May

Kelmscott Manor was the country home of William Morris, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Read more here. Click on photographs to enlarge. These photographs (taken with permission and copyright © Stephen Bigger 2015) were taken on 13th May. The Judas Tree, quince trees and bearded iris steal the show, but there is much more. The order represents a walk around the garden from the back door to the front, then through to the road and drive.

The rose Rosa rugosa, early blooms.

Hardy geraniums, macrorrhizum species

Several wisterias are in full bloom, this one of a very subtle colour

This is often referred to as the 'wedding cake' vibernum

A few camassias flowering in a meadow

The climber Solanum, related to the potato and with a similar flower.

An iris, unusually for this garden not bearded

A few bearded irises next, the yellow or white 'beards' can be clearly seen

Next, the medlar tree, in bud...

and in flower. The fruit has earned it the nickname 'dog's bottom'.

Bergenia

a late pheasant-eye daffodil in the middle of geranium phaeum

The 'Californian lilac' Ceonothus is at its peak

and a few more bearded iris by the front door.

and a dainty candelabra primula, primula japonica.

Out now towards the restaurant  and shop area, the Exochorda 'The Bride' is at its peak, sometimes called 'pearlbush'.

A nice colour mix by the restaurant wall

but pride of May are the quince trees in flower, looking much like a single rose flower

detail...

This shapely quince is set off well by the horse chestnut behind.

A wisteria of normal colour, visible from the picnic area

Out onto the road, this Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) can be viewed with the best vantage. Reputed to be the variety of tree the 'false' disciple Judas used to hang himself in the Gospel story.

Seen here behind a quince.

and both behind a vibernum.

Lilac is good at the moment

another view of the wisteria wall

the Rosemary in flower in the old toilet garden

and informal eruptions of hardy geranium macrorrhizum.

as the path leads to a viewpoint of the mulberry tree and house

Farewell shots of the Judas Tree facing up to the topiary dragon

the new buds on the vine

a single rose, first of many

 and finally a clump of sweet cicely on the main drive.