Gardening has been hard work this week. The temperatures have been high at a time when the hardy geraniums needed their summer cutback. Once they were cleared a forest of willowherb seedlings were revealed. On the upside, the veg plot has been delivering cucumbers, courgettes, red onions and potatoes and, when I can get to them first, a second crop of strawberries from a later flowering variety. Blackberries have been picked and the autumn raspberries are beginning to flower. Today’s six was interrupted by rain. Not a satisfying downpour but fine, mizzley rain that will barely dampen the soil. Here’s a hasty six for the week.

One

An orange burst of a cactus dahlia. The only one I grow and I really don’t have much involvement with it. There was a slug attack as the new shoots came through but once it became established it just powered away. This year I pinched it out to keep the height lower to avoid having to stake. It shares a raised bed with the asparagus and so it is allowed to sprawl a little. Bronze medal.

Two

I cleared back some rampant verbena bonariensis to give space to other plants and this penstemon was a happy beneficiary. I think it is ‘White Bedder’.

Three

The hollyhocks seed themselves in all sorts of places. Here a pink one has combined with the pink rose ‘Wisley’.

Four

Another hollyhock, the darker ones are my favourites and I will collect seed and try to propagate this one. Silver medal.

Five

The magenta phlox could do with a heavy downpour and I have my fingers crossed for that this afternoon. If not I may have to resort to the hose. That will be the first use of the hose for the flower garden this year.

Six

Last week’s single bud on the clematis has opened. It’s gorgeous. Definitely worthy of gold.

I’m narrowing in on some plans for Autumn. New roses, hydrangeas and another miscanthus will be ordered. I’ve lost salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, all of them. But I’m going to try again in a different location. I am at that impatient stage when I want to get on with the new plans but I’ll have to settle and enjoy the new month first. Jim our host, has some wonderful plants to share this week, a never ending supply of colour and inspiration. Happy gardening to you all.