I was absent without leave last week, fully intending to post before a week’s holiday but not quite managing it. I was only one week away from the garden but what a transformation. The garden had rewilded itself, choosing to cover any open space with oxalis, chickweed, willowherb and enchanter’s nightshade. On the upside the agapanthus had burst into flower and it seemed that there had been enough rain and sun to keep everything happy. Here’s this week’s six.
One
Here’s one that was destined for last week, hypericum in the front garden. Looking very cheerful in the sunshine. It’s a decent sized shrub that I inherited. No trouble at all and quite joyful.
Two
These agapanthus are the ones that grow in large pots and have to be wrapped in fleece over the winter. One was divided this Spring and three sections were replanted. They have all produced flowers this year so I am very pleased with them, and myself!
Three
Thalictrum delavayi. I’m not sure if I have these in the right place, perhaps a little more sun and certainly some more space and some support would help them show themselves off a little better. I really enjoy their airy frothiness.
Four
I am in the process of reshaping the planting in the old gooseberry patch. The focal point being taken up by two oak leaf hydrangeas. This is the second year in the garden and they have put on a good amount of growth which is encouraging. Even with their relatively small plant size the flower heads are quite impressive and I look forward to them fully growing into their space.
Five
The shasta daisies, like many plants this year, seem taller than ever. I got in early with my supports and I hope this will hold them upright off the paths.
Six
I mixed the overwintered scented pelargoniums with some trailing lobelia this year and the combination works well. The snails like to sneak themselves inside the rims of the pots so vigilance is the word. The geranium is pink capitatum, my favourite of the three I bought many years back from Sarah Raven.
Jobs for me this weekend, include, of course, the weeding but also picking some courgettes, deadheading the roses and cutting back some more hardy geraniums. The psilostemon are threatening to self-seed themselves even further and geranium Brookside has had its first wave and needs to kept in check before the paths disappear. Have yourselves a good gardening weekend and don’t forget to check in with Jim, host of the SOS meme for updates from his Cornish garden and from others around the world.
n20gardener 
I’m sure that your break away was beneficial to you, so no need to worry about not posting. I planted agapanthus a few years ago and they have been very sulky, but it looks like one will flower this year.
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I have my fingers crossed for you!
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What is it with Shasta Daisies this year? Mine are enormous too! Maybe all the wet weather. Love the oak leaved hydrangeas. Hope you are home refreshed and raring to go!
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Rain currently stopping play here. But at least I don’t have to water!
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Your shasta daisies are gorgeous! Mine were all eaten to heck by earwigs. They chewed up the sunny yellow centers.It was very wet when they were blooming and while they looked great from my window, up close, not so much. Agapanthus are very popular in San Diego landscaping.
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Sorry to hear about the earwigs. I’d love the agapanthus here to grow more freely. They don’t do too badly though. I’m at this very moment thinking of adding more!
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The acorn leaf hydrangea has very pretty flowers. Do they last for a long time?
Otherwise the thalictrum is starting to open here, but mine is almost in the shadow which explains its delay.
(On the other hand I have a support for it to lean on)
Last thing : good job the agapanthus!
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I’ve misled you on the hydrangea! It’s an oak leaf not acorn! I’m hoping the flower will last for several months. I will keep track of it. Yes I’ve supported other thalictrums. They do need it. This one escaped me. The aggies are good but all of them are at least a month later than last year. It’s been a cool July here.
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Exactly like here. A month later.
And of course yes.. oak and not acorn 😂
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Beautiful photos. Your acorn leaf hydrangeas resemble our oak leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia).
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Ah ha. Perhaps I muddled myself! They are indeed quercifolia
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Yes, I was just about to question that.
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😄I’ve updated it! Too tired after travelling!
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I had a self-seeded hypericum which was growing in the wrong place – well, the wrong place colour-wise but it was very happy there. As it clashed with everything else in the vicinity I moved it: big mistake, as it perished. Such a shame, as yours is lovely and shows me what I’m missing!
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Colour clashes are so difficult. I would probably have moved it too.
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Your agapanthus look healthy. I tried to gow some directly in the soil – they died. Maybe I should try growing in a pot. I love the flowers! The hypericum is indeed sunshine.
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I have the hardier ones in soil and they have survived cold and wet. Although I think they prefer hot and dry. It’s a lottery!
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Is that Hypericum beanii? I have not seen much of it in recent years. It got a bad reputation for being naturalized in Mendocino County, and related to other more invasive species of Hypercum that are naturalized elsewhere in California. Hypericum perforatum is naturalized and aggressively invasive here, but I have never seen it that I am aware of.
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That’s not a variety that seems common in the UK. Difficult to be specific but ‘Hidcote’ is a popular garden variety here. Mine could be that.
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Oh, of course! I do not consider cultivars and species that are unavailable here.
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A lovely Six. Well done on the successful Agapanthus splitting – and having them flower. I need to split mine some time soon. Willowherb comes up everywhere here!
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