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: 15/8/20

Tags

Catalpa bignoides pulverulenta, Cercis canadensis, Eupatorium Black stockings, Forest pansy, hornbeam hedge, indian bean tree, Philadelphus coronarius aurea, rose a shropshire lad, Sambucus Nigra Black Lace, six on saturday, Verbena bonariensis, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, weeping willow

Saturday greetings from me to you. The weather these last few days frankly has been as extraordinary as these pandemic times we are living in. The deluge this morning has left a steaming mist this afternoon and those temperatures earlier in the week seem almost imaginary. My six, as a consequence of today’s weather. are images of the garden taken on Thursday.

Across the garden, verbena bonariensis has taken over as shown above. I love it. I love it’s tall wafting nature, its colour and I don’t mind it at the front of a border even if it has chosen the spot.

The funny thing with this image is that I look it and see the Hornbeam hedge needs cutting back into shape. It’s like a visual to do list for me.

This image of the path back up the garden shows what I mean about the verbena and today you need the secateurs to cut your way through. The claret foliage at the top of the path is from my beloved Cercis canadensis. This image shows me not only how big it is getting but how much I will need to prune back. There’s barely room to sit at the table.

Looking across the border to the path and table I like how much the Cercis shields the sitter from the rest of the garden but within reason of course. I am pleased with the colour mix of the pink rose a Shropshire Lad next to the variegated foliage of Catalpa pulverulentum and yes the Hornbeam definitely needs cutting back. I also need to take a bit off the viburnum bodnantense to the right of the hedge. It too is getting a bit too big.

Looking from the other side across the border to the dark green shrub on the right is the viburnum bodnantense and it really is too tall. Frankly Philadelphus coronarius aurea, Golden mock orange, is also getting too big and needs shaping up a bit. Topiary also needs clipping back to form. Gosh I have a lot to do.

A pleasing combination of the berries and foliage of Sambucus nigra Black Lace with Eupatorium Black stockings. The unopened buds of the flowers look so lovely next to the half eaten berries. The Sambucus will be cut down by about one third in spring to encourage better denser foliage.

Looking through and across the lawn is the borrowed view of the majestic weeping willow belonging to my neighbour. Properly impressive. Nothing for me to do there but to admire.

These are my six. A visual to do list rather than ‘jobs for the weekend ‘. Sharing my six with you and our host The Propagator

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

In a vase on Monday: on a Tuesday

Tags

Alchemilla mollis, Ammi majus, Digitalis purpurea, in a vase on Monday, Nepeta, penstemon garnet, poppy seed heads, rose a shropshire lad, Verbena bonariensis

The day got away from me yesterday and I did not get chance to prepare a vase until last thing. Here it is:

Outside on the table in the summerhouse is my vase full of Alchemilla, Ammi, Nepeta, Digitalis, Penstemon, Rose a Shropshire Lad, a spike of Verbena bonariensis and a couple of poppy seed heads for good measure.

‘Summer house’ sounds a bit la-di-dah. Apologies. It is summer but it’s not a house as it has no windows or doors but it is a shelter and with this weather we are out there all the time.

Cathy is our host for this lovely meme. Take a look at her blog to see some other pretty vases full of flowers. Such a nice thing to look at.

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

In a vase on Monday: farewell

Tags

Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, rose Brother Cadfael, Rose The Pilgrim

Goodbye

Said the Bishop

Adieu

dear Rose.

Frost has bitten the garden here. Roses which were still happily flowering have been scarred by the cold.

Dahlias in the ground are now black, finished for 2019. I moved my pot grown dahlia under the shelter of the summer house and saved the Bishop of Auckland for a while longer.

Joining Cathy this Monday. Have a good week wherever you are. D.

In a vase on Monday: a little wet

Tags

David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, leucanthemella serotina, October, rose a shropshire lad, rose Brother Cadfael

Back to routine today, I picked these around 1645 hrs. In the rain and in what seemed rather a dull, dark and decidedly chilly afternoon, today’s vase is full of flowers but they are showing signs of weather.

Rose a Shropshire Lad is still flowering but is showing rather bruised petal edges thanks to the rain and wind.

Rose Brother Cadfael

This is a new addition, given to me after it had struggled to flower in my friends garden. Thanks Liz, he seems to have decided to flower now the summer is over. A delicious scent overpowers the delicate rose scent from the Shropshire Lad.

Also flowering and fresh as a daisy in October is Leucanthemella serotina a fabulously fresh looking daisy type flower. At over 6ft tall with no staking it is my favourite in the garden right now. The bright eyed amongst you may see that there’s Cosmos cupcake in there as well. It too is flowering like crazy now.

Pink roses and white daisies anyone might think it’s summer. Alas not. I am however happy to be sharing these with you and Cathy our long serving host.

Wishing you all a good week wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: sit still

Tags

David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, old pharmaceutical bottles, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, Rose Morning Mist, September

I picked some roses yesterday before the rain came. I divided them amongst the old bottles I have. Do you remember having photographs taken as a child and people would say ‘sit still, smile’ thereby immediately making it a stressful experience and not all fun.

As I took the pictures this morning the petals began to drop and I found myself saying ‘sit still’.

‘Shropshire Lad’ was well behaved, smiling nicely for the camera. ‘Morning mist’ obliged nicely.

‘Lark Ascending ‘ was dropping it’s petals in front of my eyes. Oh dear. Not a flattering picture, should have sat still.

Joining our host Cathy this Monday.

Have a good week wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: last days of summer

Tags

Aeonium, Aster, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, Rose "Lark Ascending", rose a shropshire lad, September, six on saturday, Succulents, Symphyotrichum Little Carlow

Beautiful Rose, a Shropshire Lad is flowering again. A soft, gentle scent can be detected, deep within the many layers of petals.

Rose Lark Ascending is also flowering, continually to be honest. How gorgeous it is looking in this September light.

Rosette type flower in the form of an Aeonium. I have no idea which variety this is but it is looking particularly handsome in this light. The succulents will need to come under cover at any minute but today they can soak up the last gasps of summer.

Grasses are at their most glorious right now. This is no exception. Calamagrostis brachytricha. My new favourite.

Mind you, I still think Calamagrostis Karl Foerster takes some beating, especially back lit like this.

Last but not least are these delightfully cheery Aster

Now known as Symphyotrichum Little Carlow. How are we supposed to keep up with name changes? Mind boggling.

These are my Six and I have put them together to share with you lovely folk and The Propagator our host.

With one week to go to my NGS opening I fear that the weather will have changed to soggy yuck. These images will be a mere memory.

Right , I need to get a wiggle on. ‘Jobs to do ‘ list awaits!

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: September sweeties

Tags

cornflower, Cosmos cupcake, Dahlia Cafe au Lait, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', rose a shropshire lad, Sweetpeas, Zinnia Giant Dahlia mix

I have missed joining Cathy and sharing my flowers. The time is just shooting by. Today I have a real mix of flowers, all grown by me at home and at work.

Firstly from home:

Zinnias with Rose Lark Ascending and Rose Gertrude Jekyll. Grown from seed the zinnias are doing well but some of the colours are not so great. They are colours which look a bit dirty, if you know what I mean.

A glass cream jug containing Cosmos cupcake and the last of the cornflowers both grown from seed. I put the two together as their petals have similar edges.

There was just one Rose ‘A Shropshire lad’ so to make him look less lonely, I added more cosmos.

Mixed sweets.

At work I am still picking Sweetpeas.

Their stems are shorter now and the plant is showing signs of powdery mildew so they will not last much longer. This handful are still ok.

Finally , last but not least, is the very popular, dare I say fashionable, Dahlia Cafe au Lait . A bit of a flying saucer but lovely cappuccino colours.

That’s it. Thanks for reading. Have a great week wherever you are. D.

In a vase on Monday: is it really October?

Tags

Astrantia major, cornflower, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, October roses, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', rose a shropshire lad, Rose The Pilgrim

The weather this weekend has been incredible, dry, mild, bright and crunchy, (if weather can be crunchy that is).

I have been raking up barrows full of conkers, leaves, rotting windfalls. So far so Autumn

And yet the mild weather has allowed another flush of roses. A Shropshire Lad, Gertrude Jekyll, the Pilgrim.

Surprisingly there are a few Astrantia in flower and even some Cornflowers.

These roses do not have quite the same strength of smell at this time of the year. The flower heads may droop thanks to their slightly weaker stems yet there is no doubt that these roses are a lovely sight in mid October.

I am joining Cathy and the other regulars with in a vase on Monday. Have a lovely week. D.