Six on Saturday: 21/11/21

Tags

Allium sphaerocephalon, buxus sempervivums, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Cercis canadensis, Forest pansy, Hornbeam, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, Leucanthemella, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, topiary box, tulips

Have you noticed how brown things have turned? My six today are mainly all a bit brown.

Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

Starting with these, the remains of Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, my first of the six I have to share with you and our host The Propagator .

As the ball heads dry out, they become delicate to the touch with a slight rustle to their sound. Gone may be the creamy lime green of summer but beautiful nonetheless. Last year I cut and then touched some of the flower heads with gold spray to make Christmas decorations. I thought they were rather pretty.

Hornbeam

The hedges of Hornbeam have taken on their winter form, curled brown leaves, crisp and pleated will remain throughout the winter before shedding in spring as the leaf buds begin to swell.

Leucanthemella

The daisies of Leucanthemella which I love so much have lost their fresh as a daisy look and are beginning an elegant shift into decay. The flower heads are dark brown, almost black, slightly bowed and the foliage is slowly fading from green to brown. The stems are holding up well and I shall leave them throughout winter to act as shelter for creatures and insects.

Cercis canadensis

The glorious red heart shape leaves of the forest pansy have gone. Dropped and bagged up with other leaf litter. All that is left is the bare, so bare branches of the tree. That is it until spring. Underneath, a mixed bag of 30 orange and yellow tulips have been planted, along with 25 Allium Sphaerocephalon, the burgundy drumstick allium.

Leucanthemella stems, box shape Box all mulched.

Not brown at all are the evergreen Box. Slowly growing and slowly beginning to take on the square form I am looking for. Topiary takes time, lots of time. Eventually these box shapes will create strong winter structure. What can I say, they’re getting there.

Golden brown Stipa tenuissima and Calamagrostis Brachytricha

I am slowly working my way around the raised beds, bulb planting, weeding and mulching, topping up the bark chippings on the pathway. These grasses are energised by a breeze and arguably look interesting all year round. A lighter shade of golden brown.

These are my six for this week. I hope you have a good weekend and thanks for reading wherever you are. D.

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: 25 July 20

Tags

Aeonium Sunburst, Crocosmia Lucifer, Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, Helianthus salicifolius, oriental lily, pelargonium sidoides, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, willow leaf sunflower

Last Saturday I set off at 0500hrs to do a walk for charity. This Saturday I found myself awake at the same hour but with no such challenge ahead. It does mean that I do however have the time to prepare my six to share with you, lovely garden friends and our host The Propagator .

Aeonium Sunburst

This beauty is looking incredibly colourful, clearly enjoying the warm weather we have had. I love Aeoniums as they remind me of the Med and holidays. This is a really pretty variety I especially like the pink edges.

Helianthus Salicifolius

Otherwise known as willow leaf sunflower the foliage of this plant is what attracts me to it, that and its height. ( up to 2m) I actually like it less when the flowers appear in late summer. Acid yellow they are too brash for the border and last year they distracted the eye so much that I pinched off the blooms. I know, I still cannot believe I did that.

Crocosmia Lucifer

I have successfully got Lucifer coming back in my garden which is down to the drainage I believe. Here it is growing in a raised bed ( my soil is heavy clay prone to water logging) with a group of Stipa tenuissima. I love the contrast between the two.

Dahlia Bishop of Auckland

A simple flower with handsome dark foliage make Dahlia Bishop of Auckland an understandably popular dahlia. I like it here amongst the Aeoniums and sempervivums where it brings a more exotic tone to the area. This is quite a contrast to the cooler colours elsewhere in the garden where frankly it would stand out like a sore thumb. It is in an extra large pot as it also would not like my soil. I have successfully overwintered this one.

Oriental Lily

In the same area as the Dahlias, Crocosmia and succulents are my Oriental and Asiatic lilies. The difference between them is height and scent. Asiatic lilies tend not to have scent and are smaller in height. These Japanese Oriental lilies are so highly scented they really grab the passerby. I love them in a vase but they will not get through the door this year. I have been selective with this photo as the beetles have stripped away the lower leaves and chewed some of the other flowers. That’s what happens when you take time away from the garden, the grollies move in! Yuck.

Pelargonium sidoides

This is one of my all time favourite species pelargoniums. Small, grey- green, heart shape foliage, the flower is always late to arrive in my garden but they are said to flower from April to December. The flowers are on long stems in a gorgeous shade of aubergine purple. It is the very opposite of most pelargoniums as it is discreet and rather refined. The foliage has a slightly sour aroma. I first purchased one of these from specialist grower Woottens Nursery more than ten years ago. Alas I had to replace it this season as I lost mine this winter. One of those lockdown online purchases.

These are my six to share with you this week. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Wordless Wednesday: a pop of Penstemon

Tags

penstemon garnet, stipa tenuissima, wordless wednesday

Morning light on the Penstemon

Six on Saturday: National Garden Scheme

Tags

Aeoniums, apple juice, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, Carers Trust, Cercis canadensis, Cerciscanadensis Forest pansy, grasses, Horatio's Garden, Hospice UK, Leonard Cheshire, Macmillan Cancer Support, Maggie's Centres, Marie Curie, MS Society, National Garden Scheme, NGS, Parkinson's UK, Perennial, Queens Nursing Institute, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Verbena bonariensis

Tomorrow my garden is open in aid of the National Garden Scheme, NGS.  For those who do not know, the NGS is a registered charity which in 2017 raised a whopping £3.1m, not bad from open gardens and selling tea and cakes,  This was divided amongst the following charities: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Queen’s Nursing institute, Parkinson’s UK, Perennial, MS Society, Maggie’s Centres, Leonard Cheshire, Horatio’s Garden and not amongst gardeners as one friend thought.

I have worked flat out in the month of September, weeding, digging, trimming, edging, sweeping, deadheading and watering to prepare the garden as best as possible. I am on first name terms with the chaps at the dump.  Rather annoyingly then that the weather has decided to be somewhat inhospitable blowing in a gale and rain.  Undeterred I am hoping that a hardy group of gardening types and perhaps Aeonium fanciers will show up.

This splendid bunch have been donated by a very generous chap who prefers to remain anonymous and I shall be selling cuttings for folk to take home.  All in aid of NGS.  Absolute Aeonium heaven.

2.  There will be a selection of cards, old gardening magazines and apple juice for sale.  The apple juice has been pressed from the tree in my garden.

 

3. The roses may be almost finished but there are Cosmos and Zinnias. The main sight is perhaps the Verbena bonariensis.

It has self sown all around the garden and in the cracks in the paving.

4.  Blowing in the wind will be a mixture of grasses which are at their peak in early Autumn.

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, Calamagrostis brachytricha and Stipa tenuissima

5. A small tree which is always admired, not least by me, Cercis canadensis

The red toned heart shaped leaves are delightful.

6.  There will be some shelter from the worst of the weather inside my rather grandly named summer house.  (It is neither summer nor a house).

Joining our host the Propagator who encourages us to list our top six from our gardens.  Thanks for reading.

Now if the weather would just be kind….

Thank you to all my helpers and cake makers, lenders of time and lenders of other bits and bobs, givers of general moral support.  I certainly would not be able to this without you.  Wishing you all a lovely weekend wherever you are.  D.

Six on Saturday

Tags

Aster, Bees, Borage officinalis, Cosmos, Dahlia Bishop of Auckland, garden opening for charity, National Garden Scheme, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Verbena macdougalii Lavender Spires

I am under (self imposed) pressure to get the garden ready for its NGS opening on 29/9. Yesterday I made good progress chopping back, weeding and mulching and today a car full went to the tip. My Six today are some of the sights that I enjoyed this morning before the next round begins.

1.

The Bishop of Auckland. Dahlia. Finally throwing some flowers. Hope Brother Dorris and family like this one.

2.

Hairy bees and borage

3. Stipa tenuissima looking better for a comb to remove its sticky seeds.

4.

Rudbeckia maxima looking more upright than yesterday thanks to a bit of late staking. The wind yesterday had all but flattened them.

5.

Verbena macdougalii Lavender Spires. I especially like this variation for its curious fingers.

6.

The foliage of the Cosmos looks vibrant against the dark backdrop of Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black.

That’s it. Back to the weeding. Hoping you get chance to join in or read The Propagator post.

Have a good weekend, wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: summertime

Tags

Cercis canadensis, cornflowers, hydrangea arborescens Annabelle, July, poppies, seed heads, six on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Succulents

Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle is opening, surely a sign that it is summer. These are flower filled mops, in a creamy lime colour tone that looks as if it was lifted from one of those Farrow&Ball colour charts. Gorgeous.

This is my first of the Six On Saturday I’m sharing with our host The Propagator

2. Another sign of summer has to be that the succulents are outside

Not the best examples but loved nonetheless.

3. Forest pansy is a beautiful specimen and a real favourite of mine.

Back lit the colour is arguably unbeatable. Cercis canadensis.

4.

Haze. This haze is created by the delightfully tactile Stipa tenuissima. I love these grasses for their movement; the slightest breath of air is all they need to move.

5. Opium poppies

These are very short lived but so pretty and wonderful for bees . Today they have finished flowering and I am left with fat grey seed heads.

I love these almost as much.

6.

Cornflowers are such a wonderfully intense blue, not unlike a Sir Terence Conran shirt. Great for cut flowers, great colour in the border. An easy plant. Sprinkle some seed in the spring and Bobs your uncle.

Whether Bob is your uncle or not, you see that this selection includes some of the easiest peasiest plants to grow. What are you Six favourites today? Join us.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.

Tuesday view: 3/10/17 with a Monday Vase

Tags

Coreopsis moonbeam, David Austin Roses, Erigeron, in a vase on Monday, Molinia nia Transparent, Nassella tenuissima, papaver somniferum Black Single, persicaria affinis, rose a shropshire lad, sanguisorba canadensis, stipa tenuissima, Tuesday View, Verbena bonariensis

Evening all. First off a Vase to join Cathy. I am late for In a Vase on Monday but I hope I will be forgiven. 

These are roses from David Austin, rose ‘A Shropshire Lad’ with dahlias from Sarah Raven and opium poppy. ‘Black Single’. 

I hope you had a Vase to share with Cathy and the many other growers from around the world. 

Now to my Tuesday view. Cathy Of words and herbs , rather than rambling Cathy who hosts IAVOM, encourages us to record a view in our gardens throughout the year. It is both a useful record and interesting to see the impact the weather and seasons are having on our chosen spot. 

From the ground up, this shot shows the carpet of Persicaria affinis catching the morning sunshine. This is a very happy plant and I will have to be cutting it back before it takes over the lawn.

Molinia Transparent is doing its job well. A transparent screen. 

White sticks of self sown Sanguisorba canadensis mingling where they choose. 

Behind the Molinia is Coreopsis moonbeam, still flowering. 

Today has been lovely but in exposed parts ( the garden, not me) there was a nip to the air. Autumn is coming in fast now. We need to make the most of these last flowers of Summer before the scene turns brown and crisp. 

Just look at these lovelies. 

Erigeron, stipa, now known as Nassella tenuissima, verbena bonariensis. 

52 week photo challenge: round

Tags

52week photo challenge, box ball topiary, Buxus sempervirens, Dark Planet, echinops ritro veitchs blue, round, stipa tenuissima

I am joining Sandra https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com with this weeks challenge. Round.

In the garden where I work the family are sports mad and I am always finding balls in the undergrowth. With this in mind we have introduced ball shaped, round, ornament and plants.

There are box balls and echinops and then there is Dark Planet.

All round a wonderful “round” ?