‘Zéphirine Drouhin’ – A Plantsman's World

The heavy rain seems to have died down and temperatures have risen again. We are promised some thunderstorms in the near future, so we will have to wait and see what is in store for us.

Although escallonias don’t seem to be as popular as they used to be, this one is so aptly named. The dark green, evergreen foliage makes an excellent foil for those plants in front of it.

The common viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a native flower, which I first saw in a garden when I was in my early teens. We had neighbours who had returned from India after serving in the British Raj, which we youngsters found fascinating. Charles was a keen amateur astronomer and my father and I spent a few nights with him gazing at the stars. His wife Effie (Euphemia) was a very keen gardener and an archetypical, indomitable Victorian lady who did much to encourage me in the ways of gardening. One of her favourites was viper’s bugloss, which I have grown in her memory ever since. Echium plantagineum, the purple viper’s bugloss, actually comes from warmer climes, but it is flowering from a February cold sowing.

Primula alpicola the moonlight primrose is another little beauty for a damp spot.

This geranium seems to grow in the poorest of conditions providing excellent ground-cover. Definitely a bee magnate!

**Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’**

Grows virtually anywhere, autumn tints to the leaves, aromatic foliage, bee magnate. What more could anyone want?! Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’ is very similar, in fact, to be honest, I can’t tell them apart.

Finally a rose. I am really happy to be able to grow roses here, although I have limited them to the climbers and ramblers. I love ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’, it is the only rose that I managed to grow in my previous, shady, damp garden.

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.

We are having a remarkable spell of dry warm weather at the moment, misty mornings clearing to blue skies with the occasional overcast day still making above 17°. Here are a few subjects which are still going well before we get the inevitable thunderstorm, or at the very least heavy rain, to disturb the peace and tranquillity.

**Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’**

Where would we be without rudbeckias for autumn colour?

Another traditional autumn flowering plant. I was going to give it the chop this year but left it too late however the stems have stayed strong and not flopped as has happened before. Note the solitary insect, Joe Pye next to it is covered in bees and several butterflies, obviously the High Table!

‘Zéphirine Drouhin’ has been with me for years, it was the only rose that survived in my old shaded garden. It climbed up a cast iron railing that supported the handrail for the steps up to the backdoor and as such did get some sun and wasn’t in the shade like much of the garden. This allowed it to only be slightly affected by the plethora of fungal diseases that put an end to any attempt to grow roses, or even photinias, anywhere else.

Geranium ‘Patricia’ one of my favourites, note the G. pyrenaicum intertwining itself.

I allow Geranium pyrenaicum to seed itself as it will, the hedgerow geranium, now found growing wild in the UK is such a dainty little thing and any unwanted seedlings are soon pulled up. I did have the white form, but it has absented itself.

I make no excuses for including Joe Pye Weed again this week, its only there to show off the peacock!

All for this week, fingers crossed for next week! This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found at Garden Ruminations where he is chewing things over.

Tag: ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’

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