Fist Pump

I was talking with Welsh John yesterday about how we can all make a difference in this world. However small it might be, every positive action counts. All those little pluses add up to one humdinger. You get the gist.

My neighbour, a bachelor with one of those jobs that however many times he explains is still a mystery to me, has recently had his garden landscaped. It is the thing of horticultural nightmares. As the work proceeded I quizzed him, trying not to judge or sob too loudly. As he explained the three patio areas, the vast expanse of plastic lawn, the fire pit, barbeque area and the night lighting, he must have noticed the tears rolling down my face. “I will be having some planters around the edge” he explained, trying to console me. “Then you must employ me to plant them up for you”, I insisted. At least I could make some kind of attractive privacy screen between our gardens.

This spring the time arrived for action and I duly visited his pristine home to make plans, notepad and sharpened pencil in hand. It soon became apparent that his knowledge of gardening was basic. Or perhaps a little below basic. His interest was on a similar level. When asked what colours he liked, the answer was “green”. OK. He wasn’t really into flowers. OK. Do you like tropical. “Not really” Bamboo? “No” Ferns “Oh, I don’t mind ferns, what are ferns again?”. “Not too tall, or too big, I like to see over the fence.” There goes the screen. My mission was to create a green, low, planting scheme with no flowers. Unlikely.

I ordered a variety of gorgeous foliage plants and snuck in a fair amount of bloomers. Carefully squeezing past the black Porsche to the equally shiny garden, the beauties were duly planted, watered and instructions given for not blasting them out of the ground with the hose on full power. He was happy.

Yesterday, I passed a tomato plant over the fence to him, which he had said he was keen to have a go growing, like his grandfather had done in the past. Whilst chatting and checking on the state of his garden, explaining about dead heading and weeding, he suddenly exclaimed with glee “I’ve got a bee on one of my plants!”. I leapt in the air, fist pumping in a way inappropriate to my age, exclaiming “My plan worked!” . It’s a start. And it made me very, very happy.

These photos are of my garden; tall, colourful, floriferous and full of bees. This would not suit everyone, including my neighbour, but his more ordered planting will similarly offer some sanctuary for wildlife and some nicer views for next door. Every positive action counts.

Six on Saturday – Honest

I am sat here thinking about what happened this week, something of interest that I could share with you. Nope. Nothing comes to mind. Nothing of note. It rained, it sunned, I worked, I saw a kingfisher. It was just fine. And it also seemed a little bit overwhelming. You know – weeds, blackfly, slugs, weather; battles that we accept are part of our gardening lives, but also forget how challenging they can be. My resting state of optimism was battling to find the air. Just a blip in my cartwheeling world, I am sure. Head down, keep going, all will be well and there will be more joyful skipping. If you would like to find out how the rest of Six on Saturday gang are getting on, pop over to our leader Jim and all will be revealed. Less burbling, more sixing!

Earlier today my OH looked out the window and said “I like daisies, they remind me of you”. I think he meant wild and common. Unlike this Leucanthum x superbum which, although not rare, is very definitely much more civilised than I am.

Certain plants will follow an untidy gardener around the country. This is one of them, Linaria purpurea, and very welcome it is too.

The Woolies acers are doing well in their pots. If I ever tell you that I have planted them in the ground then you will know that I am planning long term. Not ready yet.

Dark leaved orange/red flowered dahlia. A monster.

Where did this little scabious come from? I sowed some white scabious seed so perhaps this is an aberration. Or perhaps the white was the freak.

Today a dragonfly was in the garden. Our plot is an estate oasis surrounded by plastic grass, hard landscaping and “garden rooms”; God forbid if your kids or dogs got muddy! The sighting of this golden ringed dragonfly (I looked it up) made me very happy. Good will out. I’m counting on it.

And, after all, I saw a kingfisher, surely that warrants a skip!?

Six on Saturday – Special Day

This year I am determined not to get despondent on the Summer Solstice, as is my wont. I will celebrate and wear flowers in my hair and live in the glorious moment, I may even frolic a little. Then we can begin rapid the descent into winter and gloom and despair. As usual, I exaggerate, although I do feel a little pang of, I’m not sure what to call it, perhaps mild dread. Of course our Sosers will be celebrating, or otherwise, some solstice or another, pop over to our leader, Jim at Garden Ruminations, and find out if it is all uphill or all downhill from here.

I am very fond of both salvias and dahlias, both of which are beginning to shine. This is a rather blurry (more breezes, honest guv!) Salvia ‘Nachvlinder’ along side a dahlia seedling from last year.

A calendula self-seeder, always welcome, seldom weeded.

This Salvia microphylla ‘Trelissick’ was grown from HPS seed a couple of years ago. How true to type this is I can’t say, but I am rather fond of it, especially the fluffy pink bits.

I’m growing lots of new (to me) tomatoes this year. One of them is Blue Beauty which is, to my mind, both beautiful and blue. The problem is, when is it ripe? And also, most importantly, does it taste good? I will report back.

This Thalictrum aquilegifolium has had to battle to find a space, but it found a way through the melee. It probably needs moving in the autumn, whether or not I remember is another matter.

Hemerocallis ‘Nona’s Garnet’ needs no praise from me, just take a look at it in all its fabulous, elegant beauty and gasp in delight.

That is your lot, happy summer solstice to you all. Nearly Christmas.

To Mary

Words are rubbish. They fail me continually.

When heartbreak happens to people I care for, words refuse to help. I want to soothe, to reassure, to find a way forward, all to no avail. This is pure arrogance. But still, words are all I have. That and flowers.

Without doubt, my dear Mary, you have other things to focus on at the moment. However, a compulsion forces me to attempt a clumsy embrace.

You should know, and I am remiss not to have said before, that you and your fabulous husband, Ant, left a lasting impression on my young self. You took me to your hearts and treated me with respect, kindness and with love. I will always be thankful.

This is faint comfort for your loss, Mary. You must continue without him in body, and that will be hard, but I know that you will be together in spirit, always.

with love.

Six on Saturday – Blurry

It is all getting a little blurry now. Blurry in a cartoon passage of time way. The rain has caused good and bad to spurt, the wind (combined with above rain) has assaulted the delicate ones and the sun has calmed the gardener’s brow. At the moment we are mid storm systems, an hour or two of respite. Polite, British storms, but still wet and miserable. I may hunker down a little in the greenhouse later, have a classic potter, but once the rattling gets too much I will retreat to the sofa. Check out Jim at Garden Ruminations to see what the rest of the SoSer are up to. Shall we proceed with the pretty ones?

I was under the impression that this Malva trimestris ‘Ruby Regis’ was an annual. Seems it is either not MTRR or it is defiant.

Rosa ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ is indeed. I may have said that before. It is very hard not to.

Lilium ‘Claude Shride’ has been decimated by the evil red beetles. I’ve been flicking the bird poo larvae into the pond. I don’t blame the blue tits for not wanting to snack on that particular beastling.

Moraea huttonii has been flowering for a couple of weeks now. It is such an easy, beautiful and elegant plant, I’m surprised it is not more widely grown in the UK. I would like others, but I think they might be more tricky.

The Diascia personata is snuggling up with the dark leaved dahlia. Both have come back determined this year. I am keeping my eye on you!

The trusty Eccremocarpus scaber returns once more, again staying semi-evergreen over the winter months. It really is a super trouper. Sorry for the ear worm.

There we have it, another week done, another month reached. See you next time.

Six on Saturday – Back

I’m sure Peggy would write a note for me if needed, but I am equally confident you will believe that I missed last week’s SoS because my back was being a diva. It had started to grumble the previous weekend, possibly due to pent up fencer rage. Things did not improve even though I imposed a strict regime of totally ignoring the problem, downing analgesics, growling and wallowing in denial. Odd. Perversely, sitting at my computer was the most painful exercise, bending to take photos equally so. Which is why there was no SoS action. This week I have pushed on through, using the same holistic healing methods, during one of the soggiest, windiest most miserable weeks for months. I’m feeling much better now, my system obviously works. Please feel free to duplicate my modus operandi, copyright pending. I can especially recommend the grumpy bit. Enough of my troubles, pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations to show you the Six on Saturday way. Shall we get on?

First we have Digitalis lutea, the straw foxglove, which is just coming into flower. Understated, delicate, slightly out of focus; remind you of anyone?

It’s rhodohypoxis time, always a joy. A little/lot of rain has really helped these come into their own.

The B side of Elvis Costello’s better known hit is, It’s Been a Good Year for the Peonies. Shirley Temple would definitely agree.

The impatiens are on the march, this Impatiens stenantha has formed a sturdy group. It is always the first of the gang to flower, doesn’t seed itself everywhere and even after a drought sulk, pops back up to shine again.

Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is having her moment. This bloom is squooshed between bud and bud.

Lastly we have Geranium ‘Splish Splash’. Perhaps a little more splish than splash or is it the other way round?

That is your lot, next time it will be summer!

Six on Saturday – Fence

A problem has been resolved this week, one which was out of our control but was both niggling and invasive. We do not own any of the fences surrounding our garden. Horrah! you might think, no maintenance costs or stormy weather worries. A fair point. Let us consider another scenario. What if a fence, shall we say, is shedding planks into your garden behind a border that is called, off the top of my head, The Bed of Anarchy, and ominously teetering towards a much loved greenhouse. And suppose two years pass of lies and false promises. Thursday they fixed it. They stood on my cannas. It is worth the loss. I am jubilant and can now plant into the twilight zone. Should we be talking about Six on Saturday? I think so. Jim will show you the way, take a look, don’t be afraid.

Whoever sowed this foxglove in the front of the shady border (more interesting name pending) I’d like to shake your hand. Or perhaps your wing.

Whoever sowed this geranium in the dark leaved acer pot I’d like to shake their hand. Or perhaps wing.

Whoever ….. only kidding, this is Rosa ‘Grace’, liberated from The Prof a couple of years ago. Full of bud with a few spent flowers, I chose potential over what has been. Perhaps a metaphor, perhaps not.

A fresh new Cercis canadenis ‘Forest Pansy’ leaf. Shiny, shiny, very very shiny, its very shiny.

The only flower spike of Iris sibirica ‘Papillon’. Could try harder. I’m hopeful for next year, which is the gardener’s way.

Roscoea caultelyoides, I know who put it there but I forgot that I had. No wings here. Just a halo. Stop laughing.

Another six, another Saturday, always pleased to be in such good company,

Six on Saturday – Home Again

We are home again after last weekend’s exploits. This week has been busy catching up with work and stuff “that can wait until we get back”. The back boiler was overflowing. Today is ear marked for potting on and general garden pottering and peering. For more tales of horti joys and woes, pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations and take your fill.

Hands up whose got an allium in this week’s SoS! Its not a bad gang to be in.

This little geranium came from Welsh Ann. I wasn’t sure what colour it would be and nor was she. I’m wondering if it is Kashmir White. Whatever its name, I’m very pleased.

Last week I was lamenting the pathetic display of this little generic evergreen azalea, labelled “pink”. It goes to show a few words of encouragement can make all the difference.

I bought this Cestrum x cultum ‘Cretan Pink’ last year from a local nursery. I’m not sure about the colour, a bit insipid. The cat isn’t looking too impressed either.

I had a few of these candelabra primula and one of the two survivors is this deep pink beauty. It, undoubtedly, has a proper name which, undoubtedly, is somewhere out there.

My last offering today is Semiaquilegia adoxoides semi-double pink, well that was what was on the seed packet. Do I care it has gone a little off piste? Not at all.

All done, another six, another Saturday. Next SoS I’ve pencilled in the subject of “constant watering”. Have a great week.

Six on Saturday – Scandal

Usually I take my photos and write some of my Six on Saturday the day before, tweaking  and posting on Saturday morning. No great scandal there. This week is different. I am not here. I am somewhere else with OH and Lady Mantle. Also no scandal. Actually, the day is young, so no promises. It would be sensible to have the week off.  The problem lies in the fact that I have things that I really, really, really, really want to show you and they might not be here next week. Who knows, none of us might be. Now that would be a scandal.  Although much was constructed earlier in the week, here I am, attempting to blog from my phone in a far away country called Cheltenham.  Wish me luck. A man not unknown to the tabloids, Jim at Garden Ruminations, will reveal much more. Let’s shake a leg, there’s fun to be had!

Rhododendron ‘Graziella’ is beginning to flower. We bought this a couple of years ago when, on the way to a family holiday in Cornwall, we stopped off for refreshments at a Somerset garden centre. It would have been rude not to have purchased a little momento and I am a very polite individual.

One for Tony. Eschscholtizia californica, California Poppy, in all its perfectly pure glory.

My first tomato flowers of the year. I may have been a little ambitious with my variety choices. And the amount of plants. Clients will be taking some, even those not keen, and friends and family will be strongarmed. There is little hope for me. I’m just a gal who can’t say no. This is Orange Banana.

Each year I get a little fonder of geums. This is Mai Tai. The delicate peach flowers are most suitable for soft focus. That is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

I first saw Jovellana punctana in the walled garden shop of Marwood Hill Gardens. There are many things to relish in that statement. One of my favourite gardens, where I have met some wonderful people and bought some amazing plants.

I grew this Iochroma australe (possibly called other things which in this moment of time do not concern me) from seed last year. They are extremely variable in colour. Apparently white is quite rare. I am ecstatic and slightly indigo bereft at the same time.

There we have it, Six on (nearly) Saturday.  Have a great weekend. We certainly plan to!

Six on Saturday – There Will Always Be Nasturtium

On the swingometer known as The British Weather, the arrow is apparently shifting to “mini-heatwave”. We should, however, put this into perspective. On a world scale, this is small beer, we are not talking high summer in Death Valley or even sub-Saharan spring. It is going to be a bit warm after being a bit wet and a bit dry and a bit windy. We are a land of mediocre and I am quite happy with that. Still, beware, it may well be hot enough to frazzle your seedlings, as I think Frankie Howerd once said. You may have to research that reference. Someone who definitely is not middling, and will know who FH is, is our Six on Saturday mediator, Jim at Garden Ruminations. Take a look at his site and find others of like minds, if you don’t like plants I probably wouldn’t bother. You are in charge of your own fate, but if you ask me, maybe you should take a chance. Shall we start sixing?

Lamium ‘Silver Beacon’ has spread nicely in the Guano Bed, perhaps a little too well. It is forgiven this dominance for it lives in a hostile environment; dry and shady with blundering woodpigeons (Mr and Mrs Einstein) and sparrows with anger issues.

The Woolies acers have sprung back into action reminding me once again of our nation’s great loss.

An unremarkable, unnamed pelargonium has survived the winter, tucked into the plastic greenhouse and ignored for many months. This little white wonder, along with five assorted mates, have been potted up into terracotta and lined up outside the back door. They are going to enjoy the Mediterranean themed week on its way.

I am jubilant. Every dahlia, which with great jeopardy were left in the ground over-winter, is shooting. I am on 24 hour mollusc watch. Not really, I’m just crossing my fingers.

The Enkianthus campanulata is full of flower, when it is finished I must pot it on to a larger pot. Will you remind me, please?

The last tulip horrah, in this garden anyway, is this rather blousy ‘Tabledance’. I’m a bit embarrassed about the name. The exuberant blooms help to make up for its lack of political correctness.

All done, Six on Saturday completed for another week and we are undoubtedly on the way up. Of course, there is much that can go wrong between now and the imagined idyllic future. If the worst happened, and all else fails, there will always be nasturtium. Evermore.