At last the Bluebells are blooming in our garden. They were already here when we bought our house and spread themselves around as they like. Our house sits on land which is a mix of old farmland and woodland so I’m guessing these plants have grown here a while. The Bluebells are a mix of our native dark blue Bluebells and Spanish Bluebells which have paler blue flowers and pink blooms too. If you’d like to see the difference click the Bluebell on the left.
This year we have masses of Red Campion too. Silene dioica. The first few are already in flower and there are loads more to come. They are quite lovely and easy to grow from seed. Taller than Bluebells and much deeper pink than our pale pink Bluebells they make a lovely contrast in a sea of blue and green. Red Campion is a perennial wildflower and prefers woodland gardens, orchards, hedgerow bottoms or borders that have the dappled shade of deciduous trees or shrubs. It’s quite adaptable and will also grow well in deep shade and the full sun of open meadows too.
Sow Red Campion seeds in spring or autumn directly where you want them to flower. If you’re trying to attract pollinating insects such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths to your garden Red Campion could be a great option for you. They have lots of pollen and nectar that insects love.
Red Campion is part of the Wildflowers for Butterflies Seed Collection and can also be purchased individually too.
I thought you might also like to see this regular visitor to our garden. Lots of wild ducks visit everyday and some even nest here. This cheeky duck knows we put food for our garden birds on this old table first thing in the morning and at tea time too. He sits here most days. Perhaps he’s guarding the seed for later or maybe he’s just too full to move!
Do you grow Bluebells, Red Campion or some other lovely wildflowers in your garden?
Thanks for reading, liking and commenting. Love Gillian 🙂
We have some bluebells & red campion growing in our garden too. I love this time of year when you see all sorts of colours starting to emerge
They are lovely aren’t they? I must admit I think May is my favourite month in the garden because I love watching fresh green leaves unfurl and flowers bursting out too. It always seems like a miracle to me!
Hello from Quebec,Canada!
I just discover your garden!It’s beautiful and thank you for sharing it with us.
You took great pictures (flowers and photography two of my great loves!)and just looking at them makes me happy.
May I visit again???
Esmeralda
Thanks for your lovely comment Esmeralda. This is my first blog post for a few months but I’m aiming for more regular posts. Pop back whenever you like!
Yes, is the answer to all three questions, bluebells are spreading slowly, I keep spreading the seed, red campion wants to take over the garden so has to be edited. Also allowed to seed around are primroses, cowslips and foxgloves, I do like a nice drift!
Oooh! Your garden sounds so lovely Pauline. You must have just the right conditions as they are all making themselves at home.
Oh my goodness – such loveliness and that duck on the table is the crowning jewel! Best, Kim
Thanks very much Kim. The ducks are very relaxed here. They know there’s always food and shelter for them in our garden.
Red campion is so gorgeous. Lovely with bluebells. I’ve sown wildflower seed with red campion – fingers crossed!
It is lovely Ali. I’m sure your seeds will be a great success!
Gillian beautiful your meadow of Bluebells and Red Caampion with its lovely pink color. I really like that the wild ducks are in your garden and even nest in it. The photos are magnificent. Greetings from Margarita.
Thanks Margarita.I’m happy you enjoyed this post.
We do not grow either of them, but we do have a species of Silene that has naturalized as a light duty weed. It does not seem to be a problem, so is left to bloom wherever it lands. It think that another species of it is more of a weed in other regions, but not here.
There’s a fine line between wildflowers and weeds isn’t there Tony? Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Many of our weeds were introduced as garden flowers. The definition of weed sounds simple enough, but can be rather vague in regard to plants that are actually desirable.
Bluebells don’t grow well here. But we do have lots of campions growing wild around us in the countryside. A lovely sight! Your photos of both plants near each other are so pretty Gillian. 🙂
There’s nothing quite like Bluebells in May so I’m sorry you don’t have them Cathy … I’m glad you have campions though!