June (late May early June) – A Tuscan garden in bloom

Normal 0 Normal 0 Five years after having tamed a hillside with an excavator (ruspa) and having created 6 levels, the borders and slopes are now coming into their own.  These are the flowers in bloom in our garden in Tuscany (600 metres above sea level).   As the garden is still evolving it would be nice to hear from members about other plants that are in bloom at this time of the year in their own gardens.  I am very keen to plant some alpines on the slopes to flower at this time of the year.  I hope to post here the flowers in bloom in each month of the year in our garden. Broom (Ginesta) It. Ginestra: yellow flowers with an intense scent Rose (Rosa): A variety of colours in the Hydrid Tea, Floribunda, Climbers and Ramblers and Shrubs groups.  They line some of my fences, grow on a couple of arches and as specimen standards and in a rose bed.  My favourite here and in the UK is the Iceberg (white floribunda).  An amazing rose that flowers continuously and in abundance.  Black spot is a problem in our garden as the air is so pure, but it is not a problem in London.  I have yet to find a weeping statndard in any of the local nursery I may have to visit Vivai Margheritti in Chuisi (they have a great website and publishes one of the best plant catalogues I have come across). Philadelphus (Mock orange) It. Filadolfo: white flowers with a lovely perfume! It took a while to establish itself. Jasminum (Jasmine) It. Gelsomino: perfumed white flowers growing on an archway and on a structure near the idromassagio.  With the ginestre and the gelsomini flanking the spa we do not find the need for aromatherapy in the tub at this time of the year. Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil): small white and yellow flowers that grows in the shrub border. Spiraea: pinkish flowers given to me by the guy doing the excavation. A lovely specimen plant! Aquiliegia (Columbines): all sorts of colours doing ever so well now in the herbaceous borders 3 years after planting!  They self-seed. Campanula: violet flowers in the borders! Coreopsis: lovely yellow and brown flowers in the borders. Lonicera (honeysuckle): perfumed white and yellowish flowers growing against a fence. Field poppy (papaver): intense red growing wild in the olive campo.  It is easy to mistake it for a weed.  What a mistake that would be! Allium: assorted varieties growing in the borders.  They were purchased from Broadleigh Gardens in Sommerset. Alstroemeria, Peruvian Lilly (Lilly of the Incas): outstanding plant growing in the borders. Rhododendron:  I have finally found the right place for my two plants! It was worth the hassle! Cotoneaster.  White flowers growing freely on the slopes. Geranium (pelargonium): different colours around the garden but I prefer red on the patios and the terraces! Pansy in tubs and growing in abundance in a border underneath a Xmas tree-shaped holly tree! Viola: in all colours in vases hanging against the stonewalls! Rock Rose (Cistaceae) It. Cisti : white and pinkish flowers grown as specimens plants on the slopes.  My neighbour grows it against a fence.  What an outstanding show! Foxclove (Digitalis) It. Digitale: Yet to reach their full potential in the borders but they are still beautiful. Petunia: in low and wide terracotta vases by the pond next to the Willow tree. They love their water crystals! Santolina (Lavender Cotton): yellow flowers growing on the slopes! All my plants were sourced locally in Montepulciano , with one exception: the alliums.  The owner of nursery knows all the latin names.  I frequently visit him armed with my Royal Horticultural Society plant encyclopedia, and my Il Grande libro Orto Frutteto Giardino (Giunti).  Although my Italian is only passable we certainly manage to sort it out in the end! Finding an Italian nurseryman who knows all the horticultural names is certainly a good first indication of plant knowledge. I very much hope to hear from some members and happy gardening!