In the Oak Bed the broom is blooming. It’s an inherited plant so I’m not sure which one it is, but Cytisus Scoparius Killiney Red looks similar. There have been years when this flowers at the same time as the Bottlebrush it’s planted next to, but sadly not this year.
In one of the Lavender Beds, this little Cistus is looking happier than it has for a while – perhaps because of the hot dry April.
For scent I have to mention my stock flowers, Matthiola Incana. I think this is my favourite garden scent of all, shame you can’t scratch and sniff!
And to finish, not yet a bloom, but oh what a pregnant bud!
With thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting everyone’s GBBD.
Duver Diary 
I love N. Bellsong. Do they usually bloom this late?
Oh RD – I fear I’ve misled you!
All this working malarkey means I end up taking photos the weekend before I need to post and on this occasion they were actually taken on the 10th. They were definitely there then, but I’m afraid there were very few clinging on by the 15th and none now.
Have to say I’m generally a bit sniffy about the ‘wrong’ coloured flowers (ie not a fan of yellow snowdrops), but there’s something really pretty about Bellsong, (which was new to me this year) both the colour and the shape.