I am now being swamped by the flowers bursting out of the herbaceous borders of Bute Park in Cardiff, so I’d better give another update before they get totally out of control. When I reported on April and early May it was all tulips and a few other splashes of colour, but now blooms abound.
I have even been able to identify a few more of them, with help from The Complete Handbook of Garden Plants by Michael Wright as well as Google. But first I did promise I’d show a general view, as last time it was all close-ups of the flowers.

On the western side some small trees protect the borders from the prevailing wind off the River Taff
But now for some details…

I couldn’t identify this last time, but now the flower shape is clear I think it may be Asphodeline lutea

I think of this pink flower as Polygonum but it seems to have been reclassified as Persicaria bistorta, possibly ‘Superba’

My first thought was Campanula, but a bit of research suggests it may be Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
I can’t grow lupins as they always seem to swarm with black aphids. But I do particularly admire how the gardeners in Bute Park use curved twiggy sticks to support the taller plants. Decorative and they blend in beautifully.

Although this reminds me of fritillaries, it is probably a Nectaroscordum tripedale, also known as Allium tripedale, a relative of Allium siculum

I should have known this, but I foolishly guessed “some member of the thistle family”. Thanks to Diana Studer, Elaine Rickett and Philip Strange for pointing out it’s actually an oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)!

Surely I know this? A bit like lady’s smock (Cardamine) but grander – definitely a member of the Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) family – maybe stock (Matthiola)?
Looking to the future…
I wonder what will be in flower next time?
isn’t that big bristly bud on the ‘thistle’ a poppy of some sort>
Ah, maybe that’s it!
Will soon know!
I agree with Diana – it is an oriental poppy. They have such a good selection of perennials in the borders – a great time of year for flowers before it gets too hot (we should be so lucky) – May and June are definitely my favourite months in the garden.
Thanks for the poppy idea – yes, looks like you are right, I will let you know what colour when the bud opens!
I also thought a poppy
Well that’s three votes for the poppy!
I will change the caption and watch out to catch it when it opens.
I hadn’t realised any poppies were that chunky.
All the best 🙂
Well that’s three votes for the poppy!
I will change the caption and watch out to catch it when it opens.
I hadn’t realised any poppies were that chunky.
All the best 🙂
A gorgeous bouquet of lovely summery flowers thanks for sharing them.
Thank you – and I’m sure there will be more on the way as we go into high summer.
All the best 🙂