Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – July 2014
It’s been very dry here for a few weeks now, Saturday evening I had to water the garden after noticing plants drooping. We’d been promised rain repeatedly, but it just hasn’t arrived – unless you count a few drops – so the garden really needed some help. As it happened, we did then receive some rain later on Saturday, but I don’t think it was enough to well water everything so I’m still glad I watered the garden too.
The garden is still moving on quite nicely, although we’re hitting a slight lull in blooms; most apparently missing are the Yarrow and Ragworts this year… two plants I never thought I’d lose, and also two plants that really I don’t take much notice of as they’re generally fillers I hadn’t realised just how important they are. On Saturday I attempted to buy some Yarrow, but couldn’t find any… I’m not surprised as I realise it’s quite late and I was just hopeful. I wish I’d noticed sooner so I could’ve replaced them.
I guess really, I’m worried and lamenting the loss of the flutters, which normally love both. Will they still visit regardless?? We’ll have to wait and see.
Because I’m trying not to buy plants for the garden, I’ve turned towards pots and attempting to dress the outside of the house. I found some cute little dahlias in a tray, which were originally £7.50 but reduced to £1.50. Oh go on then.
If you insist.
So I came home for a few trays, plus some 50p Pelargoniums. Never a fan of smelly geraniums, but for that price I figured it was criminal not to.
The below pots were planted a while ago, sadly the Petunia isn’t doing too well, but adds colour regardless. In the pots I’ve also added plants I want to take with me such as seedlings or even Dierama to add height. The Lobelias were all happy surprises, after seeds fell from hanging baskets into the Dierama pots. In fact, I think the Viola is also a self-seeder. Those of you with eagle-eyes may have also noticed the Clematis in the right pot. Still only a small, as it was bought as a plug plant, I hope it survives. Finally, and somewhat amazingly, the white nemesia is years old. I think I bought it almost 4 years ago now, but just keeps coming back and has a lovely vanilla scent. I hadn’t realised they can sometimes be hardy…
Fresh Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ is stunning. I almost forget just how gorgeous is, but thanks to strict dead-heading I now have more blooms.
Is it really almost late summer???? Oh my! Time for the Heleniums has arrived.
Spires, I love spires.
Astilbes in the front garden are very nice this year, the white one last year sulked after being moved and only produced a couple of blooms. Thankfully this year it’s back.
I think this year is by far the best year for the Lavenders…. Very nice indeed.
Salvia ‘hot lips’ is in a pot by the front door, the other plants with it died over winter, so I recently bought a lime green Nicotiana and a red Nicotiana to go with it… I think they work well together.
Time for the surprise of the month…
A few days ago I noticed lily-like buds in the front path… Ok, no surprise for many of you. But I had given up on the day lilies years ago. Every year they’re desecrated by slugs and snails. I hadn’t even bothered to see if they’d survived this year.
So, I’ve watched its bud swell, then colour-up and finally this morning it opened.
I had no idea what colour it would be as a) I forgot and b) and pretty certain it was labelled only as being Hemerocallis and the image on the tag had yellow, orange and red flowers.
Copyright 2014 Liz.
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Gwirrel's Garden 
Hi Liz…my garden here in the Okanagan, BC Canada is struggling a bit as we are hitting temperatures in the upper 30 degree C today. I have tried very hard to introduce perennials that prefer a drier habitat. I am enjoying your blog and have many of the perennials that you have mentioned in my garden. Sorrow to hear you lost your yarrow. I would have thought that it
would have been an easy perennial to acquire, but maybe not this time of the year. Happy Gardening!
Hi,
Yep, Yarrow is generally easy to buy here, it’s just I’ve missed my chance as most places are now selling later season plants. If I’d noticed sooner, I probably could have got some; oh well. I have however still got some seedlings, which are now in pots where they will hopefully grow faster than in a border and fighting for space with everything else.
My soil is heavy clay, so unfortunately I don’t have many blooms which are good in dry conditions. There’s only really the sea holly that prefer dry; most others like wet or at least heavy soil and can cope with it drying to near-concrete when we don’t have enough rain.
You have such a beautiful garden, Liz!! Wonderful pics you take as well
The color and lushness of your garden is quite a site to behold.
We too need rain, we have been promised some so many times and it never comes, I wouldn’t mind, but the weather centre is just 5 minutes down the road by the M5!
What a good idea to concentrate on your pots this year, they make a nice display and I’m sure everyone would want to buy your house with it looking so pretty!
Your daylily might be Stafford, mine looks similar to yours. The garden is bursting with flowers at the moment, I think we can thank all the rain last winter, I’m glad it was good for something!
Hi Pauline,
I spoke too soon; over the past few days we have had rain. Even though we haven’t been forecast any. Generally it’s a waste of time looking at the forecast, I think. Today’s was only very light, but something at least.
For the last year or two I’ve actually been emptying the pots and getting rid of many because it was too cluttered – remnants from previous tiny terraced gardens where I could only garden using pots – but I think I went a little too far. And as some pots, which are nice and large have slowly wilted and died I decided I might as well plant them up because I have nowhere to put the empty pots and will not throw them away.
I always have some on the steps up to the front door – usually 4 or 5 – they’re generally filled with spring bulbs, but I can’t leave them empty and seemingly ‘dead’ to any potential buyers so I’m filling them up.
Thanks for the daylily suggestion; I know many look similar though but I’m happy with your suggestion and might as well go with that 🙂
I love spires too. Your pots are a great way to take things with you and add colour, really pretty. Its pouring with rain here at the moment, I can almost here the plants lapping it all up and sighing with relief. My achilleas are blooming late this year, I was beginning to worry. Geranium plus lavender is a perfect combination. Must deadhead my geums. And geraniums…
Hi Janet,
I’m now even sowing seed in the pots – under the Hellebores I’ve potted up… I’m going a little crazy or is this normal??? lol.
Glad to hear you’ve had some rain – we’ve had a bit, but not prolonged yet. I’ve noticed a lot of the grass verges and the park nearby is yellowing. My lawn seems to be OK though – I gave it a quick water, generally it browns along the edge nearest the hedge first.
The lack of rain has certainly helped the lavender this year. I grow it in pots and it has been wonderful.
I believe the butterflies will return…..you have plenty to offer Liz. Heleniums and Shasta daisy will draw them in.
I love spires…..I have a white loosestrife with lovely blue green leaves…..it is one of my favourite plants. Looks lovely in semi-shade really stands out.
Your garden must look lovely Liz….I know how hard you have worked over these last few years, you really have done a great job.
Hi Cheryl,
My Lavenders are on the tier, where it’s hot, full sun and the soil is actually very dry. They are doing well there, as is the Ophiopogon.
I’ve never tried Loosestrife – something for the future maybe? I also keep meaning to get some actaea and purple toadflax.
I just love the Salvia Hot Lips, as well as your other flowers. We have been so cold and wet that everything is late this year.
Love the variety of plants you have in your garden! A lot of sunlovers I’d love to welcome in our garden as well but they just don’t love it here, far too much shade. Love it even more then to see those pretty flowers here. Thank you!
Marian
I like all your bargains – daft not to partake! – and you have had some great results with them. As always your pictures really show your plants off well – the collage with astilbes and roses is especially pretty, but then so is the one above it with the persicaria and other spires.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks very much. After trying so hard for years not to be a ‘pot lady’ it looks like I’m reverting back again… When we moved the first time, the lorry was mostly filled with flower pots, then when we moved to this house the removal men actually remembered us from the year before! But as I say; I’ve nowhere to put the pots, so they’re just cluttering the side of the house, with half-dead plants in them and I’d rather they at least have something in them.
I’ve bought some more stands for them – tall ones too this time to vary the height and interest. I don’t like placing them directly onto the decking because they damage the wood (another reason I was trying to get rid of them).
Catching up on blog reading! Liz I love the pale pink rose, what us us called?
Hi Ronnie,
It’s David Austin Harlow Carr – most photos of pink roses on my blog are of HC. It’s just too beautiful. Small blooms though, so I’m not sure if you prefer large blooms. If so, Gertrude Jekyll is similar but larger. But I prefer Harlow Carr 🙂
Whoops that was supposed to be “what is it called?” 😄
We have similar plants don’t we? Why can’t we have similar photography skills!! Joking aside Liz, despite your, then lack of rain, everything looks great. Your wee pots are just lovely and such super wee mingles going on in them.
I hope your weekend has been a good one!
Hi Angie,
Ah; it’s the camera and lenses I use 😉 given the same equipment your photos will be the same. Seriously though; your photos are beautiful too; just in a different way.
The grass is always greener on the other side, right?
The slugs and snails are having a party outside right now. I’ve already collected loads and put them in the bin… I don’t think I’ll have a Lupin left in the morning. We had a thunderstorm this evening, and they’re out in force.
The pots are basically everything thrown together that were in pots waiting for homes in the garden. It means I’ve now cleared all small pots with unplanted plants from outside now. Which for me, is a first and feels great.
Ah, I see a bloom from your TT geum – after settling in a bit better from being planted last year, some of my 4 TT geums have been blooming almost nonstop for 2 months. What a great long-blooming plant it is. Your astilbes are great – why didn’t I photograph mine when they were in peak bloom? Lazy me. I have white, peachy-pink and pinkish-red ones. The reddish ones look very nice next to the geum.