Six on Saturday: 25 July 20

Tags

Aeonium Sunburst, Crocosmia Lucifer, Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, Helianthus salicifolius, oriental lily, pelargonium sidoides, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, willow leaf sunflower

Last Saturday I set off at 0500hrs to do a walk for charity. This Saturday I found myself awake at the same hour but with no such challenge ahead. It does mean that I do however have the time to prepare my six to share with you, lovely garden friends and our host The Propagator .

Aeonium Sunburst

This beauty is looking incredibly colourful, clearly enjoying the warm weather we have had. I love Aeoniums as they remind me of the Med and holidays. This is a really pretty variety I especially like the pink edges.

Helianthus Salicifolius

Otherwise known as willow leaf sunflower the foliage of this plant is what attracts me to it, that and its height. ( up to 2m) I actually like it less when the flowers appear in late summer. Acid yellow they are too brash for the border and last year they distracted the eye so much that I pinched off the blooms. I know, I still cannot believe I did that.

Crocosmia Lucifer

I have successfully got Lucifer coming back in my garden which is down to the drainage I believe. Here it is growing in a raised bed ( my soil is heavy clay prone to water logging) with a group of Stipa tenuissima. I love the contrast between the two.

Dahlia Bishop of Auckland

A simple flower with handsome dark foliage make Dahlia Bishop of Auckland an understandably popular dahlia. I like it here amongst the Aeoniums and sempervivums where it brings a more exotic tone to the area. This is quite a contrast to the cooler colours elsewhere in the garden where frankly it would stand out like a sore thumb. It is in an extra large pot as it also would not like my soil. I have successfully overwintered this one.

Oriental Lily

In the same area as the Dahlias, Crocosmia and succulents are my Oriental and Asiatic lilies. The difference between them is height and scent. Asiatic lilies tend not to have scent and are smaller in height. These Japanese Oriental lilies are so highly scented they really grab the passerby. I love them in a vase but they will not get through the door this year. I have been selective with this photo as the beetles have stripped away the lower leaves and chewed some of the other flowers. That’s what happens when you take time away from the garden, the grollies move in! Yuck.

Pelargonium sidoides

This is one of my all time favourite species pelargoniums. Small, grey- green, heart shape foliage, the flower is always late to arrive in my garden but they are said to flower from April to December. The flowers are on long stems in a gorgeous shade of aubergine purple. It is the very opposite of most pelargoniums as it is discreet and rather refined. The foliage has a slightly sour aroma. I first purchased one of these from specialist grower Woottens Nursery more than ten years ago. Alas I had to replace it this season as I lost mine this winter. One of those lockdown online purchases.

These are my six to share with you this week. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Friday favourites: July

Tags

Aeonium Cyclops, Aeonium velour, Crocosmia Lucifer, penstemon garnet, summer rain

The garden here is really beginning to mature and fill in, now that it is some five years old.  Walking round this morning, after so much rain last night, these were my favourite sights.

The Aeoniums were looking fabulous with raindrops this morning.  This is Aeonium velour.  I have to overwinter them in the house and by the time it is safe, frost free from about mid-May the Aeoniums tend to look rather puny and pale.  They like the heat but in particular they need good sunlight.  That is perhaps why they do so well in coastal locations.  By July they are really looking as they should, sumptuous, richly coloured and succulent.  I really love them.

This near black Aeonium is Aeonium cyclops so named I guess because its central ‘eye’ keeps green.  This is one of my favourites as I appreciate the contrast in colour and think it is even more interesting than the black Aeonium zwartkop.

Strong colour in the garden is growing on me and this combination is not for everyone perhaps but I really like it.

These are the unopened petals of Crocosmia Lucifer dripping in rainwater against a pink backdrop of Penstemon Garnet.

Right it is time for a glass of something delicious. Cheers. D.

Six on Saturday: 27/6/20

Tags

Crocosmia Lucifer, Echinacea Delicious Candy, hemerocallis Little Grapette, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, Nigella papillosa African Bride, Sisyrinchium Quaint and Queer, six on saturday

The month of June is progressing too quickly for my liking. I want it to slow a little so we can savour the summer, the long hours of daylight, the weather. It’s been said before but I for one would like an endless summer.

Maybe not if it is 31 degrees though!

My six today to share with you and our host The Propagator are a snapshot of the season in my garden.

Sisyrinchium Quaint and Queer

These tiny flowers are a favourite of mine not least because they are quaint and definitely a queer colour. Don’t be distracted by the foliage, that is from a neighbouring box plant. Q&Q has typical strap leaves of a Sisyrinchium.

Nigella papillosa African Bride

Grown from seed these are much bigger than a regular Nigella. My new favourite I think. Good white petals and dark black centres. Good in a vase.

Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

The flower heads on the Hydrangeas have suddenly grown and are even beginning to colour up from their starting green. They are growing under Vitis coignetiae Crimson Glory vine and next to Geranium Johnson’s Blue. Such pleasing shades of green.

Crocosmia Lucifer

Crocosmia Lucifer is a devil to grow. See what I did there?!

This is about my third attempt in various gardens. Finally I seem to have cracked it here: sunny open position and well drained soil. In a raised bed it seems happy returning for this it’s third summer.

Stipa tenuissima Penstemon Garnet and Crocosmia Lucifer

Hemerocallis also are doing well and flowering beautifully right now.

Hemerocallis Little Grapette

This is a useful front of border sized Hemerocallis in a rich dark grape colour looking properly juicy with raindrops this morning.

Echinacea Delicious Candy

I love a daisy and the Echinacea Delicious Candy are no exception to that pretty daisy look. This one is an especially vibrant pink. Smaller in stature than E purpurea but seriously more colourful. Echinacea like the open position my garden offers and need elbow room to flower well.

These are my six. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: another month gone

Tags

bonfire, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Crocosmia Lucifer, digitalis, foxgloves, frost, geese, molinia Transparent, November, six on saturday

Nearly, (another month gone).

How can it be the last day of November?  How can we have had so much wet weather? How can Brexit still be on the agenda!

Thankfully our gardens keep quietly changing with the passage of time, seemingly oblivious to the date or political climate, gently reflecting the changes in the weather.

My six to share with you and The Propagator are here, below.

1.

Golden. Molinia Transparent. I absolutely love this grass. The warmth its colour generates is fabulous at this time of the year.

2.

Frosted Foxgloves.

These hopefully will generate a splendid show of white next year. I say hopefully because as a biennial it might be 2021 before they flower and they could be the regular pink version. My fingers are crossed.

3. Calamagrostis brachytricha. Catching the sunlight, holding its distinctive form.

4.

The seed heads of Crocosmia Lucifer are arching over the top of Stipa tenuissima. I like the contrast in texture between the two, almost as much as the fiery red flowers I grow it for.

5. Geese are on the move, please press play.

6. Now the leaves are down it is a good time to start tree work, planting and or pruning. This mornings debris warranted a bonfire.

Wishing you a good weekend wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: everything but the kitchen sink

Tags

Ammi majus, Ammi visnaga, Cercis canadensis, Crocosmia Lucifer, Echinacea purpurea, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, Hymenocallis, July, poppy seed heads, sempervivums, six on saturday, Spiderlily, Verbena bonariensis

Blast off! This is such an exciting sight for me, the Spiderlily is flowering. Granted not as exciting as man on the moon and it is not a Spider from Mars but it is a spider from me. I love it! Looking smart enough to be allowed in the house. The clay pot is my one special Whichford Pottery pot.

2.

A fistful of flowers for a friend.

There are verbena bonariensis, Hydrangea Annabelle, Echinacea purpurea, poppy seed heads, a pink lily, Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga both grown easily from seed and a Buddleja flower . All of these are from my garden.

3. Leading you down the garden path:

My favourite tree, Cercis canadensis has thrived since it was moved from its pot into the raised bed. I am enjoying how it is overhanging the path. ( I know I keep using this using this on my SOS but I don’t care, I think it’s fab.)

4. Successful looking succulents and sempervivums

Those of you who grow these know that little skill is required, just free draining soil and lots of grit. I think they are delightful, each one slightly different.

5. In your face, red

This is Crocosmia Lucifer. Such a vibrant red. It is very, in your face, dominant but I am quite liking them with the Stipa tenuissima behind.

6. This is Hydrangea time. Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle.

I do love a Hydrangea and they have become fashionable again so that’s good.

How could anyone could resist these.

How they graduate from lime to creamy white, getting fuller and bigger as they open. ( shown in reverse order here).

That’s it, my Six on Saturday. The Propagator is our host and thanks to him we share our favourites each week.

I hope you have a great week wherever you are. D.