May is always a vibrant month, but this year it is all the more colourful with the riotous displays of tulips in the potager and annual beds. We are indebted to BLOMS BULBS for sponsoring this event, supplying us with 7500 bulbs and also 100s of cut blooms on display 29 April to 3 May. A later highlight in May is the lilac walk in the Walled Garden, with more than 26 varieties which will start to bloom towards the end of the month.
As you approach the Walled Garden, through the woodland garden, there is a lot of interest in the area to the right in front of the Potting Shed, in the Woodland Edge Planting (1) where you will you will find the deep pink, and pure white, heart-shaped flowers of Dicentra spectabilis, whose flowers, when upturned and pulled open, slightly resemble a lady in a bath! Euphorbias are in flower this month, mainly green, but most eye-catching is the lovely Euphorbia griffithii ‘Dixter’, a bit of an oddity with its red leaves and stems. To the right are the pink spikes of Persicaria bistorta and the pale yellow spikes of Tellima grandiflora. The sharp linear leaves of Iris sibirica help to provide contrast and rhythm within this section of the planting.
In the bed beside the gate opposite the Potting Shed, enjoy the shaded, heart-shaped leaves of Epimedium and the Dryopteris ferns which are unfurling this month. The fern-leaved maple in the adjoining bed is Acer palmatum ‘viridis’. If you follow the path up beyond the Potting Shed you will come to the site of our new North American Prairie which was covered in 60 tons of gravel last year and planted with 7000 plants of 126 species which were grown here..
The two striking small trees by the entrance to the Walled Garden are Acer palmatum ‘Senkaki’ (pale green with red stems) and, to the left, Acer griseum, the paperbark maple with its lovely peeling brown bark. Both these trees are ideal for a small garden. On each side of the entrance is a shady rocky bed, which were originally a Victorian Fern Garden. They have both been planted with a selection of small plants suited to dry shade.
Going through the Garden Gate and turning right, on the left is The Calendar Bed (2) This steppe border, a collection of perennials from drier regions of the world, is growing very quickly this month. Alliums are heavily planted between the perennials and grasses extend the season and give a first flush of flower towards the end of the month. Also notable is Thalictrum aquilegifolium with its purple stems and delicate fernlike leaves and the silver spiky leaves of Celmisia.
Steppe Planting (3) This heavily diffused border style is easily adapted to smaller gardens. The handsome large leaves of Phlomis tuberosa create rhythm in the border, contrasting with fine and linear emerging leaf textures.
The Annuals (4) The four annual beds have been planted with several thousand tulip bulbs. Each different colour of tulip has been bounced rhythmically through the border. The less formal arrangement of the bulbs has been designed to be more in keeping with the naturalistic style of Cambo Gardens.
Traditional Border (5) This is a modern reworking of a traditional flower border incorporating some traditional cottage garden flowers such as delphiniums, penstemon and geraniums with a backdrop of climbing roses. Burnished tones are supplied early in the season by the leaves of Paeonia lactiflora, Astilbe ‘Purplanze’ and Eupatorium cannabinum.
The Moist Area (6) is currently under development.
Cut Flower Area (7) Flowering later this month is mainly from Thalictrum aquilegifolium and the red ball like flowers of Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’. Elsewhere the blue spikes of Veronica gentianoides mingle with the red spangle flowers of Heuchera ‘Red Spangle’ and the grass Luzula nivea.
Woodland Border (8) The Woodland Border is filling out this year thanks to some early season adjustments. Burnished leaves of Epimedium echo the copper tones of Rodgersia pinnata and blue is supplied by Omphaloides and Pulmonaria. The handsome purple leaves of Diphyllea cymosa combine with Acer palmatum, emerging ferns and the yellow hanging bells of Uvularia grandiflora. Adjacent to the woodland border two new Woodland Edge borders are in the process of being planted.
Mixed Border (9) This border is one of our more recent plantings but is establishing well. The pink flowers on the arching stems of Deutzia combine with Allium hollandicum and Thalictrum aquilegiafolia. Elsewhere the handsome leaves of Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum throw up striking red ball like flowers, the pink spikes are Persicaria bistorta Superba. Another attractive shrub is the creamy white Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’.
Early Flowering Border (10) Early interest here is from the acid yellow Euphorbias, Centaurea Montana and the red flowers of Astrantia major. This early season planting is also designed to look good later in the season. This area is one of the hardest working in Cambo, working well from this month to the frosts.
Potager (11) This is the centrepiece of our Tulip Festival and has been planted with over 5000 bulbs. The tulips have been arranged informally in a ‘naturalistic’ style which is in keeping with the rest of the garden.
Potager Entrance Beds (12) These beds form the transition between what will be the rich colours of the potager and the other plantings in the area. Tulips have been dotted throughout this area.
Late Borders (13) These borders start to bulk up in May with an emphasis on leaves and plant form giving us an interesting long-lasting display. |