2025

The weather is holding steady, temperatures as high as 30°C, although 20-25°C is more the norm. The few showers we have experienced have barely dampened the ground. Typically for this time of the year colour is sparse, so the lilies are welcome. Although they do not hold their blooms well in the heat. One thing I have noticed is the lack of butterflies. We were inundated with them earlier, particularly with the Peacocks. Although the eupatorium, now Eutrochium purpureum, is in flower, a tremendous bee and butterfly magnate, there are hardly any to be seen. This is the exact opposite of what happened last year so I am putting it down to the warm spring. For anyone who is interested I have taken the liberty to include a few links to some of my previous posts devoted to lilies that I have grown, with many more pictures.

The ever popular Lilium ‘Stargazer’. This is one of the first lilies that I ever grew and remains a favourite even now. I took this picture a couple of days ago but it is already looking worse for ware in the heat. Another Oriental, Lilium ‘Hachi’, which I featured a couple of weeks ago, is very similar with its upturned blooms but the flowers are notably much larger than those of ‘Stargazer’. Here is a link to Lilies Part 1 – Updated for more lily pictures.

I have shown Anemanthele lessoniana, pheasant tail grass, before but is now at its best. The leaves are taking on some red splashes which are complemented by the airy inflorescences floating in the breeze. I’ll be quoting poetry next!

I have never grown Lilium ‘Red Flash’ before and I am rather enamoured with the strong colour. Unfortunately the bottom bloom is past its best. For even more pictures of lilies that I have grown Lilies Part2 -Updated

A good old standby for late summer/autumn colour Rudbekia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’. I don’t think you can beat these simple “cone-flowers” to add a splash of colour, at this time of the year. I did have some echinaceas but they have decided not to come out to play this year. The splash of blue in the lower right-hand corner is Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ which, in my small garden, is becoming far too invasive. I intend to remove it altogether shortly. Even though I reduced it by half last winter. It is taking up far too much space for one plant, and I have plenty of stuff stuck in pots which can take its place.

Another strongly scented Oriental. Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ is another old favourite of mine. I have to admit that I had forgotten it was there until I checked the label before it came into bloom. It is a true pure white and all the better for it. I am in a bit of a quandary at the moment. I have no room to plant the lilies out, so do I keep the pots overwinter and chance that they will come good again next year, which they should do. Or do I buy in some more to guarantee a good show next year. I will probably do both! Here is some more about lilies including Cardiocrinum giganteum. Lilies Part 3-Updated

I bought this hydrangea from Thompson and Morgan at least eight years ago when they were selling it as Hydrangea ‘Incrediball’. I think it is now better known as, and is certainly synonymous with, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’. My plant is still in a container, and although the blooms aren’t the size that they should be, it still puts on a fairly good display every year. I intended to cut it back hard last winter but forgot. I need to remedy that this year, and put it on a high potash diet to see if I can improve it. Re-potting would be ideal but it is in a very large container so I will continue to nurture it where it is for as long as I can.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Six on Saturday 19/7/2025

Temperatures are hovering around 20°C which quite suits me. The weather is generally mixed with some rainfall, although the ground remains hard. Some thunderstorms are forecast, starting today, but it will be interesting to see what transpires as they often seem to miss us. I am afraid this post is rather rushed and will consist mainly of just pictures.

This little beauty popped up out of the blue. There have been several years when some poppies have emerged, but so far, none as nice as this one.

I have several astilbes, as they do well in the damp, shadier parts of the garden. I don’t know the name of this one but I think it has a nice balance between the red of the flower, and the dark green foliage.

I felt I had to include Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ even though it currently must be one of the most commonly seen border plants. I always think if a plant is that popular, it must be good. You certainly can’t miss it!

Peacock butterfly on a buddleia. There have been plenty of butterflies this year I am pleased to say. This one wouldn’t keep still, despite having strong words with it, hence the slightly blurry image for which I apologise. As the buddleias go over, my Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) will take over and provide nectar, usually until the first frost.

This is a hydrangea that I inherited. At one stage I was going to dig it up but relented as I rather like the colour.

This Alstroemeria is one of the Summer Paradise series ‘River Valley‘ a characteristic of which are the variegated leaves. Unfortunately the flowers are not looking their best, but I think this occurs with most alstroemerias as they don’t seem to wear well.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Trees,climbers,shrubs and other random plants. (Part 6)

Another selection from my previous garden.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are a familiar sight in gardens across the country, the most common are, what I refer to, as florist’s hydrangeas or the mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars). These are generally named cultivars, some of which may have been passed from gardener to gardener over the years as well as those that have been recently purchased. In recent years the cultivars of H.paniculata have been in the ascendancy with the introduction of showy cultivars such as H.pan ‘Vanilla Fraise’ although these are not quite as easy to grow as they may seem when bought from the garden centre, pruning is all important to get strong enough stems to support the heavy flower panicles in young plants. The lace-caps (Hydrangea aspera for example) make wonderful specimens for under-planting tall trees or shrubs as well standing alone. Finally the climbing hydrangea now Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris is one of the few climbers that do well on a north facing wall. Photo of ‘Vanilla Fraise’ not in my garden.

Hypericum

Hypericum calycinum, also known as Rose of Sharon or St John’s Wort, is a tough addition to the garden. Grown for its long season of flowers and berries and its ability to handle dry shade it can be particularly useful. The fact that hypericums are adaptable, and the genus contains around 500 species, has given them a world wide distribution and some species are even classified as noxious weeds in certain countries. A particularly good form is Hypericum x hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’, another particularly good form for the alpine garden or trough that I used to grow is Hypericum. olympicum. f. uniflorum.AGM.

Leycesteria

The Himalayan honeysuckle is a vigorous upright shrub, the hollow stems, from which hang the colourful scented flowers and berries, are almost what you would expect from an herbaceous plant. Easy to grow even to the extent it is regarded as an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand.

Magnolia

Magnolias are an ancient genus but really came to the attention of the UK gardener with the introduction of M.soulangeana and its cultivars to the buying public back in the 1960’s and 70’s. Everybody wanted one as there were enough mature specimens to be seen and marvelled at from earlier years, they were also very expensive and usually took several years to result in a worthwhile flowering specimen but we persevered. The much anticipated flowering time came along and as the buds opened very often they were hit by a frost and still we clung on to the hope that next year we would see the perfect display, such was the allure. The plants we see today generally have their origins in South East Asia, but it is worth noting that there are a secondary group which originate from America such as Magnolia grandiflora which are actually forest trees, their wood being used to make furniture. The photos of M.grandiflora and M.soulangeana nigra are not from my garden.

Six on Saturday 12/10/2024

We have had a “proper” frost on Thursday night, as opposed to a couple of air frosts about three weeks ago, which is only about 10 days earlier than last year. It caused little damage even on the north side of the house but tells me that I have probably run out of options for a while for Six on Saturday.

I found a clump of clematis flowers hiding in amongst the honeysuckle and rambling rose that cover a boundary fence.

I have a few baskets on the north facing front of my house where at one time I would have used impatiens but find begonias an excellent substitute. Mia culpa, I no longer have the facilities to raise bedding so have to buy in plugs. The one I have always used is Begonia ‘Illumination’ Strain, Apricot Shades although I must admit they haven’t done as well this year which I put down to a very slow start.

Young primula plants which should be planted out by now but I have nowhere to put them. I always have this problem, even when I had a much bigger plot, I always over-produced. I get the most satisfaction from raising plants from seed, particularly the more difficult ones. Every year I would be inundated with seedlings as a consequence of taking advantage of various plant society’s surplus seed offers such as those from the Scottish Rock Garden Club. I will be ordering again this year, but no lucky dips!

Always had a place for a few hydrangeas but I inherited this one. Two out of three I brought with me were decimated by frost in their first winter and didn’t flower the following year so rather than risk a repeat I discarded them. It sounds a bit harsh but space is at a premium.

Mahonia buds waiting to come into flower. I like mahonias but can never tell when they will flower, I have had the same plant come into flower in October and even March in the past, this one came into flower last year whilst the bedding was still going strong but I doubt it will happen this time.

Despite the popularity of many salvia cultivars, I grow them myself but only have one that comes through the winter every year, the common or garden sage still looks good with its grey young leaves at this time of the year. This one is growing through a crack in the paving and I get the scent when I deliberately knock it in passing.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.