Tags
Allium siculum, bearded iris, David Austin Roses, Erigeron karvinskianus, Hosta Big Daddy, Hosta Sum and Substance, Iris Midnight Caller, Mexican fleabane, Nectarscordium siculum, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Sicilian honey garlic, six on saturday, weather, woottensplants.com
The weather. May is proving to be a tough month weather wise. Nighttime frosts followed by hot dry summer days and now winds of 19mph. The consequences can be seen all over: new foliage which was burned by the frost has now dried and died back. Damage is on most things from the tips of the Ash trees to shrubs, roses and iris. I have started watering as if it is mid July and this morning I have dragged hostas into the garage to give them shelter from the battering wind.
I especially hate the wind. My garden is very exposed as there really is not much more than open fields between it and the Chilterns. Consequently when it blows it really is damaging. My six today starts with my two hostas now cowering in the garage.
These dinner plate sized leaves do not take kindly to 19mph wind. I can see some of the leaves have been bent and this will spoil their handsome form.
Now parked under cover Big Daddy is also suffering. The edge of some of it leaves are browning from the wind and from the earlier cold snap.
Not troubled by the heat the cold or the wind is Fleabane. Erigeron Karvinskianus has self sown around the drive, it is everywhere. I do love a daisy so it generally is allowed to stay.
My roses were subjected to standing in water for almost three months this winter into spring. I feared I may have lost them, especially those in the blue clay borders. Phew they have just started flowering. This is the opening Gertrude Jekyll rose. Rich pink with the most heavenly rose scent. It is mega prickly and that is her main failing. No issue with pest or disease a David Austin gem.
I love to see Alliums after the Tulips and thankfully they do well in my garden. My favourite is perhaps this one for its hanging lantern flowers which the bees literally disappear into. Allium siculum.
Sicilian honey garlic
At the garden where I work the soil is thin over chalk. Free draining, the contrast to my own garden couldn’t be more different. Here I can grow bearded iris as they must have full sun and sharp drainage. The Iris are looking fabulous this year thanks to a great deal of splitting and dividing last year. The pale ones look extra special thanks to the addition of the near black Iris Midnight Caller from Woottens nursery, a specialism of theirs.
These are my six for this week. Joining our host The Propagator and bloggers from all over.
Have a great long weekend, stay home, stay safe and thanks for reading. D.
digwithdorris.com 
I do love that allium. I have only managed drumsticks so far but would love to have some others. Your irises are beautiful especially Midnight Caller.
Thank you. 🌞I love the drumsticks too and they are even later to flower, so really useful addition to the garden picture.
Some beauties this week…and a timely reminder that I need to divide some Irises I was given last year. I just plonked them in, and in their tight clump no flowers as yet.
Thank you. I split the clumps around June July time once all flowering was finished. I was apprehensive as I threw lots of shrivelled rhizomes away hoping it wasn’t too big a clear out. Be ruthless they will thank you.
Ps
I have tried many times to follow your lovely blog without success. It doesn’t like my wordpress credentials . What am I doing wrong?
I just love that honey garlic!
Thank you. It is an interesting plant to watch. When it has finished flowering the flowers dry out and turn upwards leaving a witches hat sort of shape. Fascinating
The irises are stunning! Your garden is looking beautiful despite the weather 🙂
Thanks so much!
From the photos it looks as though your other plants are coping well with the wind. The poor hostas. My Mum has the same problem with hers. I had to cut a buddleia and Hypericum right down after some icy cold winds a few weeks ago – they had leafed out so early in the spring warmth and the leaves just crumbled, but they seem to be coming back now.
Hi Cathy. Some plants seem unaffected but those that have their leaves burned, look tatty. Perhaps you’ll find the Hypericum will flower later sort of like a Chelsea chop effect. Does your mum do anything to protect her hostas? I feel I almost need to create a wind break just for them. Crazy weather.
My Mum also has her hostas in pots and just
moves them around to find a less windy spot. Yes, crazy winds these days.
The wind is an unwelcome climate change sign I fear
Good to know that your roses have pulled through and survived the flooding – what a tragedy it would have been to have lost them. It has been windy here too and although we are relatively sheltered it depends which way the wind is blowing and I suspect there has been damage other than removing leaves. Even removing fresh leaves isn’t something I would expect in May. I hope your hostas perk up in due course – a pristine hosta in a pot is a thing of real beauty…
Thanks Cathy. Tricky mix this May. I love to see pristine hostas and hate easing them nibbled or burnt
At least slugs and snails are less evident because it has been so dry – here at least. I have seen a few snails, but no slugs, although I did use nematodes this year
I agree there do seem to be less which I think is surprising given the wet winter
I sometimes hate the wind here and don’t think I could live any closer to the ocean or it would drive me mad and the watering! Love that Allium, I have never seen one like that before.
The wind can be deafening as well as damaging and drying. I’m with you it could easily drive me mad. I’m glad you like the allium, thanks
Fleabane is naturalize here, which is why it is also known as Santa Barbara daisy. (Santa Barbara is about 250 miles to the south.) It does well in the stone walls here.
I have been to Santa Barbara but I have to say I do not recall seeing the daisies. Twenty years ago they would not have been on my radar
Compared to all the other flashy flora there, they are not much to look at. They live on the coastal cliffs that are not already covered by Hottentot fig (freeway iceplant), and sort of contain dust. They are more utilitarian in that regard. In landscaping, they exclude weeds. I happen to like them on stone walls that are not already covered with some sort of vine. They are nice greenery with those cool flowers, without becoming too obtrusive. They can pile up on the ground though.
I agree they are a good doer and pretty to boot. I like seeing them on walls
The addition of the darker iris certainly does pop the colour of the lighter ones! It is just beautiful! And the honey garlic has such amazing flowers too. Lovely post!
Thanks so much. Iris are so lovely but if only they would last a bit longer
A lovely selection this week, Dorris. I particulary like the rose, what a beauty!