Tags
Cynara cardunculus, Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, dahlia Downham Royal, Helianthus salicifolius, sanguisorba canadensis, six on saturday
When life becomes very challenging and in the case of this week, frankly unfair, I usually can divert my mind and seek distraction from my garden. I can easily lose half the day or an evening working. It always does me good to be outside, to breathe in the air and fill my head with plans. That’s the thing with gardening, it is so very optimistic, always looking forward. This week has been one of those tough ones but the weather has been against me and I have been trapped in by Storm Ellen and Francis. So much rain, damaging winds, ghastly.
The most I have managed is a bit of dead heading and a wander about. These are my six to share with our host The Propagator and you.
The ornamental artichoke, Cynara cardunculus has been dead headed and has put on a couple of new flowering heads. What a colour, arranged like a purple flat top. I have picked some of them and hope they will dry.
The wind has broken the stems of some of the bigger dahlias. This one has defied the weather and is still standing Dahlia Downham Royal . Good strong stem and great colour.
Another dahlia that has managed to survive the weather and is flowering well is the Bishop. This has attractive dark foliage and super single red velvet petals. This is its second year and is definitely a keeper.
The thing about the Forest pansy is the wonderful heart shaped foliage in rich red. So striking. Here it is, its foliage dripping wet but noticeably curled. I am not sure why it is curled, probably as a reaction to the high winds.
The claret coloured Joe pye weed is flowering as too are the white Sanguisorba canadensis. These are a favourite, a later flowering sanguisorba that need no staking and who cope exceedingly well with my heavy clay soil. They have even self sown in places.
Apples have been literally shaken out of the tree and are scattered all over the lawn. Usually the apples are not ready until late September or even late October so this is not a natural drop.
The garden looks distinctly late summer, autumnal even. The light is lower and the skies are grey. Saturated by the heavy rain, shaken to the core by the winds. The main damage has been stems broken on dahlias and the willow leaf sunflowers which are very tall have been scattered into weird shapes spread over the border.
The forecast for the bank holiday weekend is unseasonably cool, a mere 14 degrees today which is not summer but a bit drier and calmer at least.
These are my six. Wishing you a speedy recovery, you know who you are, and for the rest of you I wish you a good weekend, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
digwithdorris.com 
I sympathise with the storm damage. I lost all my runner beans which were not quite finished – they are now. I am taken with that sanguisorba, I shall look for one.
Oh no sorry about your runners. I’d forgotten to mention my french beans were taken out the ground as the wind caught the poles!
You’re so right – gardening IS optimistic! Love your selection this week, especially the Sanguisorba, looking so tall and proud! Mine has languished a bit in the semi-drought this summer. But the leaves on my Redbud (not a Forest Pansy) also curl like yours – I had thought it, too, was caused by lack of rain. But I imagine that’s not the case where you are. Hmmm
Definitely not lack of water here at the moment. Thank you and I think you’ll found the Sanguisorba is a good addition to a mixed border
Sorry to hear you have had a tough week in the garden and elsewhere. I find the garden therapeutic when things get heavy or complicated.
I love seeing your Sanguisorba canadensis, definitely gotta get me some of that!
Hugs and here’s to speedy recoveries all round. ❤
Thanks Sandra
Wind is a real drag on the garden..Love the Sanguisorba, the Redbuds from my hometown often looked tired at the end of the summer..enjoy the last days of summer.
Wind is very drying and I think that is often forgotten. Thanks for your nice comments
You should see the after effects of a hurricane..
Oh gosh no
I’ve seen it on the news . Terrifying
The last high winds here..the leaves were just gone..
Sorry about your tough week Dorris, will email you later. It’s ironic that it was mirrored by grey and dismal weather, restricting your therapeutic garden activities. Your claret blooms and foliage are all really striking – I have admired Downham Royal in the Halls of Heddon catalogue. I was disappointed that my white sanguisorba, flowering for the first time, is not fluffy like yours but a different variety (can’t remember the name)
Thanks Cathy
Gardening therapy is always very effective! Sorry to hear about the storm damage to your garden, but from your post the sanguisorba, Forest pansy, and dahlias still look amazing. I will read up about the sanquisorba a little later. They look so beautiful.
It (gardening) absolutely is therapy. I think you will find Sanguisorba a good addition to a mixed border
Weather makes all the difference but your garden looks lovely – keep well.
Weather is so essential but in moderation please. Thank you for the message
The rain and wind reached us too. Definitely autumnal, but your garden looks lovely even if it is a little dishevelled aftr the storm. The Sanguisorba is a great specimen and I like the planting in your raised beds too, with some lovely grasses. I do hope the coming week is a better and calmer one for you. xx
Thank you for your kind message Cathy. The grasses are Stipa tenuissima. Glad you got rain but wouldn’t wish that wind on anyone.
That cardoon is merely ornamental? I would like to grow it as a vegetable, but do not know much about it. I have not even grown artichoke in the home garden. (Incidentally, Castroville, the Artichoke Capital of the World, is not far from here. It is rather embarrassing that I do not grow my own.)
Oh you must remedy that. This is ornamental (very). Can’t say I’ve heard of castroville
Yes, I know. I will not grow either in the garden here, but intend to grow at least cardoon as a vegetable in another garden, perhaps as soon as next year. I could grow artichoke as well, because the foliage is more familiar. I could always give the artichokes away.
Grow both, go mad
I could, and might, but they occupy significant space, and want a bit of water. That is why I do not grow much corn. The corn that is out there now is only there because those who work here want it. I would grow artichokes if they want them too.
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. (Audrey Hepburn). The Downham Royal is my favourite, followed closely by that Auckland fella. 😂
Love that quote. Thanks
Hi Dorris. I feel your pain when it comes to weather, especially tropical storms and hurricanes. At this time of year (hurricane season), I’m either prepping the yard for a storm or putting it together after the storm. That being said, though, it’s truly remarkable how resilient some plants are. That being said, I think I’ve fallen in love with the ornamental artichoke!