Six on Saturday: midsummer

Tags

Aeoniums, Alchemilla mollis, Catalpa pulverulentum, David Austin Roses, Dianthus carthusianorum, lilies, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', six on saturday, speckled Indian bean tree, supermarket plants, variegated Indian bean tree

After the deluge the last couple of days I can almost hear the garden sighing in relief. I am joining The Propagator our host for this meme of six things in the garden on a Saturday. Simple. Do join in. Take a look at his blog for details.

Come into the garden with me

Firstly the roses are coming into their own. Rose Gertrude Jekyll smells divine and in early light her colour sings.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

Another pink ( I did not realise I had chosen as much pink as this, I don’t think of myself as a pinky sort of girl).

Lily the pink the pink the pink

Unscented these supermarket bulbs were popped in a few years ago. Normally I get half a dozen to enjoy . Alas this year, the lily beetle has eaten the rest to a stump.

To counter all the pink I like Alchemilla mollis. As an edging it is delightful and I allow it to seed around. The chartreuse colour is great when against pink.

Alchemilla mollis

Another similar shade of green is from the foliage of the variegated Indian bean tree species Catalpa pulverulentum.

Catalpa pulverulentum

The leaves had started to emerge and then they were hit by the late frost. I won’t lie but I was rather worried that I might have lost it. Thankfully new leaves have emerged and it is looking gorgeous.

Back to more pinks and it seems I really do like them after all. This time Dianthus.

Dianthus Carthusianorum

I love this Dianthus for its tall willowy habit that blends so well with Verbena bonariensis.

Aeonium corner

In the run up to my open garden last year, I received over 30 Aeoniums which had been generously donated. ( Thank you Anthony if you are reading). I sold some entire plants on the day and lots and lots of cuttings. I have overwintered the leftovers in the house and taken cuttings to grow on for further sales. As I have had to cancel my prearranged openings I shall grow them on for another year. Now outside I have created a little collection.

These are my Six for today. I hope you have a good weekend and thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: finally the roses

Tags

Ammi majus, cerinthe, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Nigella hispanica, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Rose Morning Mist, Stipa gigantea

Hello.

As we fast approach midsummer I am finally getting to enjoy my roses. They suffered the indignity of standing about for months in cold water until March. They were then baked in hot weather only to have their new foliage burned by a late frost. No wonder their flowers have taken so long. There were times when I thought I might have lost them all together.

Climbing rose Morning Mist is on a sheltered south facing wall and has been flowering for well over two weeks. I picked some last week to door drop to my friend who was celebrating a birthday.

Everything but the kitchen sink

The terracotta toned pink rose of Morning mist was mixed with Stipa gigantea, Ammi majus, blue Nigella hispanica, Californian poppies, a bit of the Cerinthe and a couple of Dianthus Carthusianorum. As I said, everything but the kitchen sink pulled into that bunch.

Today I have picked the delicious Rose Gertrude Jekyll. She is a strong pink colour and has the most incredible strong rose scent. The only thing you have to watch about Ms Jekyll is that she is as prickly as they come.

No messing with those thorns

Her petals make lovely confetti when dried. I am saving petals for the day that sister Dorris gets married. All plans have had to change of course but when the day comes I shall be ready to shower her and David with petals.

Sharing my flowers with you and our hostCathy.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

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

Six on Saturday: 23/5/20

Tags

Allium siculum, bearded iris, David Austin Roses, Erigeron karvinskianus, Hosta Big Daddy, Hosta Sum and Substance, Iris Midnight Caller, Mexican fleabane, Nectarscordium siculum, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Sicilian honey garlic, six on saturday, weather, woottensplants.com

The weather. May is proving to be a tough month weather wise. Nighttime frosts followed by hot dry summer days and now winds of 19mph. The consequences can be seen all over: new foliage which was burned by the frost has now dried and died back. Damage is on most things from the tips of the Ash trees to shrubs, roses and iris. I have started watering as if it is mid July and this morning I have dragged hostas into the garage to give them shelter from the battering wind.

I especially hate the wind. My garden is very exposed as there really is not much more than open fields between it and the Chilterns. Consequently when it blows it really is damaging. My six today starts with my two hostas now cowering in the garage.

Hosta Sum & Substance

These dinner plate sized leaves do not take kindly to 19mph wind. I can see some of the leaves have been bent and this will spoil their handsome form.

Hosta Big Daddy

Now parked under cover Big Daddy is also suffering. The edge of some of it leaves are browning from the wind and from the earlier cold snap.

Not troubled by the heat the cold or the wind is Fleabane. Erigeron Karvinskianus has self sown around the drive, it is everywhere. I do love a daisy so it generally is allowed to stay.

Erigeron

My roses were subjected to standing in water for almost three months this winter into spring. I feared I may have lost them, especially those in the blue clay borders. Phew they have just started flowering. This is the opening Gertrude Jekyll rose. Rich pink with the most heavenly rose scent. It is mega prickly and that is her main failing. No issue with pest or disease a David Austin gem.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

I love to see Alliums after the Tulips and thankfully they do well in my garden. My favourite is perhaps this one for its hanging lantern flowers which the bees literally disappear into. Allium siculum.

Nectarscordium siculum
Sicilian honey garlic

At the garden where I work the soil is thin over chalk. Free draining, the contrast to my own garden couldn’t be more different. Here I can grow bearded iris as they must have full sun and sharp drainage. The Iris are looking fabulous this year thanks to a great deal of splitting and dividing last year. The pale ones look extra special thanks to the addition of the near black Iris Midnight Caller from Woottens nursery, a specialism of theirs.

These are my six for this week. Joining our host The Propagator and bloggers from all over.

Have a great long weekend, stay home, stay safe 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.

Six on Saturday: kaleidoscope

Tags

Allium christophii, Allium Purple Sensation, Allium shubertii, Astrantia 'Roma', calendula, cytisus battandieri, Eschscholzia, marigolds, papaver Perry’s White, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Sambucus Nigra, six on saturday

Orange.

Hello June, goodbye May. The garden has exploded into a kaleidoscope of colour. Above is the first of my Six on Saturday. Eschscholzia. They are self sown from last year and have popped up in drifts. I couldn’t have created this show if I had tried.

Marigolds.

The Propagator asks us to share six sights from our garden on a Saturday, a fun thing to do. Try and join us. His blog has any instructions you might need. My Six today are colour themed.

2. Purple

Of course it had to be Allium Purple Sensation. Old hat maybe but still a great colour.

Aliium christophii

Allium shubertii

3. Pink

The first rose to open is the strongly scented Gertrude Jekyll. If she wasn’t so thorny she would be perfect.

Astrantia Roma

4. Yellow

The pineapple scented Cytisus battandieri. I do not favour yellow in my garden but I enjoy this for its scent and silver foliage rather than its colour.

5. Black

Less black more deep claret to be honest. One of my favourite shrubs, Sambucus niger.

Just look at those dark leaves.

6. White

Perennial poppies this one is perhaps Perrys white. Shining and clear. Here’s a thing, before the marigolds and Eschscholzia did their thing I was planning a white planting show. Hey ho, there’s always next year.

Wishing you all a great weekend. Enjoy this summer weather. 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.

In a Vase on Monday: snippets

Tags

Alchemilla mollis, Astrantia major, astrantia shaggy, David Austin Roses, Geum Totally Tangerine, in a vase on Monday, June, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', snippets

These are tiny short stemmed snips today as I try to preserve stems for my first NGS visitors next week.

Rose Gertrude Jekyll

Rose GJ hanging about at head height so I catch her heavenly rose scent.

A small pot of colour thanks to Geum Totally Tangerine, Astrantia major and Astrantia Shaggy and chartreuse froth courtesy of Alchemilla mollis.

Short and sweet. Get thee over to Monday Cathy to see other vases of flowers picked from gardens all over the place and not just the UK. Should you fancy joining in, all you have to do is pick some flowers, insert them in a vessel, photograph and tell us about it, adding a link back to Cathy mentioned above.

Astrantia Shaggy

Have a good week. D.

Friday feeling

Tags

Coreopsis moonbeam, Echonops ritro, friday feeling, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll'

There are reports of an approaching hurricane for Florida whilst New Zealand has felt an earthquake of 7.1 with tsunami risk remaining.  All this after Italy sadly suffered a devastating earthquake last week.

Here in Southeast England we have the approach of rain to prepare for. Thankful for gentle conditions and with rolled umbrella at the ready this is a planting combination  which captures late Summer in my garden.

Stay safe where ever you are and have a nice weekend.

In a vase on Monday: dazed and confused

Tags

Coreopsis, Dahlia Arabian Night, Dahlia mignon, dazed and confused, in a vase on Monday, Rose "Lark Ascending", Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', Verbena bonariensis

Those of you who saw my earlier post of Silent Sunday must be rather bemused by my confusion over what day it is. You are not wrong. I lost track.

Hastily I put together a bunch of garden flowers to take to my friend Liz last night.

Not in a vase but tied together with purple twine.

Included are two roses, the pink is strongly scented Gertrude Jekyll and the pale apricot one is Lark Ascending. There is Verbena and a pale Coreopsis, darks are from the small Dahlias, mignon and Arabian Night. 

So there you have it, a bunch of garden flowers that did not make it to my vase. Cathy will be joined by bloggers who know what day it is and have filled vases to share. Do take a look. HTTPS://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com

In a vase on Monday: progress is rather pink

Tags

Astrantia 'Roma', Dahlia Arabian Night, David Austin Roses, in a vase on Monday, Persicaria amplexicaulis Firetail, Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll', rose a shropshire lad, Verbena bonariensis

Monday is here again and I am sharing a seasonal mix of what I think of as an early summer bloom, Astrantia Roma, summer roses and autumnal dahlias. Such is our weather

These were all planted this year and I am very pleased with progress. The astrantias were slow to pull away but once they did they have more than tripled their size. Such a charming cushion of a bloom, perfect for a vase and an essential for a garden border to my mind.

The roses are A Shropshire Lad and Gertrude Jekyll . Both are David Austin roses, both are pink and both smell divine. This is their second show of flowers.

The Dahlia Arabian Night is a stunner, dark velvet perfection.

Added to this little group is Percy. This Percy is Firetail, Persicaria amplexus Firetail and Verbena bonariensis. I am happy with this little group and hope you like them too. Have a great week and be sure to check out the Monday vases with Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2015/