It’s a white out in my garden. There are footprints from the wildlife and frozen flora abounds. I was going to give you a peek into next week’s project: new paths. The path project is a big one and ‘the professionals’ are coming in to do it. Work is scheduled to start on Monday and fortunately temperatures are set to rise. As the paths are covered with snow I’m going to show you some pictures of the garden last summer. There will be the odd glimpse of the path along the way, but more importantly there is some beautiful colour from plants that were sown from seed last year and from the frozen perennials that now lie under the snow.
This is how the border started out. The roses, irises and euphorbia are in. The canes mark the spots for delphiniums, salvias and astrantias to be planted. It is the path on the right that is being relaid.
Two
The borders were filled in with annuals, here are calendula and ammi. The wonderful delphiniums were brought from the old garden. More perennials were added through the year. Some grown from seed, some from 9cm pots.
Three
This is the top end of the border. Sweet pea, cosmos purity and nicotiana lime green were sown from seed. The lambs ears in the foreground looked bedraggled in last week’s six. Will they survive after the freezing weather of this week? This path is staying. It’s not very attractive and if I had a magic wand it would be transformed into a lovely brick cottage garden path. I have also planted alchemella mollis and geranium brookside, both of which tumble onto the path edges.
Four
This is another view of the path that will be relaid. It is very patchy and uneven in places. The agapanthus and verbena thrive against the sunny wall. The rose in the centre is Scepter’d Isle and a pink hollyhock climbs skyward in the distance.
Five
The height of summer. I am sowing calendula seeds again. The bright orange was such a highlight. They are scheduled for sowing in April. I will sow in modules again.
Six
The clematis in flower and with some of those fascinating seed heads. It’s now one of the frozen flora. It was already putting on new growth and had been cut back to about 50cms. Here’s hoping those new shoots are made of strong stuff.
It’s a bit of a bending of the rules this week, but did you really want 6 shades of white? I am curious to see what other sixers will post. I encourage you to take a look at The Propagator’s blog and see what materialises. I am hoping all UK sixers are warm, dry and safe this weekend. Over to you in the sunnier climes!
n20gardener 
Beautiful pictures you have a stunning garden N20, and good luck with the build!
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What a fantastic summer garden you have. The pictures are very evocative and I love your plant choices which look so vibrant. Lovely to see so much colour on a day which is still very white here.
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Thank you so much. Last year I used so many annuals to fill the spaces in a new garden and now I have fallen for that effect. I only hope I can replicate it this year! Or at least something just as enjoyable.
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You have a wonderful garden ! So many plants and flowers well mixed …It’s true that 6 shades of white wouln’t have had the same effect for us… Looking forward to seeing your new paths’ project now….
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Rules? Are there rules. Anyhow, those photos are on your computer which is in your house which stands in your garden. So the photos are in your garden. And what a garden. Was last year your first in it? Even if it was your second, you worked miracles. Good luck with the path. Is the current one concrete (noisy) or compressed hoggin (hard work to dig up)? Either way, you can at least sit indoors comfortably and drink tea/coffee/spirits and enjoy watching the labour of others. As I think I will do from now on.
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It was second year in the garden and those annuals really paid their way! The current path is concrete. Much as it needs to done I am wary of having a clean new path that will take some time to age in! I shall be walking up and down it in my muddy boots every day! And yes I will be mainly sitting! We need to protect our backs!
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I would send you a severe reprimand for breach of rule 4.2.6 sub paragraph c, but your garden looks so beautiful I can’t find it in me so to do. Lovely.
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Ha Ha! Just like the allotment handbook! Thank you, hoping I can replicate the effect this summer..
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Annuals are just brilliant aren’t they for filling spaces. With new brick pathways your garden is going to be even more stunning! We laid some last year but still have quite a few to go….doing it oursleves but it’s such hard work! Good luck. X
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Annuals were a garden saver last year. I’m only doing one small brick path and the concrete slab path through the border is staying as it is. Maybe one day! Kudos to you for laying your own. They are so lovely.
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Last summer?! Blue is nice, but so is white! Take a look at mine, although not the same white.
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That was funny you doing white! The dianthus are beautiful. The previous owner here planted pink ones fringed with white that I do not like. I also like the English daisy. Is that what I would call a bellis daisy. Good to have more inspiration for the garden here. A lovely six.
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Thank you. The flowers were at work; and we happen to use a lot of white there because of the shade. The bellis daisy was actually planted with a mix of pink and rosy red. The primrose is likewise with mixed colors.
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I quite like the bending of rules! Your garden looks absolutely delightful in the height of summer! Reflecting in snowy weather can help you plan ahead at least so the more the merrier hehe! Wonderfully bright SOS 👌🏻
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Definitely did some thinking ahead. I’m adding a few more annuals to mix this year so it will be fun to see it change.
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So refreshing and inspirational to see a summer garden. I’m sure next summer will be even more beautiful.
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I spent a lot of time staring at the garden this weekend thinking about what it might look like this summer!
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I’m in the same camp as some of the others above who think, this is the time we’re planning & you’ve very kindly come along w/some great ideas. No different than looking through a seed catalogue, which rule 4.2.6 sub par a clearly states is proper snow weather SoS material. Now, what’s growing on your pergola? I’m straining my neck, trying to see around the edge of the photo to glimpse the foliage. Looks wisteria-ish but I’m not seeing any wisteria leaves.
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Yes looking at those photos really got me itching to sow seeds which is definitely encouraged. But last year I didn’t sow until April. That was my first year of ‘serious ‘ seed sowing. I think you have spotted the twisted stems of a Passion flower growing through an arch. I was lucky enough to inherit this and the clematis which grow at the sides. I’ve an ongoing battle with bindweed which also likes to climb!
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Lovely post with beautiful pictures. Its hard to believe that our gardens will be so colourful in the not too distant future
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Looking back at those photos was really cheering. Our gardens will soon be full of flower and I plan to sow plenty of annuals again. They gave such a good display last year.
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Like the Quilting Gardener I can hardly believe our gardens will ever look like this again (well mine doesn’t even in midsummer – what beautiful borders after just 2 years in your garden!)
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I really benefited from planting groups of annuals. Six plants in a group and sometimes more. It was my first year of sowing multiple annuals and I had so many!! My favourite was the calendula Indian Prince. Although it did succumb to mildew. It was great to think about all that colour to come.
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