... Epimedium aka barrenwort, bishop's hat or fairy wings.
Here's another example of Sleep Creep Leap. I planted my Epimediums two years ago and this is their first flowering. It was worth the wait. Whilst the blooms are tiny, they're plentiful and add grace to my revamped border at the bottom of the garden, where they thrive in the partial shade there. I really should have got down on my tummy for a better photo, thank goodness they also look pretty from above!
The one pictured is 'Amber Queen'. I bought a bargain collection of 9 plants with three examples of each cultivar in the pack. 'Pink Elf' is just coming into bloom and therefore it's not quite ready to take a bow on Blooms Day. Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' has yet to make its flowering debut; its name tells of yellow blooms to come.
The heart shaped leaves turn bronze with age and thus makes this a year-round plant of interest. They're plentiful too, so I don't need to spend much time weeding their allotted area. Some of my blogger friends note they can be a bit on the vigorous side; my plan is to divide and relocate the extras to the front side garden if that happens. It'll be interesting to see how they fare alongside the ivy which creeps over from the public open space next door.
I hadn't really considered Epimediums for my garden until I joined Bath University Gardening Club. Sally Gregson is a well-known plantswoman in Somerset who specialises in them and I'd just missed out on a visit to her garden and nursery. With my curiosity piqued, her book on the subject came along at the right time as a neat birthday present from my brother-in-law. It's a fine book if - like me at the time - you want to learn more about this delicately beautiful plant.
Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.