IT'S JUNE AND IT'S FABULOUS

Gardens in June are renowned for looking lovely.  The foliage is fresh and lush from the Spring rains, the flowers are jolly and bright and it's all set off by newly mown grass and hedges that are still looking reasonably trim.  The plants have caught up after that cold April and wet May and are now all flowering together in one fabulous display.  The poppies,  alliums, lupins, iris, rhododendrons and even one or two roses are all out at the same time.  

I've had to get out the wide angle lens to fit it all in.

1. The Knot Garden borders

I've shared similar shots along the border before, but I couldn't resist including this one too.

A couple of new plants have come into flower this week.  This is Papaver Orientale 'Patty's Plum'.  These were planted a couple of years back, but this is the first year they have flowered.  I was completely thrown by the odd dark red flower, and thought I'd been sent the wrong plant.  It seems to have reverted to type thankfully.

'That wasn't there yesterday' said Mr B, admiring this Iris.  It's the aptly named 'Overnight Sensation'.

2. The Knot Garden overview

Staying in the Knot Garden here are a couple of wide angle shots.  The lupins and iris are still going strong.  Will this be the year that those dwarf hedges finally knit together?

It would also be good if the nepeta would spread itself around a little and fill in all the gaps.  Us gardeners are never satisfied.

3. Edible of the Week

I try to remember to include something from the Vegetable Garden, and this week it is the Globe Artichokes.  They do take me by surprise.  I'm patiently planting out courgettes and beans, when all of a sudden the artichokes appear and are the first vegetable to be ready to eat.  This is just a little one as I'd cut the bigger heads before I'd taken my photos.

4. A Very Sweet Little Rose

 Rosa Pimpinellifolia has the loveliest little double cup shaped white flowers.  A suckering clump of it occupies a shady dry site by the edge of the drive.  It flowers early, and not for very long, but it is lovely.  I've planted a few offsets in the Rose Garden so see if I can establish it there.

By the way, unlike the rest of the Roses in this garden, this is never fed or sprayed and is perfectly happy.

5. The Front Garden

White flowers also appear in this border in the front garden.  Earlier in the year I wrote about the difficulties I had in getting this border to establish.  I replanted sections and gave it a good mulch with home made compost.  So far, and with the help of all that May rain, it seems to have worked.

In this section the white foxgloves, Allium Mount Everest, Salvia Schneehugel and Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White' provide the seasonal highlights in what is designed to be a predominantly green border.

6. The Long Border

The Long Border also seems to have gone from bare to bounteous all of a sudden.  In the cool section are Salvia pratensis, Iberis, Thalictrum and Sisyrinchiums.

While at the other end the brilliant scarlet Oriental Poppies are stealing the show.  That clematis is trying it's best though.

I've squeezed in as many photos as I could, and there were still more I could bore you with.

Thanks, as always, go to The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.

Until next week ...