The debate rages on about Spanish Bluebells and whether, rather like the Grey Squirrel, they are driving out the native English version. Recent research suggests this is not the case and that the native Bluebell has a genetic advantage which makes them tough and resilient. So let’s just enjoy the beauty of Spanish bluebells, despite their tendency to invade and spread alarmingly!
We have Blue Tits in the posh new nest box! He or she had just gone in with a mouthful of something when I took this shot. Unusually, our old nest box on the shed, which has been occupied every year since 2010, is unoccupied for the first time. That’s the housing market for you, the lure of the new and untouched!
Talking of Bluebells, lurking beneath the beech hedge is a small clump of white ones which flower every year but don’t seem to increase; just the same small clump every year.
Early morning shot of the front garden today. Comments seem to suggest that followers like to see gardens as well as plants and flowers so I thought I would periodically bare all.
The middle garden this morning. I call it the rose garden but in all truth, it is mostly patio!
And the back garden minus the shed and greenhouse on the left. What you see are 20L pots of Tradescantia virginiana hybrids sunk into raised beds, the beginning of my National Plant Collection. Lots more to do, including a new website to go live shortly, but it’s a start!
I am always impressed with the sheer exuberance of Daylillies. The ability to go from nought to this in a matter of weeks in cold, wet weather is remarkable and a reminder that a colourful summer is just around the corner!
Enjoy your weekend.
David
Davids Garden Diary 
Very enjoyable read , David – thank you – love the ‘posh’ birdhouse!
I’m afraid I have no love at all for the Spanish bluebells and have spent long hours this year digging them out from various positions around the garden. They increase vigorously and also self-seed very strongly – true weeds!
I have a bunch of Tradescantia virginiana, too, but I live in East Tennessee and it’s everywhere. I didn’t know people were making hybrids with it. Fancy! / Enjoy your blog very much, I read it in my email every week.
Thank you for your comment! In fact, there are around 60 hybrid Tradescantias in the Andersoniana Group which seem to have T. ohiensis, T. subaspera and T, virginiana as parents. They are spread far and wide across the US and I am hoping to collect pretty much all of them! I have a friend in Memphis, she says it’s really hot and steamy there in summer!