Seeing Red.

Waterford, south-east Ireland. Saturday, 29th May 2021

For the most part my seeing red this week has been of the very best kind, the red of striking flower colour with the flowering of an especially liked tulip, Tulipa sprengeri, a species tulip which I am delighted to say has found the conditions in our garden perfectly suited to its requirements and has increased generously over the years both through the multiplication of the bulbs and by its abundant self-seeding. This tulip is a native of Turkey and and has become very rare there in the wild and is, perhaps, extinct so it is good that it is popular in gardens and grows very well in cultivation.

Tulipa sprengeri catching the evening light.

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Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere‘ decided to meet the challenge of the red tulips but has only opened one flower to date. Perhaps this was wise as its large, wide-petalled flowers do not stand up well to wind and heavy rain and both have been part of our weather during this past week. This poppy has lasted for many years in the garden, certainly over twenty, and has always been very well behaved especially when compared with Papaver orientale ‘Allegro’ which we grow elsewhere and which demands constant attention to prevent it invading and overtaking all neighbouring plants. A bold splash of red has much to recommend it, especially in a week which was constantly dull and regularly raining.

Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’

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Despite regularly miserable weather, and other matters, we did manage to get some gardening done. I was “rested” early in the week as I had very foolishly hurt my elbow and needed to rest it for a few days and the head gardener forged ahead on her own until I returned to light duties. This, the elbow injury, was the other reason for my seeing red this past week. We also took time out for two garden visits during the week – Lismore Castle Gardens and Mount Congreve Gardens. After the heavy rains grass cutting was out of the question and working on the beds was almost impossible as the soil was so wet. However, with care we managed to do quite an amount of weeding and freshening up from the pathways. Mary has the glasshouses all in order and ready for her potting up the tomato plants as the dahlias have been planted out and that leaves space inside.

It is the time of the Alliums and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ is the one giving the best display at the moment. It has increased in numbers over the years both through the bulbs splitting and because it seeds about generously though the seedling plants are always smaller and have a lighter colour. Nevertheless, they all add to the display.

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Allium ‘Purple Sensation’

Quite a number of irises are into flower in the garden at the moment. Iris germanica and Iris sibirica are all looking well but a cultivar of the Pacific iris, Iris ‘Broadleigh Rose’ is putting the best display of all. Our plant came from Broadleigh Gardens many years ago and has been split and split again and again over the years and reliably gives a great display of flowers at this time of the year.

Iris ‘Broadleigh Rose’

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This iris – Iris laevigata ‘Shirasagi’ is growing in our pond, in pots on the pond ledge, a perfectly suitable situation as its common name is the Water Iris. It is a rhizamatous iris and can be divided regularly to produce new plants and to prevent it becoming congested in its pot.

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Iris laevigata ‘Shirasagi’

Finally, for who could resist an obliging bumblebee! Here are some visiting Geranium phaeum:

Bumblebee on Geranium phaeum ‘Lavender Pinwheel’

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Bumblebees on Geraniium phaeum ‘Album’

I’m sharing this blog with a group of fellow bloggers who contribute to a “Six on Saturday” theme which is hosted by “The Propagator”. To read more contributions go to The Propagator’s entry for today, scroll down to the comments and you will find other bloggers have posted links to their Saturday entries there. Lots to read!