HELLO AGGIE, GOODBYE ROSE
The heat wave of last week has been followed by strong winds and heavy rain. The plants have suffered somewhat from this harsh regime. Thank goodness for some plants from the southern hemisphere which are starting to do their thing.
1. Agapanthus
First stop is South Africa, where the Agapanthus are blooming away. I had a clump of these from my Nana's garden, via my parents, so they are a family heirloom. They are now being passed further along the chain and have made their way to my Sister-in-Law too.
2. Orange African Marigolds
Next stop is South America where the marigolds originate I believe. These are 'Space Hopper', a good tall variety.
They sit in the Long Border between Rudbeckia, which are just coming into flower, and another clump of Agapanthus.
3. Rose Garden
Over in the Rose Garden, the first flush of the roses is nearly at an end. After a final deadheading, it's time to cut back all the Geraniums, Alchemilla and similar plants which are looking past their best. The theory is that they will then produce some new fresh foliage, and in some cases, maybe even a few flowers.
4. Veronica longifolia 'Blue Shades'
These were grown from seed when I first planted the Rose Garden. They have gently self seeded through the borders. In an attempt to not weed the seedlings out, I end up with borders full of weed seedlings instead.
They do a good job of providing some vertical accents once the foxgloves have finished and I love the violet blue colour. They are all the same colour by the way. There doesn't appear to be any variation in the 'Shades'.
5. Clematis Polish Spirit
You can see this in picture 3 too. I bought it a new obelisk earlier in the year, which it has cheerfully outgrown too. I love the gorgeous deep purple blue of the flowers. They aren't huge flowers, but there are plenty of them. I've mentioned before that this started off as one of those Morrison's cheapies, grown on the greenhouse for a year before being planted out.
(This was obviously intentional, and not because I hadn't made a space for it).
6. Farewell my Lovely
A last look at Rosa 'Roald Dahl', a perfectly cupped small apricot rose. Can you tell I'm feeling a little sad? The roses flower so beautifully. I rush round trying to keep up with the deadheading and then all too soon it's over. But most of them will be back for another show later in the Summer.
Hasta la vista, baby.
(Sorry - I don't know how Arne got in here).
That's all for this week, but do pop over and see The Propagator for more gardening fun.
I love it when you know the history of a plant (within family and/or friends), it adds a little something extra to the garden.
ReplyDeleteRoald Dahl is a particularly fine Rose. I've been admiring it both in your pictures and in a customer's garden. Lovely!
I love getting plants from family and friends and passing them on too. I try not to ask how they are doing though in case they didn’t survive.
DeleteA beautiful selection. The oranges, purples and pinks go so well together. I know what you mean about the roses. Strangely, I'm finding that their second flush flowers are lasting a lot longer that those in the first flush. I love the name of the marigolds.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of my 70s childhood.
DeleteIt is a little sad waiting for the flush of second roses, but deadheading beats picking up all the petals off the ground.
ReplyDeleteI’ve got a lot of white roses here which don’t drop they petals.and they go all brown and look so scruffy if they aren’t dead headed.
DeleteAgapanthus are truly a family affair. Here too, it started with a sister-in-law who brought me plants from South Africa: I 've grown and flower them, gave cuttings and seeds to my parents and to my other sister in law... Sometimes I'm a little jealous because they bloom better in other people 😂
ReplyDeleteLuckily you specify that the clematis is also on photo #3, we can better see its size! Very pretty.
I’m glad to hear your Agapanthus is also a family affair.
DeleteThe Veronica is an elegant plant and the blue shade goes so nicely with the soft pink roses. But I especially love warm shades, so the African marigolds are a winner for me, I hadn't really thought of them as border plants but they fill out nicely there. I'll look out for Space Hopper. I know how you feel re the roses, I'm a stage ahead here and have been delighted to see new buds readying up for the second flush!
ReplyDeleteI hope it won’t be a long wait for more roses. I took the idea of the marigolds from good old Gertrude Jekyll who had them in her long border plan.
DeleteThe veronica is beautiful and looks a good height. I lost my S.Amistad this winter and I am wondering if these would be a good replacement for next year. Lovely rose garden.
ReplyDeleteThey are very hardy and germinated easily. I’d give them a go.
DeletePS unknown is N20 gardener!!
ReplyDelete