My Favorite Iris, and My Lone Allium

My favorite iris is an oldie - Shah Jehan from 1932. It may not be the largest of irises in my garden, but it is more refined, without all the ruffles. Love the colorway.

Shah Jehan

This year, my garden has produced one lone allium, whose name escapes me. Two years ago, however, I planted hundreds of Allium sphaerocephalon, but not a single one has come up. It's very frustrating, especially because this variety is supposedly native to Spain. In buying bulbs from Holland, though, I can't help but wonder if their stock has been modified for central/northern European climates, and therefore is not able to handle our drought.

I have been trying to find bulbs here in Spain, but no luck so far. It's interesting how native plants to Spain, such as Allium sphaerocephalon, euphorbia and asphodelus, are becoming popular in other countries for their use in drought-tolerant gardens, yet I can't find them here at a garden center or online.

But I've got my eye on a native allium that I've seen growing in a neighboring olive grove... ;)

My lone, no-name allium lasted just a day before the wind toppled it over.

The Front Garden

Well, the roses in the front garden are starting to do their thing, and I have been spending more time just sitting, looking and smelling.

Yes, there are weeds. Yes, there are rose bushes that did not get pruned this year. And, yes, there are a few plants that need to be cut back. But, I tend to be more of a hands-off gardener, and I love letting plants 'do their thing'.

Abraham Darby

  

Charles Darwin

The Shepherdess

The Shepherdess

Crown Princess Margareta

Pierre de Ronsard

 


I am sharing this post with this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, run by Carol at May Dreams Garden. Stop by to see what is blooming in other gardens around the world!

Too much?

We have been quarantined at home since March 12th, and that has given me ample time to spend in my garden. Not work in the garden, mind you, because a larger volume of medical pre-publications have been demanding my attention, logically. But, a looksie here and there have got me thinking...

I have too much purple. Yes, yes I do.

Well, to be fair, perhaps I didn't necessarily have too much purple to begin with, but over the years my white Thalia daffodils have disappeared (the shrews?), as have the gladiolus byzantinus (ditto?). Meanwhile, the native lavandula stoechas and iris have been prospering, and the wisteria is slowly climbing the pergolas. I am now kicking myself for not planting a white wisteria.

Thank goodness for Lady Banks!