Through The Garden Gate : August 2019

A vase of garden grown flowers on the table is a good sign in August. Dahlias and Sweet peas have made perfect bed fellows bringing a touch of heat into our topsy turvy summer. The last few days have seen a return to heatwaves and the garden is beginning to show the effects of late summer.

It's been a curious month in the garden. Better half has finally got round to painting the garden wall. It was scheduled for earlier in the year but then the loganberries took over and he had to wait for the fruit to finish. It was intriguing watching the play of light onto the bare walls. Just one section left to do and already a great improvement.

Produce has been patchy. A few carrots although hardly worth the effort and all the courgettes are very minuscule. We have a rather odd variety of yellow raspberries which fruit later in the summer.Sweet and delicious.

Gradually the Chinese lanterns are beginning to form. Hopefully lots by later in the year, giving a burst of autumnal colour. Japanese anemones are really struggling with the dry conditions, certainly not their best year.

 Pot grown dahlias are still flowering profusely. We have been moving them around to fill in dull areas with a spot of colour.

Not sure what this little bush is but its doing well in its pot. We inherited it from my mother in law and in the years since, the name has disappeared .

Curious seed heads from the flax plant add interest at this time of year. Not sure if I like or loathe them!

Loving the rather faded grandeur of this mophead hydrangea against the vibrant mauve of the streptocarpus. A happy combination.

 As for the foxglove, still flowering in late August. As I said before a rather topsy turvy summer. We'll be having daffodils next.

 Certainly the star at the moment are the cone flowers. The Rudbeckias  and the Echinaceas. Both recently added and looking perfect.

The top border is rather sparse at the moment although the Gaura is doing a great job of filling the space.

Of course I couldn't finish without a mention about the Trumpet Vine. Vigorously spreading in the heat. Soon we won't be able to see out of our bedroom windows.

Any stars in your garden?

As usual I join Sarah for her 'Through The Garden Gate'. Click here to see more.

Barbara xxx

Through The Garden gate : July 2019

Another month has whizzed by and the garden is beginning to show signs of wear . The much hoped for rain on Tuesday came to very little and the wind has wreaked havoc with some of the flimsier borders of gauras and salvias. Time for a good prune I think.

This month I will concentrate on those corners of the garden that continue to please. The steps that lead up to the top garden and the water fountain, newly planted with blue geranium and Chinese lanterns.

The hanging baskets of petunias have been wonderful, although high maintenance with lots of watering needed. A good decision was to put the dahlias in pots this year. Much less slug damage and they can be moved around to fill in a dull patch. 

 Apples are maturing in great numbers and a few tomatoes have been produced. Sadly the tomatoes have now become diseased so I doubt anymore fruit will form.

 Green beans are ripening rapidly too although the courgettes never seem to get big enough to harvest before they die back.

Love in the mist have been constant this year as well as the Buddleia and Alstroemeria.

In the heat we have been gravitating to the shade of the lower garden. Always a relaxing welcome space.

Fuchsia and Eucalyptus

How has your garden fared this month. Any stars to shout out about?

Trumpet Vine

As usual I'm joining Sarah for her 'Through The Garden Gate'. Click here to see more.

Barbara xxx

Through The Garden Gate : June 2019

Finally Summer has arrived and a blowsy colourful scene has settled finally on my rather damp garden. The total opposite to this time last year. Already a year ago the grass had turned yellow and many plants had a look of late summer. Not so this year. 

The Dahlias are particularly enjoying the damp conditions as are the climbing nasturtium plants grown from seed.

Bees are happily buzzing in the many offerings. The salvias are an attraction as is the Hebe in the bottom of the more shady garden.

Fuchsia, Alchemilla Mollis and Salvia

A white agapanthus is slowly emerging along with a Bird of Paradise plant.

Down in the lower garden there is a green leafy feel with Busy Lizzies a perfect plant for these shady conditions.

 Great Gran's fuchsia is at its best along with the self seeded double poppies.

Finally some sweet peas have emerged. This year I have grown them in a pot by the back door. Perfect for picking and remembering to water them each day.

  Day Lilies at their best. A perfect look for high summer.

As usual I join Sarah for 'Through The Garden Gate'. Click Here to see more lovely gardens. What is the highlight of your June garden?

Barbara xxx