Ardtornish Gardens

This Month

30th April, 2008.

Last month's weather was good. A week without rain let me cut the grass without having to worry about getting bogged down though normal service has since been resumed.

Daffodils and narcissi are now blooming in great variety and number. I must admit that I am very partial to daffodils and narcissi with the exception of the very double ones which seem to lack the gracefullness of the singles. A bend in the keeper's path with nothing but white narcissi, and with scarlet rhododendron "Ascot Brilliant" in the background looks particularly good. Planted by my predecessor Caroline.

Lenten roses are still good after almost 4 months of colour. Two great successes of recent years are Erythronium Pagoda and Camassia lechtleinii (hope I spelled it correctly), the latter, a tall blue, spiky bulb, is just coming into flower now.

There are now many rhododendrons in flower. R. schlippenbachii is a lovely pale pink early azalea which brightens a shady spot. R. Logan Damaris is one of the best yellows but the one here looks as though it won't see many more seasons. R. augustinii is a good blue.

Here are some of my recent pictures:-

Left to right and top to bottom are:-

1. Erythronium Pagoda seems really happy with the conditions here and doesn't suffer from slug or mouse damage. It grows well in the open or in shade.
2. Viburnum furcatum brightens up a gloomy area. Not always easy to get going here, it has the bonus of fine autumn colours.

This page is updated every month with new details and pictures.

See also

• This month at the Kitchen Garden gives details of the Kitchen Garden and some of my recent wildlife encounters.
• Wildlife I have recently added several pages and lots of pictures to the Wildlife section.