Six on Saturday: 5/9/20

Tags

Aeonium atropurpureum cristata, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, crimson glory vine, Geranium 'Ann folkard', molinia Transparent, ornamental gourds, rose a shropshire lad, Sedum Autumn joy, so x on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Vitis coignetiae

I have had little time in my garden of late, for various reasons including the inclement weather. I had moved my Aeoniums and species pelargoniums out of the worst of the weather into the shelter of the summer house but had not had opportunity to move them back out into the open. In just a couple of weeks the foliage has changed. My six to share with you and The Propagator include these.

Aeoniums back in the open air

It fascinates me how the lower light levels quickly change the black foliage back to green. Plants are so cool. If you look at the tiny rosettes of Aeonium atropurpureum cristata, front right above and centre below you will see how the once almost completely black rosettes are now green with black edges. Hopefully they will have time to revert to black before they come in the house for Winter.

Aeoniums on 19 August

Foliage is beginning to show seasonal change. This is my small blossom tree

Showing distinct Autumnal foliage matching last nights sky.

Night sky over the barn roof

The foliage of Crimson Glory vine is not crimson yet but it is definitely turning.

Vitis coignetiae

Thoughtful colleagues have dropped a trug of produce to me . These squashes are grown from seed and are ornamental gourds. Stunning in this mornings light.

A blast of sunlight

Ornamental gourds

September is when the grasses come into their own. Calamagrostis, stipas, Molinias all have a place in my garden.

Stipa tenuissima

Molinia Transparent

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster

These all tolerate my very exposed garden and do not need staking. They capture the low level autumn light unlike any other plant. If you don’t have any grasses, I highly recommend them.

Finally, flowers. Flowers still going are roses, dahlias, rudbeckias and Seseli as well as Asters and the reddening flowers of ice plant, formerly known as Sedum.

Formerly known as Sedum Autumn Joy

Rose a Shropshire Lad

Geranium Ann Folkard

Geraniums were cut back hard about a month ago and are flowering again.

These are my six this evening. Have a good 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: 16 November

Tags

Acer campestre, Cercis canadensis, Cotinus Grace, Fieldmaple, Forest pansy, molinia Transparent, November, Oxalis triangularis subsp.papilionacae, six on saturday

Good morning. Joining The Propagator with my six on Saturday, sights that caught my eye as I went about my week.

1. Cotinus or Smoke bush is one of my favourite shrubs. This beauty is C ‘Grace’. Holding on to its leaves as late as mid November, glorious colour.

2. Another set of leaves for you

This is Field Maple, Acer campestre. Still in leaf, the foliage has developed a golden yellow. The grey sky does not do this justice but trust me, it’s golden.

3.

More leaves. Earlier in the week my Wordless Wednesday was this glorious sight , Cercis canadensis, Forest Pansy. Sunlight and shades of reds and golds.

4. My house plant

Oxalis triangularis subsp. Papilionacea

I enjoy this plant greatly, for its near black, triangular leaves which open and close in the light and as the name suggests, in so doing it resembles butterflies.

5. Molinia Transparent is perhaps my most favourite grass.

It has golden qualities at this time of year. A transparent screen.

6. Last but not least, November sky. The view outside my gate this morning

Wishing you all a great weekend, wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.

Wordless Wednesday: this morning

Tags

Aster, Coreopsis moonbeam, molinia Transparent, sanguisorba candanensis, September, Verbena bonariensis, wordless wednesday

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.

Tuesday view: 29 November 2016 sharing on December 1

Tags

Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, coreopsis moonshine, Eupatorium Elin, ewes, frost, molinia Transparent, Stipa gigantea, Tuesday View

Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and Eupatorium ‘Elin’

Cold.  Minus six degrees. The ground is rock hard and the plants are showing a crust of white ice.  The sunrise cast a rather golden light.

Molinia ‘Transparent’, Stipa Gigantea and Coreopsis ‘Sunbeam’

I am enjoying the golden tones of the grasses and the backdrop form of the Horse Chestnut trees. This weather is I understand the coldest snap for six years. It looks rather beautiful but boy it is cold. My neighbours are sporting their thick woolly jumpers.

No jacket required

Cathy at https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com hosts the Tuesday View meme.  Do take a look at her lovely blog.

In a Vase on Monday: ethereal

Tags

apothecary bottle, calamagrostis Karl Foerster, coreopsis moonshine, in a vase on Monday, Miscanthus sinensis, molinia Transparent, verbena bonariensis. sanguisorba candenensis

The garden has a number of different grasses and they are looking at their best presently. Using a few Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, Molinia Transparent and Miscanthus sinensis Flamingo I have added a stem of the creamy white,  gently scented, Sanguisorba candenensis. Then the rather promiscuous Verbena bonariensis, I have seedlings all over the garden and finally the delightful palest yellow of Coreopsis Moonshine.

I do not anticipate that they will last much beyond Monday but no matter. 

It is a vase for Monday, a meme hosted by Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com

Have a good week.

Silent Sunday

Tags

Coreopsis moonbeam, garden view, late Summer roses, molinia Transparent, Silent Sunday



In a vase on Monday: thanks Dad

Tags

apothecary jar, florist frog, Hydrangea paniculata limelight, ikebana, in a vase on Monday, molinia Transparent, Rose Just Joey, Rose Super Trouper

Super Trouper and Just Joey

The folks came for dinner on Saturday with a posy of roses from their garden.

Ready tied, the posy is a combination of the vibrant orange, in your face, rose ‘Super Trouper’ and the more copper than orange rose ‘Just Joey’.  Added to these are a few leaves from a varigated Hosta, variety unknown. It was the perfect size and colour combination for my old apothcary jar.

Dad is rather partial to his roses having about seventy in his garden.  This ensures a steady supply of Summer flowers for their house and occasionaly mine. Thanks Dad.

Now Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com suggested we might like to try an ikebana style arrangement this week. For those of you who are unaware of the term, ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging.  An ancient art, the focus of ikebana is on balance, harmony and form. This is my attempt.

Into a small oriental bowl, my first mistake as yes I am pretty sure that it is chinese, I have placed a small frog.  No amphibians have been hurt in this this experiment as this particular frog is one of these.

A kind gift from Rosie at The Chelsea Flower Show this year, it is rather sharp but holds the most delicate of flowers or in this case grasses in place.

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’ 

This is Molinia ‘Transparent’ possibly another mistake as it is rather difficult to photograph on a grey day, it is transparent after all.  Here with the first of my Hydrangea paniculata Limelight flowers.  

I love the lime-white flowers. So two completely different offerings today.  Have a good week.

Tuesday View 28 June 16

Tags

Astrantia major, astrantia shaggy, Digitalis purpurea, Eupatorium purpureum, foxgloves, Geum "Mrs Bradshaw", Joe pie weed, molinia Transparent, Rose "Lark Ascending", Thalictrum Elin, Tuesday View

I am linking with Cathy of https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com to share my view of the the garden as it develops and changes through the seasons.  This Tuesday is a beautiful Summers morning and yet still rain is forecast for later in the day.

The giant Thalictrum Elin

Against a rare blue sky this morning

Thalictrum Elin is a fabulous addition to my border, reaching up to 2.3meters.  The top of the flowers can be seen clearly above the fence line on the roadside.  That may not seem very interesting but to me, where there previously has been no garden at all, this is exciting. I actually prefer the plant at this bud stage before the flowers pop open as its colour changes to a creamy yellow.

The Joe-pie weed Eupatorium purpureum is the large leaf perennial in the foreground of the first picture.  It too will grow tall, up to 2.5m generating pink fluffly flowers on stout stems.  I chose it for its height and its suitability for a wildlife friendly garden.

Even the common old fox gloves  Digitalis purpurea are tall this year.

Behind the tall outer plants, Astrantia Shaggy and Astrantia major are flowering their socks off and have been for about a month.  The grasses are looking ethereal, this is ‘Transparent’ mixing in with the Astrantias creating a haze through which you can see the wonderful rose ‘Lark Ascending.’

The stronger orange on the corner of the bed is the so called ‘rascally’ Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ (so called by Cathy at ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com after seeing it yesterday in my vase on Monday).

The garden is full and some of the plants are reaching their peak.  Roses, grasses, foxgloves, astrantia are wonderful right now.  What is looking great in your garden? If you would like to join in with sharing your Tuesday view, do join Cathy at wordsandherbs.wordpress.com and be sure to make a link back to her page.

Happy gardening