As usual just as the garden got going I headed off to Suffolk for a week. I emptied out the greenhouse and soaked everything as best I could. But the week turned out cooler than forecast and on my return I could breathe a sigh of relief and give a smile of delight. The warmer temperatures that followed the rain had done its work. The garden had popped.
One
These lillies were in bud as I left. They’ve definitely popped and now flood this corner of the garden with their beautiful scent. They’ve been growing in this pot for many years now, when I remember they get fed but otherwise they are left to their own devices. Thankfully no sign of lilly beetle yet.
Two
The lavender is sparkling in the sunshine today. Last year I needed to replace a French lavender that didn’t over winter. I picked up a ‘Hidcote’ but then changed my mind and bought a ‘Munstead’ and I am enjoying the softer colour.
Three
The knautia macedonica have burst forth and are humming with bees. They are just at the stage when I can cope with dead heading them – cutting out the first flowering middle stem is easy but a week on and I will be lost in a sea of new blooms and seed heads.
Four
The hydrangeas that suffered so much last year have fought back and look rather stately against the backdrop of the sage mound. I think they will suffer today if temperatures reach predicted heights.
Five
Penstemon ‘Plum Jerkum’ has joined the gang, a lovely deep colour.
Six
These are the trays of annuals that I have left to plant out. That’s my gardening job for the weekend but I will save it for tomorrow when the heat is less intense. I have cleome, zinnia, a few nicotiana and other assorted bits and pieces. They are going to fill the gaps where the agastache and pennisetum villosum didn’t over winter. I also have dead heading of roses and picking of sweet peas to do – sounds like a perfect summer.
Mr P , host of this meme, shares his six wonders and the comments section gives the links to other posts from around the world. Worth a look when it all gets too much in the sun!
n20gardener 
Beautiful lilies and the hydrangea looks very stately. Just noticed flowers on our hydrangea – the first ever.
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Enjoy the hydrangea flower – hope there are many more to come. Mine did wilt in the heat but perked up after several cans of water.
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Looking good. My lilies have suffered with beetles for the first time. But still got some flowers. Your hydrangeas doing well. Mine are just starting to flower. Covered in hoverflies currently.
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Lilly beetles and their grubs are the muckiest pest in the garden – barring foxes! I shall have to look out for hoverflies, I don’t think I’ve seen them yet.
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I never would have thought to put lilies in a pot but am going to do just that. What a great idea and it can be moved around.
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And hopefully a longer climb for the snails! Can’t remember why I did it originally but it has worked.
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My white lilies are in bloom (photos soon …) and not too many beetle attacks .. so much the better!
A penstemon you too!?… yours is gorgeous too!
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I like that we gardeners have similar plants and also so many different ones. There is so much to admire and be tempted by!
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It is so exciting doing the garden tour after you’ve been away. All looking tip top!
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It was good to be back and not find it all dried out to a cinder 🙂
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‘Plum Jerkum’ ? Great colour, strange name! Love the lilies!
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Very strange name but as you say great colour. I seem to favour the end of the spectrum along with the magentas.
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I love magentas too – and blues and purples. Even the odd pink.
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I have one french lavender left and I have decided to go for British from now on. My Knautia Melon Paste is going great guns even though I some who’s confused or for a Verbena Bonariensis
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Yes, I’m favouring the British lavenders. I did wonder about the VB! It is a knautia then?
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Yes was having a blond moment.
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It has popped indeed – some lovely strong colours, particularly the Knautia and Penstemon – a gorgeous plum!
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My favourites – this week!
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It’s all looking gorgeous in your garden and the colour of the Penstemon is so rich. The Red Devils were so bad last year in my garden that I decided I’d get rid of my Lilies (all in pots to give them a chance against SnS) but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. However, there’s a plague of the beasts this year and the Lilies are definitely going. I pick off and squish dozens of beetles but have still missed some of the grubs.
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Same here, disgusting creatures. My lillies were composted last year, good riddance!
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Aah. You heartless creature! I continue on, but watching vigilantly!
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It’s a horrible task. I don’t know why they haven’t hit mine this year. It can only be a matter of time!
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Always exciting to have plants to plant, so long as you can find a place to fit them in! My hydrangea is flowering for the first time this year, the flowers are too heavy for the stems, they are all on the floor! Not the effect I was hoping for…
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Love those lilies in that particular pot & the idea of scenting a whole corner, I’d just love that, but the red beetle, you know. Hope it stays away from you for the duration. Hope you got your planting done. The dead heading will never end, so I’ll not mention it.
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Those lilies are awesome. I grew a few this year, only because a neighbor shared some spares. I was impressed by their performance, since I did not put much effort into growing them. Yet, they were not as impressive as yours.
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I don’t know why mine have done so well this year. Do we ever understand? Let’s just enjoy what we have. 🙂
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Well,, yes; that is what we should do.
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