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: 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.