An Aberdeen garden at the end of May

This morning it was warm and sunny – rather unreal for Aberdeen! And the garden was looking lovely. I thought I’d show you:

Clematis montana and an azalea just about to flower, view from the front gate. My garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

The “Shirley” tulip bulbs I ordered from Clare Bulbs in Suffolk. The bluebells are probably Spanish interlopers, rather than native ones. I think this is so because they come in pink and white shades as well. They are very invasive, but lovely.

“Shirley” tulips, my front garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

The laburnum tree looks set to provide us with some lovely blossom this year. And I must say that the camassia bulbs (the tall purple ones) are incredible goers. I planted them (again from Clare Bulbs) about eight years ago and the only care I have given them is to divide them once.

Camassia bulbs (and stray poppies and tulips) under the laburnum tree. My garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

The front garden becomes shady now that the laburnum and the birch have added their shade to the cedar tree’s. There are still some white daffodils in flower in pots.

My (half of the) front garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

In the back garden, I love the delicate alpines. When we first came here, there was a rockery, which after tending lovingly for a few years we dismantled to make room for other things. We took the best plants and stones and made a little rockery area here. As you can see, I’m not exactly a neatnik with the lawn edging! I will get the half-moon spade out and neaten things up for the new owners at some point.

saxifrages in the back garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

My neighbour and I were chatting over the wall the other evening, and he said that he reckons the apple tree is about 60 years old. I do love its blossom:

Apple blossom hanging over the wall from our neighbours’ house. Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

Here is some columbine that I grew from seed, with a backdrop of purple columbines, poppies, achillea and foxglove. And a pot of mint:

Columbine in my back garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

Columbine (McKana’s giants?) in my back garden, Aberdeen, 31 May 2013.

And look at this! (Sorry the photo isn’t better, I was having to lean over something else and couldn’t see very well.) I can take no credit for this beautiful plant – a blue poppy given to me by the former church gardener, a very generous man who has passed on so much knowledge to me over the years that I was doing the church garden. Isn’t the colour just amazing?!