MAY AT CLUNY

May is reckoned to be Cluny’s most glorious month with many plants in bloom along with fantastic scents, wonderful bird song and a terrific show of bluebells set for mid-May. Sadly spring is passing very quickly and we reckon we are about a fortnight ahead as a result of the warm weather. Cluny is a peaceful place so please take your time going around and enjoy the atmosphere. 

PRIMULAS

The first candelabra primulas are now in flower. The most prolific and found growing even in the gravel, is the orange-yellow P. chungensis. Slightly later comes the majestic purple P. pulverulenta along with naturally occurring hybrids of both primulas in orange, pink and pale purple. By the middle of the month P. japonica (crimson) and P. bulleyana (orange) are beginning to appear. The best area to observe all the damp loving primulas is between nos. 28 & 29 in an area called ‘the bog’ which literally is as its name implies! The bog also provides a home for Trollius sp, Royal Fern and many orchids.

BULBS & TUBERS

There are approximately 18 varieties of white, red or maroon Trilliums (Wake Robin, Wood Lily) in the garden easily recognised by their 3 leaves, 3 sepals and 3 petals. They take many years to reach the large clump sizes you will see here. Stalks of last year’s Cardiocrinum giganteum (giant Himalayan Lily) can still be seen with their Venus Flytrap-like seed heads. The fresh stalks of the bulbs to flower this year are already growing quickly and have noticeable glossy large heart-shaped leaves. Ariseamas or cobra lilies with their flowers hidden within strange-looking striped spathes are dotted throughout the garden. A very large clump of Arisaema propinquum (Wallich’s Cobra lily) can be seen opposite the second Sequoiadendron between nos. 9 & 10.

MECONOPSIS - HIMALAYAN POPPIES 

The larger flowered species borne on single stalks in a rich blue is Meconopsis grandis or their hybrids and they are the first blue poppies to flower. M. betonicifolia with its beautiful smaller nodding heads in various hues of blue, and also pure white, grows happily in deep leaf mould throughout the garden later in the month. Early in May Meconopsis x cookei, a bright plum colour flowers in the top lawn bed. Pale yellow M. x sarsonsii and the white M. x Ivory mainly grow in beds in the lawn area. 

CLEMATIS

On the house wall and elsewhere in the garden, there is a white clematis similar to montana recently introduced from China which is very floriferous. At the front door Clematis x ochentensis with beautiful blue and white flowers and exceptionally long petals is also flowering well and throughout the garden Clematis macropetala and alpina can be seen draped over rhododendrons.

TREES & SHRUBS

There are many gloriously scented ornamental apples and cherries all over the garden. Look out for Prunus serrula tibetica (Tibetan cherry) with its red peeling bark. Adding to the scents, are numerous lilacs (Syringa) and azaleas. Many rhododendrons & azaleas bloom in May along with the closely related Enkianthus, which bears pendant racemes of mainly pink bell-shaped flowers. The acers (Japanese Maples) with their beautiful fresh green leaves have small but delicate flowers while glorious Magnolias (M. wilsonii overlooks the entrance panel) and Tree Paeonias (P. delavayi) grow well in the shelter of the house.  The striking climber Actinidia kolomitka with its variegated green white and pink leaves grows on the far end of the house wall. 

AND THE REST! 

There are of course lots of other plants to enjoy but some favourites include Actaeas (Baneberry), Disporum smithii (Smith’s Fairybells), Thalictrum (meadow rue), Smilacina (false Solomon’s Seal) and many species and hybrid Aquilegia (Columbine, Granny’s Bonnet). Aquilegia flabellata is a particularly attractive blue and white low-growing species. Paeonia veitchii, a mauve single-flowered herbaceous perennial, grows around the woodland edge.

WILDLIFE

The birds are very busy singing, building nests and incubating eggs. Some species like the Mistle Thrush are already feeding young by early May. Migrant Blackcaps and Garden Warblers fill the garden with their raucous voices while the Spotted Flycatcher with its insignificant song arrives in mid-May and is seen usually in the lawn area doing as its name suggests. Look out for the Red Squirrels feeding at the bird feeders at the first ‘Big Tree’ (No 4 – 5) or around the car park area. They can often be seen in other parts of the garden racing up and down the larger trees. Please tell one of us if you have a problem seeing them. On warm days there are many insects including a large population of bumblebees, all of them important for pollination of garden plants. 

MAY JOBS

In the potting room, pricking out seedlings and potting on are the main activities. Weeding, as ever, continues but selectively, to try to keep a balance between wild flowers and garden plants. Ground cover plants such as Dicentra eximia, Chrysosplenium and the graceful foliage of Shuttlecock ferns lessen the weeding task as well as providing carpets of colour.