Effectively, August hasn’t been a roaring success. It has been
distinctly chilly. We’ve had infinite drizzle punctuated with dramatic downpours.
On the plus aspect watering has been rather a lot faster than normal. Perhaps we’ll be
blessed with an Indian summer season.
Church flowers
It was my flip to offer the altar flowers in church on the
starting of August. The week earlier than my association was due my backyard was full
of blooms.
There have been dahlias,
roses, astilbes
and verbena.
It was a riot of color.
Then the rain got here. It poured and poured.
The dahlias drooped. Rose petals turned brown. Every little thing
was sodden. However I used to be decided to seek out one thing to show. And, I did.
Herbs to the rescue
Herbs got here to my rescue. Lovely tall mint stems with
delicate purple flowers. Aromatic marjoram and thyme with
maroon petals. It was an unconventional association however it smelt
great. In truth I used to be so impressed with the mint I’ve been selecting recent
sprigs to have in a vase inside ever since.
Spring bulb planting
My cyclamen
is in flower. It makes a phenomenal purple carpet below the timber. It’s also a
reminder to start out planting bulbs for subsequent spring.
I believe I’ll strive some erythroniums.
I just like the look of Kinfauns
Pink which because the identify suggests has pale pink flowers. I shall plant
it with the ever-reliable White
Magnificence which has creamy flowers.
New lupins
I’m additionally planting new lupins
to interchange some which the slugs have been over keen on. I used to be more than happy with
our newcomer for this yr, Melody.
It had lovely claret and blue blooms and a stunning peppery scent. Blacksmith
has wealthy, deep purple spikes. Rachel
de Thame is a fragile pink and cream while Terracotta
is a light-weight orange. They’re all pretty.
Pots and baskets have placed on a very good show
My pots and baskets have placed on a very good show. The pelargoniums
have been beautiful. I’ve two pink varieties, Clovelly
and Appleblossom
which have been significantly splendid.
One shock this yr have been lilies.
I’ve some Lilium
Pardalinum which has by no means been significantly completely happy in its pots. I
have toyed with the concept of eliminating it however I’m a softy and like to provide
all the things a second, third and even fourth likelihood. This summer season I used to be rewarded.
It placed on a dramatic fiery show. So now I’ve a dilemma. Do I hold it in
the identical pots or ought to I transplant it?
Harvesting greens
The vegetable backyard continues to offer a very good harvest. I
by no means know from one yr to the subsequent what is going to do effectively and what is going to wither and
die regardless of my finest efforts. This yr’s beans and beetroot have been
magnificent. However few of my carrots germinated. My crimson onions are monsters however
the white ones are tiny. Vegetable rising actually is certainly one of life’s mysteries.
Gardening
ideas – Begin planning for subsequent yr. Useless head flowers repeatedly to
encourage extra blooms. Divide perennials for much more color subsequent yr.
#dahlias
#summer season
#moist #autumn
#vegetation
#lupins #blooms
#astilbe
#verbena
#color
#cyclamen
#erythronium
#pelargonium
#lilies
