Six on Saturday: 21/11/21

Tags

Allium sphaerocephalon, buxus sempervivums, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Cercis canadensis, Forest pansy, Hornbeam, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, Leucanthemella, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, topiary box, tulips

Have you noticed how brown things have turned? My six today are mainly all a bit brown.

Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

Starting with these, the remains of Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, my first of the six I have to share with you and our host The Propagator .

As the ball heads dry out, they become delicate to the touch with a slight rustle to their sound. Gone may be the creamy lime green of summer but beautiful nonetheless. Last year I cut and then touched some of the flower heads with gold spray to make Christmas decorations. I thought they were rather pretty.

Hornbeam

The hedges of Hornbeam have taken on their winter form, curled brown leaves, crisp and pleated will remain throughout the winter before shedding in spring as the leaf buds begin to swell.

Leucanthemella

The daisies of Leucanthemella which I love so much have lost their fresh as a daisy look and are beginning an elegant shift into decay. The flower heads are dark brown, almost black, slightly bowed and the foliage is slowly fading from green to brown. The stems are holding up well and I shall leave them throughout winter to act as shelter for creatures and insects.

Cercis canadensis

The glorious red heart shape leaves of the forest pansy have gone. Dropped and bagged up with other leaf litter. All that is left is the bare, so bare branches of the tree. That is it until spring. Underneath, a mixed bag of 30 orange and yellow tulips have been planted, along with 25 Allium Sphaerocephalon, the burgundy drumstick allium.

Leucanthemella stems, box shape Box all mulched.

Not brown at all are the evergreen Box. Slowly growing and slowly beginning to take on the square form I am looking for. Topiary takes time, lots of time. Eventually these box shapes will create strong winter structure. What can I say, they’re getting there.

Golden brown Stipa tenuissima and Calamagrostis Brachytricha

I am slowly working my way around the raised beds, bulb planting, weeding and mulching, topping up the bark chippings on the pathway. These grasses are energised by a breeze and arguably look interesting all year round. A lighter shade of golden brown.

These are my six for this week. I hope you have a good weekend and thanks for reading wherever you are. D.

Saturday smile: Summer

Tags

allium, Allium sphaerocephalon, euphorbia griffithii Dixter, Helenium Moorheim Beauty, Hydrangea paniculata limelight, Leucanthemum x superbum, Rose "Lark Ascending", Saturday smile, Shasta Daisy, Verbena bonariensis

This Summer is showing itself to be, dare I say it, good. Warm, dry and sunny. The garden this morning looked rather nice in the slightly cooler air and before the direct sun hit. 

Rose Lark Ascending 

Euphorbia Griffithii Dixter and drumstick Allium Sphaerocephalon

Hemerocallis and Helenium Moorheim Beauty, Verbena bonariensis 

Hydrangea paniculata Limelight, Box and Shasta daisies, Leucanthemum x superbum 

Whatever is making you smile today, enjoy it. 

Right I am off to paint yet more wood. More about that another day as it is not making me smile. 

In a vase on Monday: from the sunny side

Tags

Agastache/ hyssop, Allium sphaerocephalon, Geranium 'Ann folkard', Jasmine officinalis 'Coltted Cream', Knautia macedonia, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', Nepeta govaniana, Verbena bonariensis

In raised beds I have grown as many scented and bee friendly plants together. There is rosemary, an edge of lavender, small olive trees and a fig. Mixed with these are a couple of clipped box cones and a couple of purple leaf acers. The flowers for today’s vase reflect the bits inbetween.

Ann Folkard is a geranium with rather lime coloured foliage which creeps up and around it’s neighbours in a rather passive manner. Knautia Macedonia is growing like mad this year but does seem to have a touch of powdery mildew. Too dry perhaps!?

The Hyssop is a good strong shape, unlike the naughty Knautia which is lolling around. It also has a strong dark purple colour, scented leaves and the bees love it.

The lavender was chosen for its colour and scent of course and because it tends not to get as big as some varieties.
Lavandula stoechas or French lavander is pretty for its flags and scent, again insects like it.
Allium sphaerocephalon is one of my favourite alliums in that it has such a dark burgundy colour, is without those unattractive strap leaves that the other forms have and it comes back time and time again.

Verbena bonariensis is a useful back of border plant which the bees and butterflies love. No scent and borderline hardy it will self seed if you’re lucky.

I introduced the palest yellows to the scene for full on scent. Jasmine clotted cream is strongly scented and not as rampant as some garden varieties. It may not be as hardy as some but managed well last Winter in its quite sheltered spot. Finally and by no means least, Nepeta govaniana. This catmint is lovely, graceful even, flowering until the Autumn with a strong catmint scent when touched.

So there it is folks, my Summer in a vase, well a marmalade pot to be precise. This was a Tring Friday market find and usually houses an orchid in the kitchen.

I don’t think any bees visiting these flowers will be pollinating any oranges for marmalade, but I can dream.

Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/in-a-vase-on-monday-calmer-serener
Is the host of this meme. This week she has some lovely dahlias in her vase, do take a look and then peek at some of the many others on show.
Failing that get outside and pick your own flowers. Have a good Monday.