ROSES AND A NEW TREE

Did you miss me?  Two weeks without a post.  I offer my apologies and my excuses.  I was away on holiday (visiting loads of gorgeous gardens and the Chelsea Flower show) closely followed by a group art exhibition I was taking part in.

So that was two weeks off from gardening - am I mad?  At this time of year? With the weeds growing like Topsy!  Well, more of that later.  Lets start with something pretty.

The Rose Garden is starting to bloom.  In the first picture is one of the older David Austin varieties - 'Chianti'.  It flowers just the once, but it is that beautiful deep purple that I love.  I've put it with some bright pink geraniums and some purply heuchera.  

I'm going straight to another rose for my second choice this week.  This is Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin', a repeat flowering lilac pink cabbage rose.  It does make me wonder whether it will have any oomph left for a repeat show after this display.

Next is my new tree - a Medlar 'Nottingham'.  If you happened to be walking past the Nottingham Society of Artists gallery last week you may have seen it in the window display, but it has now been settled in its new home.  This is my contribution to the Queen's green canopy to commemorate the Jubilee.  It has fruit forming on it.  I hope to try them in due course and will give you a full report.  Apparently you have to wait until they are frosted/rotting before eating them.  It doesn't sound very tempting does it?

I promised you weeds - and here they are.  I was admiring these Sweet Williams and on taking a closer look at them saw there were little rascals popping their heads up all over the place.  They are not the only ones by a long stretch.

I planted these Dianthus at least five years ago and it appears they are happy to be perennials rather than biennials.  

It wouldn't be June without Oriental Poppies would it?  You can't beat the classic bright red for some garden drama, but I also have a few other beauties dotted around the garden.

I first saw 'Patty's Plum' at the Chelsea Flower show about twenty years ago combined with a pale yellow Verbascum, on Carol Klein's nursery stand, if I remember right.  It made a stunning combination and I can't for the life of me work out why I've not tried it out for myself.

I also grow 'Victoria Louise'   

and 'Royal Wedding' which I grew from seed.

One more space left on this Six on Saturday, which will go to the Long Border.  Here it is looking moody in the early morning sunshine.  I did get all the Dahlias and most of the annuals planted out last week, so the border is starting to look fulsome.

The village Open Gardens takes place on 3rd July (no pressure!).  It's been four years since the last one and it will be nice to meet some fellow gardeners and plant enthusiasts.  

Thanks as always to the Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.