It has been a tough week to be a gardener in South Wales. A good week, but challenging all the same. The weather has been unnationally hot, other climes might call it warm, but for us it was definitely bloomin’ scorching. Not the best working conditions, but we made it through. Next week we are expecting rain, the water butts will be refilled, but I’m not sure how quickly I can adapt to this handbrake turn. I would make a dreadful Borg. To find out how others have been coping with the heat/warmth/wet/dry/cold pop over to our leader Jim at Garden Ruminations and prepare to be enlightened. Let’s get started, it is nearly June.
First we have Melittis ‘Royal Velvet Distinction’ skulking in the shadows beneath Forest Pansy. I am not as fond as I was when I first encountered it, I am rather fickle in my affections. Still, it seems happy where it is, gives me a little smile when I catch its eye, and I would be daft not to value a trouble free, passive plant. It can’t all be horticultural champagne and caviar. Although to be honest I wouldn’t mind if it was.
Is this Digitalis lutea? I think so. The label pixie has been up to their tricks again. Nice though.
I’m not generally one for the chimera of the plant world. However, I have been seduced by x Petchoa ‘BeautiCal Sunset Orange’ which quite frankly I would have put back on the shelf if I had bothered to read its pretentious name. The capital C mid word makes me want to push a custard pie into someone’s face. Which amounts to Stage 10 on the violence scale for me. Serious. I love it in spite of myself.
Rosa ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ had a down year in 2025, possibly due to nearby thugs which have since been subdued/composted. This year it has recovered and is full of bud, albeit covered in greenfly. I am depending on an aphid predator flyby, otherwise squishing will be necessary.
Bletilla striata ‘Alba’ is flowering exceptionally well, quite surprisingly so. Dreadful photo, you will have to take my word for its loveliness.
Dahlia ‘Peggy Pearlers’ is flowering. If you know you know. If you don’t, you had better delve deeper.
All done, another Six completed. June next time. Where is the “slow down” button?
Off The Edge Gardening 
Well, I have to say I really like the Melittis ‘Royal Velvet Distinction’. Not that I’ve come across it before but someone’s got to stand in its corner 😉Dahlias are a real favourite of mine and that one is a little beauty! have a great week!
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Ground orchids aren’t easy to photograph… The white variety is really lovely too. You’re right. Love the melittis ( I tried and failed from seeds years ago…)
The dahlias are already blooming for you?! We’ll have to wait a little longer here.
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Lots of gorgeous flowers this week but I think the bletilla is one I’ll be adding to my wishlist for the front garden, which I’m planning to be all white when I re-do it.
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Stupid name aside that petchoa is a lovely colour. And now I want custard…
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I’m drawn to the lutea – the foxes have chosen to settle themselves into mine and have broken several stems. I’m hoping they will leave it alone now and some of them will get to flower. Yours looks so lovely, a perfect gentle yellow. Everything else wonderful too – I count myself as one who knows!
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Yes, it has been too hot, and I don’t think I have the same resilience, afternoons spent supine reading for me. Lovely Dahlia and how well you are bringing this on: top prize for first Dahlia in flower I have seen with my own eyes!
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