Wednesday 23 March 2011

Wild in the garden

Sweet Violet, Viola odorata


Dusky pink Viola odorata
There is a great diversity of native plants in the grounds of Colesbourne Park, with many of the spring-flowering species now coming into full bloom. In the informal setting here they partner and complement the garden plants, as at least equals in the display. Some are showy and obvious, like the Primroses and Wood Anemones, others are more subtle, like the violets, and some would attract only a botanist's interest - but all (or almost all), are very welcome.

 
Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa

Primroses, Primula vulgaris, and Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria

Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis

Even Bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta,
has moments when it looks almost pretty...

3 comments:

  1. I have the white and purple V. odorata, which are blooming and perfuming the garden right now, but would love a pink one. I can't seem to get my nursery customers interested in violets. I collect A. nemorosa and have about 15 cultivars. I can't wait to see them in a week (or more). We were in the full swing of spring but it's 25 degrees F right now and there's talk of snow. However, better that than unseasonably warm.

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  2. Lovely images of native plants ... apart from the last Bittercress looking almost pretty? .... Really?
    :)
    K

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  3. We have got pink, magenta and yellow violets out too, all scented. I know bittercress is a noxious weed, and I get rid of it as soon as I can, but we do eat the leaves, from time to time, they make a surprisingly tangy addition to a salad; and its cousin ladysmock (cardamine pratensis) is a quaint, shy and very welcome individual to our garden - usually in the lawn, where it is not so welcome to the grass cutter! Perhaps I could send seeds of the pink violet to you, Carolyn!?

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