So we are back in London and the tiny garden has done well in that heatwave. We had sun and rain but as the plants are all in pots then they still need watering.
Canna Cleopatra
The cannas are doing really well. Canna Cleopatra seemed to have opened overnight. It’s a gorgeous flower with lovely leaves. Maybe next week the reds will be open ready for the next 6.
Hibiscus
We have two hibiscus in Spain and I wanted one for London. We found a small kind of standard and it has these lovely orange large flowers. Two were open when we got back and there are at least ten more in various stages of bud.
Jasmine Clotted Cream
This jasmine hasn’t been a great success. Jasmine clotted cream. It has plenty of growth and little flowers. I have fed. Pruned. Cut back hard over the years but to no avail. Sad but I think this is its last year. The other two jasmines the Trachelospermum and Jasminum Officinale. Both do really well.
Entente and Ricinus
Ignore the pegs and the washing line! The Ensete Maurelii has done well this year and virtually grows in front of your eyes. I have been better watering and feeding it this year. Along with the Ricinus it has given some interesting leaf shapes to the corner of the garden.
Monarda Bee Balm
I love Monarda. There are some cracking colours out there but I love the red. Cambridge red is a favourite though I am unsure if this variety. Common name bee balm and it certainly attracts them. Shame the flowers are going over.
Agapanthus through the kitchen window
I know it’s six on Saturday but the 6 pegs on the washing line weren’t intentional. This is the last of the agapanthus for this year. They have been pretty spectacular and I’m not sure if it’s just a good year generally or my better feeding regime. Or luck. But they have had bigger blooms than usual.
Back in Spain for six on Saturday and it’s pretty hot. The garden is hanging in there and there isn’t a huge swaths of colour like we get in the Uk summer gardens. Too hot for annuals. Too dry for most. But there is some delights to be found.
Jasmine Azoricum
The jasmine azoricum has had a second flush of flowers. It’s a delicate little flower but full of scent. A really slow grower here over the iron railings but that’s maybe because it needs more water.
Ipomoea
I cut the hedge a while back a job I hate. One side is ok. The other a pain. But I’ve returned to find that an Ipomoea. You see them s lot here growing wild on really dry soil. A glorious fluorescent blue. Morning glory
Stephanotis
We inherited a pot of Stephanotis. A large pot climbing up the wall. It’s a beautiful flower and one is only seen grown indoors in the UK. This one flowers for ages. Another lovely scent and creamy tuning into white waxy flowers. Often used in bridal bouquets.
Quince
Two years ago we had a fair few quince and I did nothing with them. Last year we had one. Just the one. So I did nothing with it. This year there are a plenty again and I’m determined we will at least get some quince jelly.
Passilfora holosericea
Our local garden centre closes for the month of August. It’s too hot here for people to be buying and planting so they reduce most of their stock by 50% in July. Also means they have less to water in August.
I had to buy some stuff of course. Yet more agapanthus. And I came across this lovely Passion flower. Passilfora holosericea. A new one to me which is now against the white garage wall. Fingers crossed.
Allium
The last of the alliums. I’ve had mixed results this year. The allium summer drummer were awesome again. The drumsticks great too. But the larger headed ones have struggled. We had a wet spell and then intense heat. We went from one straight to the other.
I have to admit that I’m a bit of a fan of agapanthus. I grow them in pots in London and they do well. Very well.
These six are ones growing in our garden in Spain. I do have some in pots and interestingly these are flowering later than those in the ground. Thee has been. A lot of self seeding and there are some great clumps dotted around the garden which given another year or two will look great. And interesting.
What has surprised me is how tall they are this year. The white in particular. They definitely seem taller than the last two years. Maybe it was the wet spring.
There is nothing better than the blue against the white wall of the house. This one is in a pot with others mixed with separate pots of ferns. And it’s the only one of them to flower so far!
Last year I planted Agapanthus black Buddha but I’m not expecting it to flower this year. I also bought a large agapanthus Navy Blue and this has 4 flower buds so I’m looking forward to seeing how dark it is.
So I’m back up the wiggly road. And it’s hot. Not the road but the temperature. Very. I’ve been away 5 weeks. The longest I have been away in 2 years and how a garden can grow even in the intense heat. And die back too.
Walking into the garden from the gate was a joy. The lavender path I replanted last Autumn is fabulous. It has grown so much in the last 5 weeks, flowering and is full of bees and butterflies.
Replanted lavender path
Bits of the garden fare better than others in the heat and there is a general die back in late July & Augist before a resurgence in September. This year it seems earlier for the die back. Much earlier. We had spectacular rain in March. Then the heat arrives with a vengeance in April. Not for Easter sadly.
The biggest surprise in the garden is the agapanthus. Have I said before I love them. Yep. I know. Loads.
The flower heads on some seem so much bigger than last year. The white ones in particular and there are plants flowering this year that didn’t last. Or the year before.
Agapanthus love
I bought black Buddha last year but it’s still a bit too small to flower. I’m waiting for Agapanthus navy blue to flower and there are 4 flower buds so I’m living in hope. I’m hoping it to be dark. Very. Fingers crossed it either flowers this week or waits for my next trip.
Revived prickly pear
The cactus flowers are out on the prickly pear which is doing well. One of only two in the garden not to be ravaged by the cochineal fly.
duranta repens
The Duranta repens is flowering though not as well as last year. Not yet anyway. Always a welcome blue/mauve plant in the garden.
Oleander
Summer wouldn’t be summer without the oleander with the glorious colours against the blue blue sky. I would go and photograph the red one. But it’s on the bank and I’m not venturing there at the moment. Not unless I want to itch for days from mozzies and their friends.
Hibiscus
The hibiscus flowers are glorious but I suspect I should have pruned it back a bit in the Spring. It’s a bit straggly. But there are loads of flowers to come.
Curry plant
There are three curry plants under the olive tree. In the heat they do let off a mild curry scent. Well smell describes it better. A scent is sweet. It’s not a bad smell. Honest. The silvery grey leaves are a pretty good colour.
Alliums
The alliums are pretty much over. Except for summer drummer which is taller than me. Not that means much as I’m short for my weight. But they are the tallest of the allium.
There are still a fair few of the drumsticks all at various stages. Some open. Some half way there. Others weigh no show of purple. Yet. The trouble is I’ve been away 5 weeks and I’ve missed a lot of them at their best. But I’ll pick the heads now for drying and to take indoors for a vase.
Sesbania punicea
This is a real scruffy grower. Talk spindly but with glorious pea like flowers. I pruned it a bit this year and we have a fair bit of flower. They self seed but none of the seedlings has got to a decent growth.
After a long search I’ve found out it’s Sesbania punicea. It’s sometimes called the scarlet wisteria and is viewed as a pest in some parts of the States.
I like it. A lot. I must try and find another.
Aloe polyphylla
The last of the aloe’s is flowering. The others have been and gone. I think it’s Aloe polyphylla
Jacaranda
The jacaranda is flowering and there are still some of last years seed pods on the tree. This is a paler blue than one I have seen in the campo. That one is much darker. More striking. This one is too large and needs some pruning. But it never really lost its leaves this year. Not too much flower yet but I’m waiting.
Stephanotis
The Stephanotis is in bud. Growing against a white wall it looks great when it opens and the scent rather than a smell is lovely.
Scabious
This scabious is another scrappy grower. But it’s small and delicate on a long stalk. One of only two in the bed. I don’t know what’s happened to the wild carrot this year. It certainly hasn’t gone wild. More like gone away.
Quince
Last year we had one massive Quince. Just the one. The year I was ready to make quince jelly. This year there are 20. Fingers crossed they all go the distance. There may be quince jelly yet.
Bessara elegans – Coral drops
Now this may look like a load of useless grass to you. But this is just the start. This is the rumblings of coral drops , Bessara elegans which is a fabulous plant. Give it a few weeks and the little flowers will be magnificent. Last year I was about to throw the pot away. Forgot and came back two weeks later and they had started to flower. Patience dear boy. Patience.
So my first week back. I’ve watered. A bit of deadheading. Wandered around aimlessly. Looked at the mess I’ve made realising that Ian arrives tomorrow.
Last week I moaned London was too cold and wet. This week I’m moaning Spain is too hot and too dry.
I’ve been in Somerset for the week. Primarily to garden. To dig out the ground elder and to generally tidy the neglected garden. But. Best laid plans and all that. It rained. No it poured down. The drive down to was wet. Very wet. I stopped off for a toilet break. And sat in the car for ages. Waiting for a break. Which never came.
I did manage to empty the pots at the front of the cottage and to replant with geraniums. This year it’s all a bit pink with a bit of lavender thrown into the pots right outside the front door. ‘Thrown in ‘ now that’s a horticultural technical term. Isn’t it? From a man who still calls Coleus Coleus and gets a row for mixing up my pellies with my geraniums.
Even though we aren’t there a lot I like to keep the front pots planted. Now all I need to do is persuade my godson to water them for me. I’m sure he will. I’ve perfected it over the last 16 years. It will give him an excuse to drive his tractor down the lane. Not that he needs one.
I dug and dug until I was almost in Australia in attempt to clear the ground elder and bindweed roots out. Ian arrived mid week and helped me clear large parts of the problem. There is still a long way to go. Not to Australia. That is a long way. But to be rid of ground elder and bindweed.
If you look closely you can see him under dark skies ideen in the midst of the greenery! It’s a side on view rather than the usual back of the head pic!
We all photograph the best bits in the garden. The most photogenic. The ones with a bit of colour. Behind the honeysuckle and to the right is a really untidy bit of garden. At the bottom there is bindweed trying to strangle the currant bushes. Nettles protecting the raspberry canes. But there are some lovely flashes of colour. A reminder of what the garden has and is hidden. In the weeds!
I planted this orange poppy two years ago and it’s flourished. It has flowered and flowered and there aré still more to come.
There are some straggly dark poppies to come through – found through the weeds and I have scattered seed of the Californian poppy throughout the garden. I’d been recommended the colours Copperpot and Ivory Castle so have used them as well as a general mix. I love the vibrant orange. They remind me of my parents garden c1970’s.
Phlomis
Can I admit it? I’m not a lover of this Phlomis. Was on the garden when we bought the cottage so had been around for over 20 odd years. ( some years were distinctly older than others) and it keeps returning. I prefer the pink one. No that’s not a theme of pink big I find this one a little dull.
There is only one self seeded foxglove in the garden. Two years ago they were abundant. The astrantia continues to grow like a weed – they obviously likes it here. I first bought Astrantia in the old Hadspen gardens. It was run then by Sandra and Nori Pope two inspirational gardeners and where I bought Astrantia Hadspen blood.
Astrantia
The Cornus this year has gone crazy. The tree is so top heavy with flowers that the rain has made it hang very low over the garden. I need to look how and when it should be pruned. It’s a beautiful sight especially at dusk and dawn where it illuminates the border.
Cornus
A the roses are awesome this year. This really pretty pink is smothered in buds. The rambling rector which we thought we had lost has literally hundreds of buds waiting to open and hundreds already open. Not easy to photograph though!!
Rambling Rector
I don’t usually have much luck with clematis. Rubbish at pruning they are generally left to their own devices. But in Somerset there are three that return year in year. This year it is the turn of my old friend Nelly Moser to go crazy. Big fat blooms.
Clematis
It hasn’t been all gardening. A message from a fellow Insta & witterer Harriet Rycroft to say she was in Bruton and was I around to meet for a catch up and a visit some gardens. Some. Well three.
Piet oudolf Field at Hauser& Wirth
Coffee and catch up first and then a wander around the Piet oudolf garden at Hauser and Wirth.
Great planting plan
As the garden is a 5 minute drive from the cottage it’s a garden I pop into whenever I can. The change week on week is startling. The flowers are coming into their own and the colours are striking.
Slower I suspect than previous years bearing in mind our spectacular lack of summer so far. But you can’t help but be impressed. can you? I am.
Foxtail lily
The pond
Phlomis
Common Farm Flowers
Next stop was for a quick cuppa with Georgie at Common Farm flowers. Often my last stop on the drive down before I get to the cottage for a cuppa and a catch up. I love the garden and the cut flower farm and even at the end of a busy picking week – deliveries for House party’s, bouquets and wedding flowers all picked and delivered – the garden is still a riot of colour.
The newt in Somerset
Garden plan
Finally a whirlwind walk around The Newt in Somerset. I still don’t like the name – but I’ll get used to it.
My second visit to the new garden and I absolutely love the colour gardens – a homage to Sandra and Nori Pope who gardened here when we first moved to Somerset.
There is so much to see. First lunch in the garden cafe. Beautifully set so you look out Over the circular walled garden. The walled garden has espalier apples adorning the walls. Each section is Mamés for the county or country where the variety of apple is from. It’s a gorgeous walled garden and unusual in that it is circular.
Circular walled garden
The colour gardens are red. White and blue. I liked the white garden which was beautifully planted. But can I be honest. I’m not a huge lover of totally white gardens. But there was no getting away from it we both agreed it was beautiful.
The blue garden was – well blue and again beautiful.
But for me it was the red garden that stole the show. I just think I’m a bright colour type. I have to admit I missed these gardens on my first visit but to be fair there is so much to see.
Wooden walkway to the gardens
We both agreed that we needed a selfie. It hadn’t happened unless we did. Looking at it sent me to have a haircut the following day.
London Garden
The rain drove us back to London. Not literally. But it was too wet to do anything more in Somerset and I needed to do some things in the garden before I headed off to Spain. The garden is planted in pots. Everything is is pots. The reason was that we hadn’t intended to stay long in the house and we could move the plants we wanted with us. 17 years later it’s still in pots.
is decided that lavender was in order for the window boxes this year and they are doing great. Attracting bees like crazy.
The back garden is small and these two salvia are a welcome colour. Salvia amistad is huge. A beautiful deep colour and as I’ve planted it ( in a large pot) and shoved it ( another horticultural technical term) at the back of the garden it has had to climb up through other stuff and is now as tall ( or as short) as me. Salvia hot lips is well hot and grows like crazy.
Ian’s a fan of tree ferns so we have had to have them in the garden. I love them too but as they are his favourite then it’s only polite to let him buy them. A win win situation.
I love this time of year as the fronds are opening up and are as green as they are. Mark from Todd’s Botanics recommended I put a handful of alpaca poo beans in the crown every 6 months. And to feed liquid feed fortnightly too. I have and it works. Always good to Poo your plants.
I love agapanthus. Easy to grow in pots in the garden and again this year they are.
Budding up nicely. All bar one. All fed on alpaca poo from Lou Archer Yep. I poo my plants.
There is good colour scent and shape in the garden at the moment. The honeysuckle, planted in a Victorian chimney pot blasts out a great scent now that the jasmine has almost finished. The banana is growing well but all would do better with a bit more sun.
If you have got this far then thank you. I realise it’s been more a marathon than a sprint.
Lesson learnt. Blog a bit more often. And shorter.
Back in Somerset for a few days to do some work on the neglected garden! Despite the plethora of ground elder and bindweed there were some good bits.
Honeysuckle Graham Thomas
The honeysuckle over the arch , Graham Thomas I think ha gone flower crazy this year. It’s a beautifully scented plant and is a real attraction to the bees. I hate to dodge them as I ventured through.
Astrantia
The garden ha always done well with Astrantia. I’m not sure which one this is. I know I have bought astrantia shaggy but that is all white.
Cornus
The Cornus is another one that has gone mad. It’s a pretty large specimen and is a great addition to the garden.
Another Astrantia
Another Astrantia. Could be ruby wedding or Hadspen blood. Whatever it is it’s lovely.
Rose
I pruned the roses after leaving it to late last year as we were away. They have responded well. Those pruned hard have come back and have plenty of buds. This is a climber hidden under a clematis!
I’ve never been too successful with clematis. But this one has proved to be a winner.
You know. They weren’t telling the truth when they said the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain. We have decamped to the Costa del Sol for the Easter break. A friend arriving. Plans to do things. A garden to visit high up in The Alpujurra mountains. Costa del Sol. Where’s trade descriptions when you need them. Sol. Donde es Sol?
The rain in Spain
We are 610 m up in the mountains with a view to the coast. Unless the cloud has come down and you sitting in the middle of it and can only see as far as the hedge. This happens a few times of the year. Easter this year being one of them.
High up in the clouds
There has been sun. After the rains which have moved from the plain. Whilst the UK basks in sunshine and my social media is full of people enjoying the bank holiday in untraditional bank holiday weather. The garden visit didn’t happen. A two hour drive was too far to go to find it was chucking it down when we got there.
The view on a good day
We did manage a trip to Cordoba. A 2.5 hour drive from La Casa. We had been before on a two night stopover and had seen the run up to the patio garden festival. The Alcazar and the mosque cathedral. This time was to visit what we could in the time we had.
The Gardens of the Alcazar are a treat. I’ve found that the planting in these historic gardens are very British. British in that many of the plants we grow in the Uk. Roses. Antihrinums. Lobelia – which I last saw in borders in my parents garden back in the 1980’s. And in their hanging baskets.
Alcazar demolished Reyes Cristianos
I love the use of water in these gardens the long areas of water and the rolls that run along every where. They had a couple of beds which had largely huge snapdragons Really tall. Really colourful. Much taller than I have ever seen them grow in the Uk. And much earlier. The weather here has been patchy these last few weeks.
Another plant from my parents garden in the 1980’s! I’m always surprised at how well roses grow here in Spain. When we first bought the house I noticed the house opposite had a fabulous red rambler over its wall. It was spectacular. I had to go and check it was real. It was. There were a couple of beds at the Alcazar which had roses. Not much else but roses and whilst the planting was patchy the actual roses were stunning
I would like to grow Roses in an area of the garden but think I’ll stick to the only one I have. its a bit too British for me – and my plan here is Mediterranean with a bit of British!! So for now one lovely yellow banksia rose climbing the jacaranda tree. All of a sudden it’s burst into bloom and looks awesome.
Banksia rose -Competa
My only complaint is that for me the ideal rose is scented. Repeat flowering and if possible as an addition thornless. The yellow banksia is not.
Only being here part of the time means I can miss some of the flowering in our own garden. This year I have been lucky with the banksia.
Alcazar of Cordoba
The symmetry of these gardens is as you’d expect. Similar in style as the gardens at the Alhambra and the Alcazar in Seville. This year so far I have not been to the Alhambra. Maybe later in the summer. Tickets are like gold dust but are available last minute if you keep your eyes peeled. I love the planting there but again in the past has been very annual plant based.
The mosque Cathedral in Cordoba is an amazing space. I love the feeling of peacefulness and calm in the mosque and the simplicity of the architecture against the bling and pomp of the cathedral,set within it. A contrast to the walk through the Alcazar gardens further along the road.
The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
I did have time to potter about in our own garden. The sun. Rain. Sun. Rain effect has meant that it’s green. Very green. I can’t remember the agapanthus being as big as they are this year. The leaves appear huge. I hope that’s not a sign of big leaves. Small or no flower. I have started to feed them recently !
One of the sunny afternoons!
There is colour in the garden albeit a bit patchy. The ferns which we re potted a few weeks ago are growing well. There are six more spikes on the Strelitzia Reginae. The freesias from Peter Nyssen have been spectacular again this year and I’ve had success with succession planting. The last of them will have gone over this week. The dietes grandiflora – fairy iris has continued to flower and the new one I planted has also taken well now I know some people find the bottle brush to be a bit common. But I love it in a Mediterranean garden.
Last year I tried growing seeds direct into the garden with mixed success. Actually I am pants at seed sowing anyway and the results were as I expected. But. Flowers have appeared this year which have surprised me. Some Higgledy Garden sown calendula have appeared and look great next to the blues of the lavender. In a pot I have some Californian poppies. Both orange and white. They can only be Mr Higgledy sown seeds too.
Dietes. Bottlebrush. Calendula/lavender and freesiaHiggledy Seeds Calendula art shadesCalifornian poppy
So I am about to order more of each. The Californian poppies – Eschscholzia californica – remind me of my parents garden. There was always a patch of these in the back garden which self seeded like crazy. I should be so lucky. If I recall I didn’t like the smell of them if you touched them. Thinking back my parents had some cool plants as I was growing up.
We were lucky to inherit some fruit trees, a couple of fig, a loquat and three pomegranate trees when we bought the house. This year the fig looks like only giving a poor crop. But they are delicious. If your around the day that they are ripe. All of them at the same time usually. The nispero are interesting. Big leaves. Small fruit that look bruised even before they come off the tree. I will collect them and probably make jam and remember to photograph them!
The almonds are plentiful this year – probably to end up in the kitchen cupboard with last years. The olive crop in 2018 was non existent. This year the trees are full of flower buds. So fingers crossed. The quince had one fruit on it last year. Yesterday I counted 28. Whether they will all stay the course is anyone’s guess. If they do there will be Quince jelly. Maybe even membrillo. If I’m adventurous. Two of the three pomegranates have never flowered. Last year one flowered and started to set fruit. But we had none so this year I’m taking my tickling stick [ a tiny paint brush ) out to the tree when the flowers open.
Both orange trees are full of blossom and the scent as you pass by is absolutely amazing. These trees are only chest height and as I’m short ( short for my weight) you’ll realise that they aren’t that big. But we picked some of the last oranges this week to make a chocolate and orange cake.
The bank at the back of the house and the drive is one place full of colour. The rain has spurred the wildflowers and the yellow jasmine and the honeysuckle to flower like crazy. The yellow jasmine serves a purpose but as it has no scent it’s not one I’d probably plant is such a big area. But it looks good. The wildflowers are going strong. Along with the fennel which I’m cutting back like crazy.
The unruly bank.
The pelargonium I hacked early this year has started to flower again. I know I should have saved the cuttings. Next year. The grevillea stands at the gate. One is growing tall and elegant. Yet to flower properly. The other sits under a ball of privet – don’t say another word- and is full of flower. The white snowball viburnum – Viburnum opulus has started to flower but the heads are smaller this year and not as many. Maybe I cut it back at the wrong time.
When you look at the plants individually there is actually more colour than I thought. But spread across the garden. The white wall at this time of year is one of my favourites – Red geraniums and the scented pelargoniums both in flower at the same time.
Rain is forecast for the next three days. Then a period of decent sunshine which will bring the rest of the garden on in leaps and bounds. The dahlias I planted in pots as an experiment are doing well. The canna are a bit patchy so far. The colocasia black magic is yet to emerge but the colocasia mojito has three new leaves. Patience is a virtue. Not a virtue I have!
But wait I must. There is nothing Imcan do about the weather but wait and sit it out. Tomorrow’s another day. Another plant emerging. Another flower opening.
The sun has been out. There has been little rain. And the flowers are running away with themselves.
You can tell it’s warming up and the sun is bright. Though early mornings and evenings are still chilly. But the succulents are starting to flower. These are on the dry bank and in a small circular bed under the olive tree. I forget their name and as I’m in a hurry to meet the Saturday deadline I’ll have to leave it there! .
Pink succulent flower
The banksia rose is such a small delicate thing. But climbing through the jacaranda it’s lovely handing down with its small but pretty little roses. The bids are teeny tiny. And this year there are a lot of them.
Banksia Rose
Last year I had one quince on the quince tree. Just the one. This year the tree is in full flower so I am hopeful. The flowers start a deep pinkish as they are in tight bud and then open to this lovely pink.
Quince Flower
We have two orange trees in the garden. One produced some decent oranges this year. The other none. But. And a big but. The blossom this year is amazing. Both trees are full of blossom and the bees are a buzzing. Hopefully like the quince we will get a good crop.
Orange blossom
The bank and the campo are full of yellow. The mimosa is in full bloom now as is my hay fever. There is pollen everywhere. Sadly the trees are getting a bit straggly on our bank and will need to be cut back pretty hard after flowering.
Mimosa
I think the wild orchids we have at the back of the house are growing towards Oz this year. There are some leaves about but this time last year the flowers were out. Fingers are still crossed that they will flower. This is one from the banks of the access road to the house. There are also bee orchids suddenly showing their leaves.
It’s amazing how fast things grow when you turn your back on a garden. Weeds especially. I think we have the national collection of bind weed in Somerset.
I hadn’t done a winter clear as the ground had been too wet. We hadn’t been around much. And I’ve picked up a bit of mañana syndrome. But needs must and last weekend I knew I had to do one thing. Prune roses. They weren’t pruned last year at all. A fail I know but the year before was a good pruning. Especially as I had Mrs Shouty as a guide and mentor for pruning the apple trees and the roses. Mrs Shouty -= Sara Venn.
So I hacked the roses. Some are old. Some probably need to be replaced. I will review at the end of the summer to see what’s what after flowering. But I pruned. I got attacked by the curse of the thorns. I have had my tetanus jab.
I tidied up a bit – well I cut the perennials back to the ground and then the rain came. Lots of it. So it’s still there to be taken away. On top of the bind weed.
Yes. There is smoke. But it’s Ian burning paperwork. Old bills. There is a bonfire there ready to start next time. A great big bonfire.
We bought a mirabelle plum a few years ago. It has fruited. Now great at the beginning. Some years the frost got the blossom and there was little or no fruit. But they are delicious. This year there is blossom a plenty. But watching what ever storm was passing through on Saturday shaking the tree and scattering the blossom filled me with gloom. If it’s not the frost that gets the blossom it’s the wind. Hopefully there will be plenty of fruit this year.
There are benefits of leaving last years flowers through Autumn and Winter . The colour of this sedum is great. And I haven’t cut it back. Not yet anyway.
Oh. I was also distracted. By a dahlia talk at the local horticultural society.
It’s a different tale back in London. The only cutting back I’ve done is to the Melianthus major which was tall and leggy. So armed with information and a decent secateurs I cut it low. Fingers crossed I’ll get flowers.
The garden in London is different. It’s small. More a courtyard garden and is sheltered. We have a typical London micro climate. I still have geraniums flowering from last year and are gaining growth at a rate of knots.
The Bowles Mauve is budding up well and will soon have a lovely scent when it opens. It’s a solid little plant and does really well
I can’t believe we have blossom on the citrus in the garden. And lots of it. Hopefully a bit more sun. A bit more warmth and these lovely flowers will open and there will be an orange blossom scent above the chair. Not that I can sit and read there. It’s there for one reason. Well three reasons. It’s the cats chair. Well one of their chairs.
If I was surprised at the blossom I am even more surprised to see a couple of tiny small fruits developing. Fingers crossed they will get bigger. I’ve been out and poo’d my plants including the citrus. The first feed of 2019. Using Lous Poo – alpaca feed
There is growth on the clematis. Early I think but never the less welcome. It’s only in the last two years that it’s done well.
Ian’s not a gardener. But he knows what he likes. Tree ferns for example. It was Ian’s ides to have tree ferns in the garden. I didn’t expect to have 5. But we have and I love them. I need to feed these once I take out the straw from the crown!
But they have survived in the garden for about 12 years and last year I didn’t fleece them or put straw in the crown when the the beast of the east arrived suddenly. But they survived.
One of my plant loves is agapanthus and I’m lucky to have them in both the London garden and the one in Spain. Again they need a feed if I’m going to get a great big show off spectacle of flowers.
I have just bought agapanthus black Buddhist from Farmer Gracy for the Spanish garden which was delivered last week.
We have a lot of blue and white in the garden here and there. There and here depending where I am – but I’d like to introduce some different ones. The ones in the garden have self seeded here and there and spring up everywhere.
The tulips in the window boxes are through – I planted them late but are growing pretty fast. There are new colours this year. I didn’t grow any in Spain as the ones I tried last year were pants. That’s not a variety. It was the outcome.
The jasmine is almost to the top of the downpipe and is heavy with flower buds. You know those pinky red little buds that open to a fabulous white scented flower. Add a bit of Trachelospermum a bit later and you have a succession of scent. I lost one last year but the other two are doing ok. Add the scent of my straggly honeysuckle to next door’s rampant one poking over the fence and we have the summer scents sorted.
Spain is weeks ahead of London and Somerset. In Spain the jasmine is out already as the weather has warmed up. Though I see we have two weeks of rain coming. Last March was wet. Very wet. So far we have had a dry spell since October when the reservoirs filled to the top. Great for the garden. Great for the reservoir and our storage tank. But…..
The freesia are brilliant again this year. Bought from Peter Nyssen and shipped to Spain – they look and smell fantastic. I must try some in pots in London next.
It is such a contrast between the three gardens – which I will admit is one too many. Somerset is at the end of a season and the start of another. It needs a good cut back. London had a central city micro climate and its small and sheltered. There is no way I could grow tree ferns in Somerset or Spain.
Spain is obviously very different. Whilst we are 650 m above sea level in the cooler mountains the season is well under way with colour and scent in March already. Plus we have plenty of green with the agave dotted around the garden.
The almond blossom continues. Ours had been and gone and they were pretty heavy with flowers. The mimosa is starting to come out on our bank. In other gardens it’s over already. I’ve seen the leaves of the wild orchids poking through and the bee orchids in a neighbours garden. We had thought we may have lost some as we had
There’s enough to keep me going for now. There are lists. And lists of lists. My lists. Ian’s lists.
I have some more things to plant Colocasia Black Magic. Bessara elegans, Watsonia peach glow, Roscoea purpurea, Anomatheca laxa, Lycoris radiata to start and some Canna. These are for Spain and came from Farmer Gracy – great find.
I bought , on Ian’s instruction a big colocasia at the localmspsnish garden centre to add to the Mojhito that I bought last year.
Don’t tell Ian but I’ve got Canna on order from Todd’s botanics for London as well as some new white agapanthus.
The garden here in Spain has a lot of Osteospermum. All brightly coloured and many which have self seeded. A welcome sight at this time of year.
I was at the garden centre locally this week to pick up some soil and compost to do some re potting and was about to pay for it when I saw a batch of Osteospermum that I hadn’t seen earlier in the week. And which caught my eye.
So As they are so very different to the ones I have in the garden already I just had to have them. Didn’t I?
They are now awaiting planting.
I understand that when they self seed as no doubt they will do they will not seed true to the existing colour. But hey. As long as I keep the originals going I’ll be happy!
We both agreed that we needed a selfie. It hadn’t happened unless we did. Looking at it sent me to have a haircut the following day.
Ian’s not a gardener. But he knows what he likes. Tree ferns for example. It was Ian’s ides to have tree ferns in the garden. I didn’t expect to have 5. But we have and I love them. I need to feed these once I take out the straw from the crown!
Gardens. Travel. Life. 