I’ve definitely had the feeling of losing the battle this week. Slugs and snails are eating their way through the young plants – cosmos, lettuce, borlotti beans are high among the casualties. The parsnips are refusing to germinate – third sowing and the last! And it looks like the fox has taken a shine to wandering through the agastache at night. I’m also losing the battle to keep everything watered, no rain and the water butts are empty again. It looks grim. But this is Saturday and optimism rules:
One
Definitely reaching the heights are these delphiniums, I think they must be six feet tall. Taken as a division from the parental garden many years ago, they were divided again when we moved here and I am very pleased to see them thriving this year. I was meticulous about staking and tying them in but they have exceeded my expectations!
Two
Also climbing upwards are the stems of Knautia macedonica. These were planted out from 9cm pots last autumn and have settled down well. They seem slug proof unlike some of the plants I have recklessly invested in. Fortunately I remembered to stake them – just in time. The bees love them.
Three
Down in the foothills where most of the slug damage is being done are these delightful dianthus deltoides. They sulked after the garden move last year but have come good now. No damage to report.
Four
Up again in the heights is this lovely clematis, inherited from the previous owner. I thought I had killed it last year as I tried to separate it out from the bindweed and lemon balm but it made a comeback.
Five
A combination of higher foothills and the heights is provided by the lovely rose Blush Noisette and the Astrantia Claret featured in an early six.
Six
And seeming to be safe in the foothills but, I hope, heading for the heights are these Tithonias. Grown from seed, one group was planted out a few weeks ago, straight from modules into the ground. The other group I potted on, returned them to the greenhouse and finally planted them out in the week. This group has made much more growth. So it looks like potting on is the best option. The final height is said to be 8 feet. I’ll report back!
It’s June and I hoped I would be pottering by now. Well almost, I have some spare cosmos and some zinnias which really do need to go out. And I’m going to count watering as pottering – so nearly there. I hope you are too. Take a look at The Propagator’s blog , where you’ll find the host of this meme, the ‘rule book’ and all the links to other sixer posts.
n20gardener 
You are not the only one to have disappointments and to have lost some battles … my seedlings of knautia didn’t sprouted, some of my zinnias and amaranthus were eaten by slugs and more …
Nice combo that the Blush Noisette and Astrantias…and what huge delphiniums !
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It is lovely to have a nose around other people’s gardens and to see that most of us suffer from the same beasties. Knautia macedonica has been added to my S&S resistant list! Your garden does look very colourful and I love the tall plants. Far too windy here for anything tall unless it bends well 😀
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Yes. I’m enjoying the Delphs while I can. Any heavy rain and they cld be done for.
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I love your first picture, proving that delphiniums can be sky blue (and almost sky high).
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Thank you. I am enjoying them so much!
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Well, your garden doesn’t look as though it is suffering – beautiful plants!
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Thank you. You should here the nightly screams from me when I discover latest attack. Not pleasant but then I did leave a plank down alongside the borlotti beans. Rookie error.
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Dianthus deltoides is great along the edge of paths, just to break up the hard edges. It’s no trouble, seeds around a bit. I grew ‘Arctic Fire’ from seed last year, white with dark centre; must see if there are others. Isn’t there supposed to be a trade off in gardening whereby you either have to be watering or you have slugs, this year it’s been both for weeks.
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Yes the watering and slugs thing has me scratching my head. It feels like I’ve never had so many. I’ll look at artic fire and now that my pink one has flowered perhaps some seedlings for next year.
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Love your Delphs! It’s been a good year for them here, and I’m just awaiting blooms. Your astrantia looks so healthy and full. Sorry about the many challenges, yet you remain undaunted and gardening still. Good to see!
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There’s always something that looks lovely to cheer me up🙂. I’d love to know why the Delphs are doing so well. But that’s gardening!
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You can’t see the slug damage in your photos! What dreamy delphiniums and well done for capturing the bee on your Knautia so perfectly.
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Believe me slugs are having a riot😬 but there’s enough coming through to keep the spirits high!
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Gorgeous six. I love all the purples. Knautia is fab, and indestructible.
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Thank you. I’m pleased the knautia got going well. I did wonder after I’d done the six if I have too much purple/magenta but I like them!!
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I had to look knautia up- only known as scabious here, and not tall. Another kind perhaps? I love your photo of the astrantia and roses: a gorgeous colour combination.
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Yes part of scabious family. I’ve also seen a lovely pale yellow one that gets very tall. I do like them 🙂
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A whole bunch of my favourite flowers! Delphiniums! Knautia! Clematis! Astrantias! Wow!
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Several writers are experiencing difficulty with snails and slugs. Do you know what our native banana slugs are? They are huge, like bright yellow legless dachshunds. They look like they could do some serious damage, but they eat only dead plant material. They literally clean up the debris under healthy plants without damaging healthy growth.
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Not heard of banana slugs before. They sounded terrible until I got to the good part. Mine vary from the tiny black ones through to what I believe are called leopard slugs. I’m. Hating them all at the moment- food chain or not!!
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We have the common brown snail to eat everything. They were imported for escargot and got away. Now, they displace the less damaging native snails.
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Your Delphiniums are amazing! I’m trying to grow some but the usual suspects are eating them of course. Your garden is looking gorgeous
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Thanks so much. Slugs definitely got a couple of mine this year but these ones seemed to be quick out of the trap and got up fast.
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Astrantia Claret is definitely a plant on my futures list. Do you plant it in semi shade can I ask?
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The claret is in full sun. It droops a bit when I haven’t done the watering. But it seems to be coping with a hot border- back against a wall too!
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