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

Six on Saturday: a welcome surprise

Tags

Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora, frost, Hornbeam hedges, January, Lonicera fragrantissima, Miscanthus sinensis, six on saturday, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, Viola odorata, white Foxgloves, Winter garden

The surprise is the weather of course. Sunshine and frost this morning, such a welcome sight after what seems like months of rain and grey skies and general bleh. My garden is holding water in small padding pools. I am trying hard, not allowing myself to stress about what the saturated clay is doing to my plants but horror stories keep popping in to my mind.

Not today. No, today I treated myself to some primulas to brighten a few bare patches. I walked around the garden, keeping off the squelching lawns, off the borders, stretching this way and that to reach closer to the sources of scent.

These are my Six:

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn

A quite vigorous, woody shrub, which sprouts out beautiful pink flowers in midwinter. Tiny multiples of flowers pump out a sweet scent in the sunshine.

This is one shrub I would always want in a garden.

Foxglove foliage dusted with frost.

I am hoping these will flower this year and will give me white spires. Digitalis purpurea f.albiflora

Foxgloves are such accommodating plants, suited to deep shade and to sun. They really will grow on any type of soil. I prefer the white form for its crisp contrast between white and green, finding the pink version a rather dirty pink. Highly poisonous if ingested, otherwise I would recommend them everywhere and anywhere.

Handsome Hornbeam

Hedges of Hornbeam are another of my favourite sights. Midwinter and the hedges are still retaining their foliage. Curled and pleated and a rich brown colour. The hedge provides shelter to garden birds.

Sunlight and Miscanthus

Backlit, I am reminded why I love Miscanthus sinensis so much. This particular one was new this autumn and is currently in a pot. I shall be transferring it into the ground once things dry out a bit.

More winter scent

This is winter Honeysuckle Lonicera Fragrantissima. Another woody shrub which bursts into flower in winter. The scent wafts on the air pulling the passerby in close. It too does not seem to be put off by the wet soil.

White flowers

These Violas are eye catching even in the low light levels of winter. They also are scented but you need to get very close to detect their aroma. Such sweet flowers, great performers and worth a couple of quid of anyone’s money. Winter bedding.

These are my six, joining The Propagator and gardeners from around the globe, sharing my six favourites in my garden right now. Do join in, we would love to see what’s in your garden too.

Enjoy your 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.

Silent Sunday: a cold January morning

Tags

English country garden, frost, January, Silent Sunday

Frosted fern

Tuesday view: 14/11/17

Tags

frost, molinia Transparent, nasturtiums, November, persicaria affinis, Tuesday View

I have been very poor at updating you with my Tuesday View and taking part with Cathy and other bloggers sharing their view.

On 6 November I took these pictures. There had been a frost overnight and the morning was bright and crisp.

The Molinia Transparent looked very beautiful in the sunshine and the carpet below looked colourful. Persicaria affinis dusted with frost.

The frost looked pretty.

One of those beautiful days to make us grateful to be alive.

Not sure the nasturtiums were feeling the love.

Friday 3 November 2017

Tags

Dahlias, frost, Petersham Nursery, Thank goodness it's Friday

We had a cold night earlier this week, and a sharp frost took all my dahlias.  Although disappointing it was inevitable for this time of year. Without further ado I chopped back the evil looking, black foliage and mulched over the crowns. Three are to be relocated and those were dug up and placed under a fleece blanket in the garage in order that they can dry out and be saved for next year. 

Yesterday I visited the very attractive Petersham Nursery. London weather is milder than in my garden and so Petersham Nursery was untouched and their dahlias were still looking beautiful. Here are a few pretty snaps from the day.  

One for the cat lovers:

And for the foodies, how about this for presentation:

Bangers and mash don’t quite cut this in this looks department, do they. 
Have a good day.

Friday 3 November 2017

Tags

Dahlias, frost, Petersham Nursery, Thank goodness it's Friday

We had a cold night earlier this week, and a sharp frost took all my dahlias.  Although disappointing it was inevitable for this time of year. Without further ado I chopped back the evil looking, black foliage and mulched over the crowns. Three are to be relocated and those were dug up and placed under a fleece blanket in the garage in order that they can dry out and be saved for next year. 

Yesterday I visited the very attractive Petersham Nursery. London weather is milder than in my garden and so Petersham Nursery was untouched and their dahlias were still looking beautiful. Here are a few pretty snaps from the day.  

One for the cat lovers:

And for the foodies, how about this for presentation:

Bangers and mash don’t quite cut this in this looks department, do they. 
Have a good day.

Wordless Wednesday: Stipa gigantea

Tags

frost, Golden Oats., mid Winter, Stipa gigantea, wordless wednesday

Golden oats, mid Winter

Tuesday View: 24/01/17

Tags

Box ball, clipped Buxus sempervirens, Eupatorium Elin, frost, Hydrangea paniculata limelight, Ilex crenata, japanese holly, Joe pye weed, Pheasant's tail grass, Stipa arundinacea, Tuesday View, Winter

Cold Pheasants tail grass

The last few days here have been very cold but settled, frosty and still. Pretty to look at. The frost barely defrosts even in direct sunlight and so little actual garden work can be done.  Cathy at https://wordsandherbs.com hosts the Tuesday View.

dormant

There will be lots to do once we move into February and the weather begins to warm up. In the meantime there is lots of fireside planning, research, reading and drawing to be done. Just look at this:

 

west facing patio, the home of a feed store for the last occupants, the goats.

It would seem as if this would be a great place to have a seating area as it catches the very last of the sun.  In reality it gets covered in sticky stuff from the trees and the birds within the trees. I am presently working on an idea for a structure that will protect the area below the trees from the ‘stuff’ but that will not block out the precious light.  I do not want a Summer house (too twee) or a pergola (it will not stop the debris) but I do want something there.  Any ideas? So whilst I share my thoughts with someone who can make stuff, here are the close ups.

Eupatorium Elin 

Ilex crenata

This small leaf evergreen, otherwise known as Japanese holly is a  slow growing plant which lends itself well to clipping and is a good alternative to Box.  I have not grown it before but found a bunch of five, half price in my local garden centre.  Still in pots awaiting a home, I will let you know how they fare.

cold Box

Thank you to those of you who expressed concern/ sympathy about the leak outside my gate.  Thames Water advised me that they had fixed the leak despite my concerns that the hole in the ground had filled with water again.  Whilst writing this, the team to back fill the hole arrived.  On pumping out the surplus water the pipe cracked and the leak is back with a vengence. Efficient.

Back to the plants and breathe.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’