Late May and the hot dry weather continues, high 20s at least so it is uncomfortable to work on the prairie in the afternoons. The gardening team have started turning up at 8.00 rather than 9.00, last year we were in late June if not July before they decided, wisely, that working in the afternoons was better avoided. This has not been a local phenomenon, the UK and indeed much of the rest of the world is reported as having had the hottest May on record. There has however been some very localised weather around here, flooding in Beynac at the beginning of the week although we have seen only a few drops of rain.

The focus in the garden now is the Prairie. The shrubs by the gate are almost over, and the hemerocallis not quite out, although amazingly the aquilegia is still holding on to a few last flowers. In the Gravel Garden and on Walnut Terrace likewise there is plenty of growth but little flower as yet, although the first lavender are flowering in the Mediterranean Garden

where the last Iris have not quite faded.

The deep purple, and occasional surviving rose, salvia nemerosa in the Prairie

have been joined by white Schneehugel

and salvia verticillata Purple Rain is also flowering now in Gravel Garden and Prairie, so nearly 4 weeks after the first salvia, praetensis, flowered.

Dianthus cathusarianorum blossomed in the middle of the month, and has held its flowers well for several weeks, heralding other pinks to come

First among these Echinacea pallida, a few tentative flowers towards the end of the month, and then a mass by early June

and pink flowers among the grasses too, Penisetum Karley Rose, pale at first but deepening in colour with time

Other Penisetums have begun to flower too, notably Red Buttons.

Penstemon Huskers Red, white flowered but with red foliage which will continue into summer, was out in late May.

By the end of the month there were flashes of red as well. Aptly named Echinacea Hot Papaya

and Achillea Red Beauty.

The smaller achilleas do not do as well here as their tall relations, barely holding their own. I do not know whether this reflects the variety, whether they have to battle harder against the weeds, or whether, planted as they are towards the front of the massifs, where the soil tends to dry out more quickly, they just suffer more in dry weather, perhaps worth asking Dan to spare them some mulch!

More colour to come in June, and perhaps some rain as well!