I can’t avoid stating the obvious: it’s been hot this week. I have resorted to hanging sheets in the greenhouse to try to provide some shade but there have still been some wilting tomato plants. The water butts are empty and I don’t see any rain in the forecast. Too hot to garden, too hot to write and so here is a quick six from the garden this week.
One
At least this part of the garden looks cool. Ferns and the ‘Kashmir White’ geranium make a great combination in a slightly shadier spot.
Two
My first foray into a dark leaf heuchera. This is ‘Grape Timeless’ which I always think should be ‘Grape Time’!
Three
The over-wintered salvia ‘Amistad’ has just begun to open out. A long laster, this should be in flower until autumn.
Four
Every year the astrantias burst forth and remind me of what an absolute dream they are. This one is ‘Roma’.
Five
Last winter I moved a climbing rose ‘Souvenir du Dr Jamain’. It was growing against a shady fence but not really enjoying it. It’s not in the best of health but amazingly it has produced a beautiful flower. I am nurturing it and hoping that this isn’t its last effort before a demise.
Six
And ending on an amusing note: This is the greenhouse. No matter how many times I check there is always a side shoot missed on the tomatoes. In addition to the sheets, I have been liberally throwing watering cans of water over the path to keep the humidity up and hopefully the red spider mite down. The marigolds are there to keep the white fly down and oxalis is there because I can never be rid of it!
For more hot gardens tune into The Propagator who hosts this meme. Stay cool, water wisely and as always, take time to enjoy the garden.
n20gardener 
I love the sheets! I try planting Marigolds to deter the white-fly, I’m not sure that they take much notice. It’s cooler here today.
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I think I have less white fly than last year but it could be early in the season!
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Salvia is doing well here despite the heat. On the other hand, other plants are obviously suffering of that heat wave… It’s over tomorrow and fortunately because some plants are really flat.
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Cooler here for today but no rain yet 😕
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Cooler tonight too. 17° now and refreshing wind, finally!
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In spite of the wilting heat, your toms are looking good, much bigger than my outies. Raining quite hard here and you can almost hear the plants sighing in relief, me too I’m getting bored watering them! Your rose is a lovely colour, hope it is happier in its new position.
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It’s about 10 degrees cooler here in North Wales than it was yesterday, but I saw from this morning’s weather forecast that ‘down South’ would be hot again. But we seem to have missed the rain which is mid and south Wales so I’ll probably be out watering again later. Your greenhouse looks huge, or is it the angle?
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It’s a 12 x 8 which was here when we moved. It’s very old but just about standing. Now I think all the gaps are a good thing! Cooler here now.
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My Salvia Amistad is still putting out a few flowers and it’s winter! I’ll have to cut it down soon though to get it ready for spring. I hope the sheets and humidity help your tomatoes.
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Thank you. So lovely that yr Amistad comes through the winter. Here it can be hit and miss.
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I did a similar combo of toms plus marigolds in the allotment greenhouse but I still seem to have white fly, aphids and red spider mite! My first year with a greenhouse, I see now they bring new challenges! Love the white geranium, it looks so refreshing, and must get myself a Salvia Amistad.
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I tried parasitic wasps – encarsia I think. They seemed to hep. I’m also new to ghs, definitely a challenge.
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I don’t seem to have any luck growing salvias – they last one or two years and then pfft! Gone! I love the ‘Kashmir White’ geranium, I have/had a white one but I think it has been over shadowed by other plants. I might need to buy another one though, looking at yours. And how do you get that Astrantia to be so BIG?
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I think it’s time with the astrantias. Years 1 and 2 not so big. Three was better and so I de-crowded them and since then very good especially Roma.
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OK. Mine are in year 2 so hope yet!
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GADS! Spider mite! I spray my Brugmansia with water a few times weekly, but they get the mites anyway! It is SO annoying. Mites may fall for the redwoods above. If so, it is impossible to eliminate them. I sprayed the foliage with water that I boiled eucalyptus foliage in last year, but should add something to the water to make the eucalyptus solution last longer on the foliage. It is the perfect spot for the Brugmansia, so I do not want to move it. Actually, I would have liked to grow more copies of it, but will not do so if the mites are always a problem.
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They are pesky things. Interesting to hear of eucalyptus spray. Here garlic solution is used against slugs.
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Garlic might make the slugs think that they are about to be the ‘other’ escargot.
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It was so hot yesterday its no wonder your tomatoes were struggling. Luckily we had quite a breeze here so with the door and greenhouse windows open the plants were ok. I hope your plants are feeling perkier today. Dr Jarmain has long been on my wish list, but I know it’s a tricky one to grow.
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I had no idea the good dr was tricky. I’ll take even more care now!
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I love your photos and wish you’d put them on Instagram. Such great plants and a good reminder of the ones that work so well. Nice blog.
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I love the colour of that Salvia, it is gorgeous.
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It’s not always hardy but well worth it. And I try to take cuttings just in case.
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It is so unusual to see Rosa ‘Souvenir du Dr. Jamain’ in such perfect condition. I’m afraid it was always a martyr to blackspot in our damp conditions so that I eventually took it out, something I hated doing as it is such a beautiful rose.
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I see I am only on the first steps to trying to grow this lovely rose!
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