A week of flowers: Day 1

Tags

a week of flowers, David Austin Roses, flowers make us happy, rose Brother Cadfael, roses

Cathy of Words and Herbs has presented a challenge to cheer us all up:

“From Sunday the 22nd through to Saturday the 28th let’s share a photo a day (or more than one if you like) of our flowers and gardens and brighten up this dreary time.”

Rose Brother Cadfael

Click the link above to see more cheerful floral photos. 🌞D.

Best wishes for a Happy Birthday to Mother Dorris x

Six on Saturday: 7/11/20

Tags

Aster, aster lateriflorus Lady in Black, Autumn, Cercis canadensis, David Austin Roses, Forest pansy, frost, penstemon garnet, rose Brother Cadfael, six on saturday, tree work

Here we are, blogging from the confines of the second Lockdown, sharing our six from our gardens with you and our host The Propagator

We have had a couple of proper frosts this week and the garden has dropped leaves, the dahlias have blackened. Last week I shared Harlow Carr with you, this week I am back in my own garden, observing the last gasps of Autumn.

Penstemon Garnet

Penstemon are borderline hardy in my heavy clay soil. These are growing in a raised bed to aid drainage and here they thrive. The richness of the jewel like colour is a tonic on grey days of Autumn. I do not dead head these, or tidy them up for winter. I leave all the top growth, no matter how unsightly they become, only cutting back once new growth is emerging and the frost risk has passed. As extra security I take a few cuttings which usually strike very easily.

Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black

I planted a row of these asters to form an informal edge to the path. By midsummer the foliage is dark, almost black and looks strikingly handsome, repeating the darker foliage of Cercis canadensis and Sambucus Black Lace nearby. By Late Autumn they open zillions of tiny daisy like asters , creating a haze of flowers. A real sight when everything else is bowing out.

Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black

I mention the Forest Pansy so often I realise and that is because it gives such beauty. Here it is again.

Forest Pansy detail

Forest Pansy Cercis canadensis

Gardens are beginning to take on their winter scene and it is a good time to asses the parts you might want to change.

Garden scene

There are leaves to clear, roses to prune to protect against wind rock which is a big concern on my exposed garden. There are still roses but now the frost has touched them I shall prune them hard.

Rose Brother Cadfael earlier this week

Lastly I will share some Autumn images taken at the garden where I work. Tree work has begun and on milder days mulching is order of the day.

Tree work can begin.

I hope you can have a great weekend in your garden wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Wordless Wednesday: 4/11/20 first frost

Tags

Cercis canadensis, David Austin Roses, Forest pansy, frost, garden view, rose Brother Cadfael, wordless wednesday

Rose Brother Cadfael

Cercis canadensis

Morning light

In a vase on Monday: 10/8/20

Tags

Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, dahlia Downham Royal, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, rose Brother Cadfael

The heat here is most unusual, pushing 32 degrees. It saps my strength and the garden is showing lots of signs of stress. Leaves and in some cases flower heads are drooping, Hydrangea and Eupatorium are especially prone to this when it is too hot and there has not been enough water. A simple remedy is to wait until it is almost nightfall and then soak the roots for several minutes. Overnight the plant will perk up and hopefully by morning will be looking fully restored. This is the most effective way of watering, so much better than a sprinkler on for hours.

As for flowers, I have picked one stem of Rose Brother Cadfael. A baby pink, softly scented, David Austin Rose. This took a long time to start this year but is now in its stride. The camera has darkened the true pinkness of colour so you’ll have to trust my description there.

Brother Cadfael

It seems an unashamedly girly rose so I’ve no idea about the choice of name.

Then I have picked a few dahlias. these are rich dark shades.

These are dahlia pompon Downham Royal. Single Bishop of Auckland and two new ones

I hope you are coping with this heat and staying safe. If you have time pop over to Cathy to see what other vases have been put together.

Have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. It looks as if storms might be rolling in later this week. Not the right sort of rain I guess. D.

In a vase on Monday: not really marmalade

Tags

Alchemilla mollis, Calendula Indian Prince, calendula Oopsy Daisy, David Austin Roses, Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", Rose The Pilgrim

A late Monday vase from me to share with you and our host Cathy. An old Dundee Marmalade pot, a frog and a bunch of gentle citrus coloured flowers. Citrus isn’t gentle, I hear you thinking and I know that, but these are shades of yellow orange and lime so work with me! Oh and the frog, in case you are wondering, is not an amphibian.

In the mix are lemons from Rose The Pilgrim, fennel, and limes from alchemilla mollis and Hydrangea Annabelle. Orange is in the form of Rose Lark Ascending and Calendula Oopsy Daisy and Indian Prince.

Yellow The Pilgrim

Lime alchemilla and orange Lark Ascending

Orange, lemon and lime
(Sort of)

The frog? Amphibious but not amphibian.

Ta dah

Have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: midsummer

Tags

Aeoniums, Alchemilla mollis, Catalpa pulverulentum, David Austin Roses, Dianthus carthusianorum, lilies, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', six on saturday, speckled Indian bean tree, supermarket plants, variegated Indian bean tree

After the deluge the last couple of days I can almost hear the garden sighing in relief. I am joining The Propagator our host for this meme of six things in the garden on a Saturday. Simple. Do join in. Take a look at his blog for details.

Come into the garden with me

Firstly the roses are coming into their own. Rose Gertrude Jekyll smells divine and in early light her colour sings.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

Another pink ( I did not realise I had chosen as much pink as this, I don’t think of myself as a pinky sort of girl).

Lily the pink the pink the pink

Unscented these supermarket bulbs were popped in a few years ago. Normally I get half a dozen to enjoy . Alas this year, the lily beetle has eaten the rest to a stump.

To counter all the pink I like Alchemilla mollis. As an edging it is delightful and I allow it to seed around. The chartreuse colour is great when against pink.

Alchemilla mollis

Another similar shade of green is from the foliage of the variegated Indian bean tree species Catalpa pulverulentum.

Catalpa pulverulentum

The leaves had started to emerge and then they were hit by the late frost. I won’t lie but I was rather worried that I might have lost it. Thankfully new leaves have emerged and it is looking gorgeous.

Back to more pinks and it seems I really do like them after all. This time Dianthus.

Dianthus Carthusianorum

I love this Dianthus for its tall willowy habit that blends so well with Verbena bonariensis.

Aeonium corner

In the run up to my open garden last year, I received over 30 Aeoniums which had been generously donated. ( Thank you Anthony if you are reading). I sold some entire plants on the day and lots and lots of cuttings. I have overwintered the leftovers in the house and taken cuttings to grow on for further sales. As I have had to cancel my prearranged openings I shall grow them on for another year. Now outside I have created a little collection.

These are my Six for today. I hope you have a good weekend and thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: finally the roses

Tags

Ammi majus, cerinthe, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Nigella hispanica, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Rose Morning Mist, Stipa gigantea

Hello.

As we fast approach midsummer I am finally getting to enjoy my roses. They suffered the indignity of standing about for months in cold water until March. They were then baked in hot weather only to have their new foliage burned by a late frost. No wonder their flowers have taken so long. There were times when I thought I might have lost them all together.

Climbing rose Morning Mist is on a sheltered south facing wall and has been flowering for well over two weeks. I picked some last week to door drop to my friend who was celebrating a birthday.

Everything but the kitchen sink

The terracotta toned pink rose of Morning mist was mixed with Stipa gigantea, Ammi majus, blue Nigella hispanica, Californian poppies, a bit of the Cerinthe and a couple of Dianthus Carthusianorum. As I said, everything but the kitchen sink pulled into that bunch.

Today I have picked the delicious Rose Gertrude Jekyll. She is a strong pink colour and has the most incredible strong rose scent. The only thing you have to watch about Ms Jekyll is that she is as prickly as they come.

No messing with those thorns

Her petals make lovely confetti when dried. I am saving petals for the day that sister Dorris gets married. All plans have had to change of course but when the day comes I shall be ready to shower her and David with petals.

Sharing my flowers with you and our hostCathy.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

Have a great week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday, sometimes only one is needed

Tags

apothecary jar, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Rose Morning Mist

Rose Morning Mist

With a colour as rich as these petals and with saffron coloured stamen clusters I feel this rose needs no further adornment.

I have cut just five stems and it has given me approximately 20 flowers. No need for anything else.

I have put them in my apothecary jar, job done. A sweet rose scent is filling the room. Thanks Linda!

In a vase on Monday, a lovely meme to bring flowers from the garden into the house. Our host Cathy has a lovely group of regulars who join her most Mondays. Give it a go and join us.

Have a good week wherever you are, stay safe and thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: 23/5/20

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.

Hosta Sum & Substance

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.

Hosta Big Daddy

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.

Erigeron

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.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

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.

Nectarscordium 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.

Six on Saturday: win some, lose some 16 May 20

Tags

Aquilegias, Cercis candanensis, crimson glory vine, David Austin Roses, digitalis, fig, fiscus Brown Turkey, Forest pansy, foxgloves, frost damage, Rose Morning Mist, six on saturday, Vitis coignetiae

We had overnight surface frosts this week. Darn it. Some plants sadly have lost their new foliage and are looking a tad sick and sorry. My six this week share those plus a couple of better sights. Joining The Propagator and others from around the globe with my six this Saturday.

Rose ‘Morning Mist’

A single rose with a gentle rose scent

This rose, a David Austin climber is against a south facing wall and has got away unharmed. So far, so lovely.

Foxgloves have started to open. Digitalis purpurea. Common as they come, they are tough and appear to have shrugged off the cold without a second glance. I rather like these against the backdrop of the Acer palmatum and Sambucus niger.

Aquilegias

These Aquilegias are undeterred by the cold. They are continuing to open their bonnets and I love seeing their long ‘straps’ behind them.

Now for the ugly. Brace.

Here are the baby leaves of the Vitis coignetiae

Not looking either Crimson or glory, this poor vine has taken a hammering.

Then there’s the Forest pansy.

Cercis candanensis

Ouch, that’s got to hurt. New leaves burnt to a black crisp. I hope the damage will not be long term but I am not sure.

Oh fig

This poor thing has turned up its leaves and blackened its fruit. Curtains for fruit this year.

That is my six. Some good, some bad. Have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.