May 11th to May 17th
Weather: Last week ended in sultry summer sun, but all that has been blown away by a cold north-easterly. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May!
Ann Fritchley opens week eight with some handsome irises
Iris ‘Gingerbread Man’ 
Iris ‘Cute or What?’ 
Iris ‘Cat’s Eye’ 
Iris ‘Ablaze’ 
Took the Gunnera manicata out of the cold greenhouse to harden off in April and it’s now got two more leaves – hoping to keep it bonsai’d 
Possibly Centaurea ‘John Coutts’, but I might be wrong – it’s old! 
The little Aquillegia ‘Spring Magic’ came through the winter and surprised me as it was a cheapie from somewhere 
Camassia – they have been marvellous 
Rhodeola rosea
Preston Harrison is back with another great selection
Tulipa I believe to be ‘Black Jack’ from Peter Nyssen 
Tulipa ‘Black Jack’ 
Sambucus ‘Black Beauty’ providing the background for the green of Viburnum plicatum ‘Rotundifolium’ 
Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley) 
Magnolia – small in stature but with big flowers 
Oxalis ex Mount Stewart Ireland from Beth Chatto, providing ground cover in the woodland garden 
Rhododendron (Azalea). Bought this in a street market years ago, unfortunately never knew its name 
Waldsteinia ternata. Good ground cover plant
Judith Ladley is next. That Peltaria reminds me – it was lovely to see Gill Evans getting an honourable mention in this month’s Gardening Which for giving a Peltaria to Bob Brown, of Cotswold Garden Flowers (ed)
I like this grouping of Spotty Dotty, Tellima grandiflora and Ranunculus aconitifolius flore pleno 
Peltaria alliacea (ignore the euphorbia). This plant has purple foliage in Spring and its flowers are white. Can be a little invasive. 
This papaver really does look attractive grown in gravel. Wish I knew the name of the geum in the background 
Mimulus aurantiacus – over-wintered in my greenhouse and waiting for a spot in the garden 
Euphorbia ‘Frosted Flame’ which has calmed down with ag 
Erigeron karvinskianus making a takeover bid in my drive
Kate van Heel is here again!
Pat Hunter has been busy with a Lockdown project –
Being sick of Woodpigeons, rabbits and caterpillars eating the veg, and with a bit more time, I started construction. Bought the netting, bought 2 lots of hoops and reused 2 others. Used the sewing machine and made the covers. Brassicas were already sown, radish, beetroot,lettuce, peas and parsnips sown. All looking good. Sorry wildlife lovers, they will have to go elsewhere.
Ann Lowe needs help to identify a new arrival
And here are the latest blossoms in the Hackett garden
And here are the new arrivals in Terry Benton’s garden in Wiltshire
John & Joyce Kenny are next
I’m very pleased to welcome a first contribution to the Gallery from Katherine Hill
Pat Inman is back with some magnificent Euphorbias – and that cracking Hebe that so many seem to love – for good reason
And here’s another fine display from our Chair, Sue Gray (I know she will want me to say ‘Chairman’, but I just can’t do it…)
Two tone pink Aquilegia, a 2nd generation offspring of ‘Bluebird’ 
Tree Peony with a totally unpronounceable Japanese name – even if I could find the label! 
Polemonium ‘Heaven Scent?’ – much richer blue than the image suggests – and Cenolophium denudatum 
Peony ‘Molly the Witch’ in her more common, yellow, form 
Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ – a gift from David Barnes some years ago, after we used her on our 2010 Chelsea display – accessorized by cord keeping the fence upright! 
Magnolia laevifolia 
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’, which has now been in flower for well over a month 
Geum ‘Bell Bank’
You’re right Brian, I do not consider myself an inanimate wooden object, even if others do, but you are excused. Chairman Sue.
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On the other hand, I’ve known a few inanimate wooden chairmen in my time…
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