Hesperis and the last rhododendron in Sunvalley

14 comments

This area is not visible from our house. It is a short walk from the house but I love to be there. It is mainly wild but pretty in May. There were several rhododendrons when we moved in but overgrown with ferns, blackberries ,ivy and other native invasive shrubs. We started to clear it and I had a vision for it (agriculture) which did not work.
I did develop it to a certain level but don’t want it to be formal. It looks crowded in my pictures but I do have paths around.

Late blooming rhododendron

It has cute individual flowers within its cluster. There is another of these blooming in front of the house but I cannot find a name for it.

There are at least 10 rhododendrons in the area. Most are finished by now .

Because of the deterioration in my mobility I have plenty of seating around
White chair

Blue chair

Lots of Hesperis in all colours seeding itself everywhere. There are also self seeded foxgloves but not quite blooming yet.

I have to choose plants that deer does not favour as they browse through and this is one of them:
Mexican orange (Choisya ternata)

A Song Sparrow was watching me very closely as they have a nest nearby.

I have couple of large Japanese maples in this part of Sunvalley which are pretty in autumn,
This is an afternoon sun side of the area,the other side is mainly little orchard, few grapes ,herbs, red currant,few lavenders, and lots of ferns and Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) which are both invasive but native so people here accept that.
I guess we all have a favorite spot in our garden.

• 1 Jun, 2023
• 9 likes

More blog posts by klahanie_