In a vase on Monday:

Tags

Calendula Indian Prince, Dahlia Arabian Night, dahlia Downham Royal, Echinacea purpurea, Echinops bannaticus, in a vase on Monday, penstemon garnet, Pheasant's tail grass, Stipa arundica

Echinops bannaticus

Echinops bannaticus are magnets for bees and they are a pleasing companion for grasses in a border. They grow to about 1.2m tall and do not need staking. All good characteristics however they are taking over the border and are pushing out other plants. They will need to be dug up and thinned out this autumn. Unchecked they will also self seed so I have begun to cut them before they get chance to set seed. These are them in a large jug. The jug was a gift from my parents who found it at Snape Maltings in Suffolk. The jug is a perfect scale and colour for these prickly, woody stems.

In a vase on Monday

Penstemon and Echinacea have started opening out, bringing with them some rich colour and texture into the borders. A complete contrast to the Echinops these flowers are full of jewel like colours.

In the jam jar type vase are Marigolds,Penstemon, Echinacea and the wispy diaphanous stems of Pheasants tail grass.

Ladybird hitching a ride

These are calendula Indian Prince which are my favourite of all the varieties I have tried.

Dahlias are also pulling away now and showing their rich colour and textures.

Flowers from Liz

My friend and her husband came to visit and Liz gave me this striking dahlia and chrysanthemum mix. The dahlias are the same as mine because she gave me some of the same corms for my birthday. The calendula she grew and the chrysanthemums she bought from her flower shop. Interestingly it’s the green chrysanthemums that are dropping! Grown not flown is certainly best.

Please pick some flowers from your garden and join Cathy the host of this meme.

I hope you have a good week wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Silent Sunday: colours

Tags

Anemanthele lessoniana, Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea', Pheasant's tail grass, rose a shropshire lad, scented tulips, Silent Sunday, tulip Brown Sugar, tulips

Tulip Brown Sugar ( scented)

Purple red foliage of roses and Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurea

Six on Saturday: 2/3/19

Tags

Anemanthele lessoniana, chaenomeles x superba Jet Trail, clematis armandii, Dwarf narcissi Tete-a-Tete, green hellebore, Hellebores, Japanese quince, Magnolia soulangeana, March, nest making, Pheasant's tail grass, six on saturday, Stipa arundinacea

It seems that February is finished for 2019 and what a February.  Record breaking temperatures here in England gave us all something to smile about, something to distract us from the politicial shenanigans. The weather gave me and you I trust, the opportunity to cut back all the perennials, prune the roses and lightly weed over the borders, frankly incredible, compared to this time last year, when we were under the white stuff thanks to the beast.  This Saturday I have another six to share with you and the Propagator.

1. This is Clematis armandii.  An evergreen climber which flowers in early spring.  Scented, with petals which appear rather waxy.  It is a favourite clematis of mine and is smothered in buds which is very pleasing.
2. Japanese quince Chaenomeles X superba Jet trail.  This is a dwarf shrub growing to no more than 1 meter tall.  It is located against the same stretch of fence as the Clematis above and I chose it for its white flowers.
3. Hellebore.  This one is a double which comes through as a slightly green/white tinged pink.  Very pretty it seems to like the raised bed next to the tiny Tete a tete daffodils.  Raised beds work well for Hellebores as we can see their faces without having to lie on the ground. Thats my top tip for today.
4. The birds certainly seem to think that spring is here and I spotted this nest up amongst the fat buds of my friends splendid Magnolia tree.

5. This is my green Hellebore. It came from a divided piece from my last garden. I am unsure if it’s name but I enjoy its contrast to the pink and white Hellebores. A fresh green, don’t you think.

6. This is a small Pheasant tail grass, Anemanthele lessonia, previously known as Stipa arundinacea. It is relatively short lived but self seeds freely around. If you fail to strip the seed heads it can be a nuisance in paths. Anyway I like its colouring and its nomadic spirit.

So that’s my six for today. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are. D.

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’

 

Tuesday view: 23 August 2016

Tags

Anemanthele lessoniana, Borage, Borago officinalis, eupatorium, Joe pye weed, Pheasant's tail grass, sanguisorba candensis, Tuesday View

Today is a beautiful hot Summers day.  The weather man appeared to have got it right as I nipped out with my camera at around 7.30am.  A clear blue sky with the sillouette of the Thalictrum Elin.

The trouble with high sun is that it somehow bleaches the colours of the plants and makes them tricky to photograph.  Earlier in the morning however I was able to capture the view before the sun moved onto them.

Grasses look wonderful in the sunlight but are rather difficult to picture clearly.  This is Pheasant Tail grass and its shadow this morning.

Anemanthele Lessoniana

The colours of Verbena bonariensis and Joe pye weed are blending well and drifting throughout each of the four beds.

Closer up the Joe pye weed is most attractive

Eupatorium maculatum Atropurpureum group

Sanguisorba candensis

Sanguisorba is finally beginning to flower.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks view.  Be sure to take a look at Cathy’s blog https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com

Finally I want to share the beautiful blue in the weed bed.  More about that another time. Borago officinalis.

End of month view: November

Tags

Ajuga reptans, Anemanthele lessoniana, Bugle weed, End of month view, Pheasant's tail grass, Stipa arundinacea

The 30 November was such a dark, dirty, squally day that no one would choose to be in the garden unless they really had to.  The last 30 days has seen the garden subjected to rain, rain and more rain.  The ground is waterlogged.

water logged lawn

The temperatures are so mild that the grass is still growing, as are the weeds.  All the leaves are down and have largely been bagged up for composting.

Apple tree still holding onto its fruit

The apples are somehow hanging onto the branches of the tree.  I have collected barrow loads and they are delicious.  I am however waiting for someone to hold onto the ladder for me in order that I can get up to collect the rest.

 

I have planted up an old bath with Stipa arundinacea, now know as Anemanthele lessoniana.  The common name is Pheasant’s tail grass which is grown for its attractive pheasant like autumn colours as well as it attractive seed heads.  I have underplanted the grasses with Ballerina tulips and edged the planting with the black shiny leaves of Ajuga reptans.  Bugle weed, its common name, can be invasive but within the boundaries of the tub it should be fine.  I look forward to seeing the Ballerina orange red shining through the grasses.

Today the next phase of the garden started.  The boundary hedge is coming out.  Not really a hedge more a collection of brambles, half dead lleylandii, self sown elder and nettles that have reached six foot.

Hedge of weeds

 

Gone.  Ding dong the hedge is gone.

 

This end of month meme is hosted by Helen at https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/end-of-month-view-november-2015/

Take a look.  I wonder what weather December will bring?