#clematis

Six On Saturday: Gardening woes

/ n20gardener / 30 Comments

I was going to be so positive today. A week of rain, thunderstorms and cold weather but the garden is clearly pulling away, spots of colour splashing in amongst the lush growth. But I have to tell you that the number of slugs this year is unbelievable and they are damaging so much. I have dwarf green beans to plant out and yet I fear they will disappear overnight. This morning’s walk around turned into another slug collection and more damage assessment. Here’s what I found.

One

What me, Guv? The first attack on the red onions that were planted out a few weeks ago. I now feel that nothing will be safe from their chopping jaws.

Two

This should be a lovely clump of allium ‘Mount Everest’. The tall stems topped with white flowers mingle with the roses and geraniums to create one of my favourite summer combinations. But this year almost all the stems have been nipped off. A few valiant souls have made it to the top and are beginning to open up but the display will be less dramatic this year.

Three

Elsewhere the purple allium ‘Purple Sensation’ has survived and they are just opening out.

Four

The regular downpours of rain have had me running round the garden with lengths of string tying in the clematis that is romping away. This one grows over an arch and pretty much entwines itself. It is clematis montana Wilsonii and has a wonderful chocolate scent – in the sunshine.

Five

Aquilegia ‘Lime Sorbet’ looking rather pretty, with the newly emerging potatoes in the background. The canes are there to protect them from curious cats and foxes.

Six

A sunny corner and slug resistant plants: osteospermum and iberis sempervirens, something simple but effective to give a cheerful ending.

It’s a long weekend here, with plenty of rain forecast. I shall try to make the most of any sunny spells. One tray of tomato plants were potted on last week. The root growth was not great so I’ve left the second tray for another week. The true leaves have grown on and I think come what may I will be potting them on this week. I may offer up one group of four dwarf French beans, but with some acceptance of their probable fate. There are tulips to deadhead and weeds to pull. I will try to banish the gardening woes by enjoying what does defeat the slimy lurkers! Over to Jim’s place for more gardening stories. I hope you have time to enjoy your garden too.

Six On Saturday: Moody hues

/ n20gardener / 14 Comments

My gardening week has been one of great inactivity. When I had the time it rained, when I needed to be elsewhere the sun shone. It was warm sun which was a positive. My SOS walk around the garden was an equal mixture of good and bad. Here we go with six for this week.

One

The front garden magnolia is in flower. It was pruned, rather beautifully, last September. Not by me, by someone who knew what they were doing. I applaud his vision. The flowers have survived two torrential downpours. Today they enjoy a little sunshine.

Two

In the back garden the unpruned clematis montana ‘Apple Blossom’ is in full spate – as are many of the local brooks. Beautiful flowers and scent to enjoy.

Three

There has been much publicity this week which aims to encourage us gardeners to develop an understanding of slugs. I try my best, I really do. Do I accept that it is me who has to adapt? I certainly can’t persuade the munchers to leave my thalia daffs alone! I have not even seen these in flower. Decision made, I won’t be planting any more of these. What can I find to take their place I wonder.

Four

Also subject to the slime attack are these snake’s head fritillaries. At least I have had a moment to enjoy them!

Five

The simple and delightful white anemone blanda. Quite joyful in the sun.

Six

In the week fellow SOSer Graham, shared a photo of tulip ‘World Friendship’. Here are mine, at least a week behind but with so much promise that my moody hues are lifting.

Last weekend I did start the weeding, this weekend I begin the annual task of pulling out tree seedlings. Those I didn’t fully pull out last year have a more established stem which helps me despatch them more efficiently. While I do these hum drum tasks I will be close enough to the action to see the exciting new growth coming through. The Spring equinox approaches and all will be well! Jim ruminates and hosts our merry band as usual. Many thanks Jim and happy gardening to you all.

Six On Saturday: Old friends

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

There’s a window now for some editing of the garden. One or two things need dividing. Plants that were divided in autumn and potted on now need to be dropped into spaces and perennial old friends are re-appearing to welcome the newcomers into the borders. The usual suspects have self-seeded. Here they are primroses, verbena bonariensis, alchemillia mollis and euphorbia mellifera. This is all very encouraging, and encouraging me out in the garden again. Here’s six old friends for this week.

One

A few weeks back the clematis ‘Étoile Violette’ was cut back and as usual I took some cuttings from the new growth that had already come through. Usually these go into the greenhouse were the overwintering slugs or snails lock lasers on them and munch them to the ground. Finally, I have learnt my lesson and this year the cuttings were brought into the house and were nurtured on a windowsill. They have taken and I will be taking extra care of them until they are strong enough to go out into the big bad garden environment.

Two

Last Autumn a seedling of tellima grandiflora was teased out of the edge of the lawn and potted on. This is already looking ready to go out into the wide open spaces and, hoping I don’t jinx things, I would say these are slug resistant.

Three

The hylotelephium are putting out beautiful rosettes of new growth, this one is in the border and I have a small division taken in the autumn that is nearly ready to be planted on. I’m waiting for the roots to develop a little more.

Four

One of my regular old friends is the magenta phlox that came with the garden. The new growth is strong and it’s time to take down the old stems. I have divisions of white phlox in pots that need a home. There’s some colour scheme thought to be done.

Five

This is a relatively new friend, helleborus argutifolius or Corsican hellebore. I’m hoping they stay around as I really like them. I am thinking of dropping the white phlox in amongst them.

Six

The flowers on the rosemary are opening up and I have seen one or two bees in the garden on warmer days. These flowers will be a welcome attraction for them.

The lawn is having its first cut of the year today, blades on high. That always sharpens up the garden and will further encourage me to finish the cut back and tackle the weeds – bittercress and woodland geum are my top targets. For more gardening news I happily send you round to Jim’s place and I wish you all a pleasurable time in your garden spaces.

Six On Saturday: February ends with a frost

/ n20gardener / 22 Comments

Cutting back in the borders continues when the weather allows and the heavy rain of this week did not allow for anything. This morning there was a crisp frost which the sun is now sending on its way. The perennials are pushing their way through and it will be interesting to see what has survived, at the moment I am a little nervous for the gaura lindheimeri. Maybe I should be growing these from seed as annuals. One to think about. Here’s six from this morning’s frosty survey of the garden.

One

The bronze foliage of last year’s epimedium leaves looking glossy after the frost. The green leaves of the new growth are coming through so the time is fast approaching for a cut back of the old growth before the flowers arrive.

Two

The first flowers on the clematis armandii have opened, the stems along the wall are packed with buds which will soon provide a wonderful display.

Three

There are no concerns for this penstemon, moved to this position last year and clearly flourishing. It seems hard to believe that all this growth will be cut back in April. I checked the RHS advice and see that they recommend a half way cut in the autumn, something I might consider for next year.

Four

The viburnum tree is underplanted with primulas and anemones which brighten up this corner of the garden. There is new growth on the aquilegias too.

Five

Tulips are popping up everywhere which presents a challenge when cutting back some of the perennials in the borders. These in pots, are protected by the wire cage from the squirrels who like to bury acorns here. There are three layers of tulips in the pot, the first time I have tried this method. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Six

I was too late too capture a frosted gem but here’s a euphorbia wulfenii to end on, gently warming up in some sunshine.

The seed potatoes should have arrived at my local allotment shop this weekend. I’ve been collecting egg boxes to chit them in so I’m raring to go. Sunday morning looks like being dry and I hope to be out in the garden doing one or two jobs but the borders are so wet that I will be limited to working from the paths. The grass could do with a cut but it is unlikely to be dry enough for that task. Jim poses an interesting question this week – how do we double or even triple up our growing spaces? Stop by Garden Ruminations for all the answers. Happy gardening SOSers.

Six On Saturday: Slow out of the blocks

/ n20gardener / 9 Comments

I am indebted to Dan Pearson, the garden designer, for pointing out that February sees us halfway between the winter and the spring equinox, his post for the second of February is beautiful. My garden is not offering the same delights but it is full of promise. The garden is beginning to fill out again and I can see that I have been slow to tackle a few jobs. Nothing serious, nothing that can’t be caught up on, whenever the rain stops! Here’s my six for this week.

One

These hellebores really caught my eye this morning. The grey light seemed to work just perfectly with their colours. 

Two

Just a few pots of things waiting to be dropped into gaps. The bellis daisies were intended to go into pots for winter bedding but only a few made it. I’m hoping to finish that job off this weekend!

Three

I have absolutely no snowdrops left to show as the pigeons have eaten all the flowers. I think they are also working through the crocuses so I am snapping this little group while they are still here. 

Four

All sorts of plants are making their presence known, here is a group of day lilies but I’m not sure if there is something else growing alongside them, oh how easy it is to forget what is in the garden!

Five

I was taken back by the growth on the clematis. This one is storming away, while others are only just in bud. This is a job to tackle this weekend.

Six

I always regard this corner of the garden as a difficult one.  I should really find some interesting shrubs that will grow high enough to hide the fence and give winter interest. Instead I have a trachelospermum, a collection of tulips and one or two other bits and pieces. I think there is work to be done here, but in a couple of months it will be colourful. 

The lawn is squelchy and the borders soggy but at the moment it is dry so I plan to do a little more rose pruning from the paths and there are one or two grasses that need to be cut back as I can see green growth pushing through. Tomorrow I hope to pick up some seed potatoes from a local allotment shop. I may have been slow to start but now I must pick up a little speed. Out host, Jim is going all out on camellias this week and who can blame him? I hope the weather is just perfect for a little gardening time where ever you are this weekend.

Six On Saturday: Cold!

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

It’s cold and next week will be colder. I have a cold. The garden meanwhile is growing. It’s always worth wrapping up and taking a quick tour round. Here’s my six for the week.

One

It never ceases to amaze me how early the buds on the clematis armandii form. So cheering to think that in about six weeks the first flowers might just be opening.

Two

The roses have put out new flowers through December and January but the wet weather has foiled their efforts to shine. Now these will be nipped by the cold. There is much new growth to be seen here too and the quick December prune back needs to be followed up by a thorough going over to take out thin and inward growing shoots. That’s a job for warmer days.

Three

I planted out phlomis this summer particularly for the structure of their seed heads in winter. There are one or two on display but I was surprised by how easily they can be knocked off. There’s been no real frost so far, perhaps next week’s cold spell with give them a chance to sparkle.

Four

The arum italicum has just begun to spread! After seven years of immaculate behaviour I spotted three more little outcrops of it. It grows in an inhospitable corner and so I will allow it a bit more room whilst heading the RHS advice ‘has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well.’ I have been warned.

Five

The first flowers on the bergenia have appeared, they are nestling quietly in the folds of the giant leaves. A wise precaution I think.

Six

I spotted the goldfinches earlier this week having a snack on the verbena bonariensis seed heads, a sight to behold. Here, the late self-seeders are putting on new growth and I wonder if this hopeful spurt will survive the -4 degrees overnight that is forecast. 

I’m putting off my gardening jobs for another week, hoping that a warmer spell is coming. Don’t forget to stop by at Jim’s place for the SOS clan gathering. Happy gardening to those in the Southern hemisphere and keep warm to those in the North!

Six On Saturday: A wet and windy weekend

/ n20gardener / 15 Comments

Unusually for me I am writing this on a Friday. The forecast for Saturday is heavy rain and gusting winds. Today it is just rain all day. It has been a showery week and you would think the garden would be well lubricated by now. But the late planting out of dahlias in pots revealed dry soil just an inch down. Of course a wet top surface is perfect for the slugs and snails and sure enough by the next day the new shoots of the over wintered dahlia I spotted last week and one of the newly planted dahlias had been munched. Hopefully the potted dahlias are strong enough to push on. Here’s six from a gloomy garden.

One

This is ‘Etoile Violette’, a viticella clematis that has been flowering for weeks. It is putting the neighbouring trachelospermum jasminoides to shame. I though it would be a good combination if they entwined but so far the TJ is being a little weedy!

Two

This is an early arrival on the anemone front. But I seem to remember they came early last year too. This is ‘September Charm’, so well in advance of expectations. They have bulked up well this year after a worrying year when I thought they had a disease of some kind.

Three

I admired a white form of geranium phaeum being shared on twitter. I succumbed and bought some, really thinking it was too late in the season and I would have to wait for next year for flowers but rather generously they have put out one or two new blooms. It’s in the northish facing border but there is a moment of morning and afternoon sun. I hope it does well.

Four

I didn’t have my secateurs to hand when I took this photo so I share spent blooms and new blooms of the red rose ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. It’s a climber and I was also lacking string to tie in a few wayward stems. Must be better prepared!

Five

Another inherited plant that gets by without too much attention. The magenta phlox was thinned out last year and divisions added around the garden. They have all done well. Easy peasy plant! In the background is the grass Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’. Second year in the garden and beginning to clump up quite nicely. Also in the background, gooseberries which need picking!

Six

A survivor! This hebe – inherited and unknown – is on it’s second move in three years. I think this will be its forever home. It coped with the move and the cold winter. The bees appreciate it and I hope it will be happy here.

I’m not sure what I’ve been up to lately but I have neglected my SOS reading duties. I’ve also neglected to give the roses their mid season feed. Last weekend the blackcurrants were picked and some of those gooseberries. The summer raspberries really didn’t have enough watering to do well this year but with the current forecast I’m more hopeful for the autumn variety. Sometimes the garden is neglected a little but it pulls through. Jim, the SOS host, had an abundance of blackcurrants last weekend, stop by and see what’s happening at Garden Ruminations this week. There’s always a surprise.

Six On Saturday: July and jobs to be done

/ n20gardener / 10 Comments

July is here. It’s a busy time in the garden as the May and June flowers need tidying. The roses have had a good year and I need to catch up on the deadheading. There hasn’t been much rain and my watering has been on the light side. I am trying to train the garden to get by with less. This does mean smaller flowers but on the whole things are managing. It’s about time I dug up some potatoes to see how they have got on. I can already see that the onions are small but the basil and chilies are flourishing. Here’s six from this morning’s walk round.

One

I was late putting in my summer pots, being late is the story of this year. This week saw the first flower on some geraniums I bought as plug plants at the beginning of June. I hope I can overwinter these.

Two

I grow a few varieties of achillea and each year seem to lose them over winter. I thought it was the weather but this year I spotted the snails munching the new shoots. With some extra vigilance I think I have managed to keep two varieties this year. This one is ‘New Vintage White’. It’s a low grower, around 35cms. It is surrounded by self seeded verbena bonariensis, which has grown very tall. It’s a very odd combination which would work much better if they intermingled.

Three

The salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ was the only salvia that overwintered. There was plenty of brown at the beginning of the year but it was cut back to promising shoots and it did pull through. This is the third attempt to get this in focus and I give up!

Four

I inherited a clematis when I moved here. It was on its last legs then but after freeing it from bindweed and giving it some attention it gained strength. This year it is not so lush. There are some beautiful flowers but it is in need of some watering and feeding. Adds to long list of jobs to do!

Five

The very tall verbena bonariensis deserves a photo. They self seed happily here but never quite where I would like them to be.

Six

The first of the day lilies has opened. I do enjoy them but these ones are so prone to hemerocallis gall midge that I sometimes wonder about digging them up. The affected buds need to be picked off. Adds to long list of jobs to do!

The weather is kinder to weekend gardeners this week. Cooler temperatures will see me out and about working through the borders. I hope you are able to enjoy your gardening spaces this weekend. We all need to switch off and immerse ourselves in the beauty of flowers every now and then! This week Jim, our host, is down on the allotment. Stop by and take a look.

Six On Saturday: It’s all happening here

/ n20gardener / 19 Comments

Yes, the garden is hotting up. Some good things and some bad things. In the interests of full disclosure before we get to the good I will share the bad. The lily beetles are having fun amongst the martagon lilies. At least six of them. Regular inspections will be required. My last box shrub is wriggling with box moth caterpillars and I am going to call it day. I’ve had enough spraying. If it’s not meant to be I will move on. It’s a blob anyway and has a top spot against a sunny wall. Perhaps a hibiscus for a replacement. There’s more bad. Two skimmia have yellowing, progressing to dead leaves. Perhaps their location is just too dry for them. They can go too. The last of the bad news is the tomato plants look awful. There is no spacious greenhouse for them to move to this year and frankly I think it’s barely worth planting them outside at all. It could be a problem with over-watering and/or nutrient deficiency. I’ve given them a dilute dose of tomato feed and I will plant them out this weekend. I switched brands of peat free compost this year and I have not had much success. This one seems to dry out at the surface, shrink back from the sides but still manage to be wet at the bottom of the pots. It was not a combination I handled successfully. I’ll go back to the previous brand in future. That’s cleared the air. On with six good things.

One

I seem to be having a good year with allium ‘Mount Everest’. I would say that bulbs that I had given up on seem to have re-emerged and those that are in the shadier end of the garden are reaching heights that justify their name. I like them and so do the bees.

Two

The astrantias are also doing well. This started off as ‘Roma’ but I think a little hybridisation has occurred as this year’s colour doesn’t seem, to my memory, what is was last year. I don’t mind this at all.

Three

This is my garden favourite this week, so much so that I’m sharing two photos. The first is the view of the arch from the veg plot back into the garden. The rose is ‘Mad Alf’, Madame Alfred Carriere. Mad because the flowers are held on such long stems and she climbs vigorously. A winner.

Four

This is the view of the arch from the other side, where clematis montana Wilsonii is flowering in profusion. I think it is vanilla scented but it could be slightly chocolatey. Whatever, it is a dream to walk through and I find myself doing this several times a day. There is a bench nearby and it is such a pleasure to sit their of an evening and ‘feel’ the scent drift over. Top marks.

Five

Having spent much time, along with many others, moaning about the Winter and Spring weather, I am now wondering if, in fact, it has been just what the garden needed. So many plants seem to be doing really well this year. In truth I’m a little concerned that this geranium ‘Brookside’ will go on to swamp its neighbours. I’ll update you soon.

Six

Lastly the first ‘Wisley’ rose has opened up. The bush is full of buds and it will be a splendid sight when they all get going.

It’s a long weekend in the UK and the weather looks set fair. I will be sitting on that bench and enjoying the changing scenery. I hope you too will be able to find some moments to enjoy this weekend. Jim, our host, shares the SOS links and this week looks at Cacti. Stop by and enjoy. Happy gardening everyone.

Six On Saturday: And we are off!

/ n20gardener / 20 Comments

The Spring equinox seems to be the jumping off point I was waiting for. The garden has crept forward once again, fed by the magic of rain and a few degrees more warmth. Of course there’s a downside. The snails are eating the tête-à-têtes and the perennial ground elder and cinquefoil weeds are running riot once again. But these are old friends (foes), and signal warming soil and better things to come. I think the garden is behind last year but finally buds are opening out and the bees are flying. Here’s my six from the garden this week.

One

By this time last year the clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ was in full bloom. This year there are plenty of buds still to open but flowers have started to appear and on sunny days the scent emerges.

Two

The muscari are also on the edge of revealing their full potential.

Three

These are early tulips ‘Purissima’ chosen to flower to coincide with the hellebores. They are ‘scheduled’ to flower in late March/early April. Almost there then.

Four

The first of the cowslips have opened, encouraging me to really believe that Spring has arrived in this garden.

Five

Heralding promise for later in the year, the leaves of the climbing hydrangea have opened up. I have two of these, which have been in the garden about three years. They are slowly spreading themselves across a north facing fence and have almost met in the middle. I have high hopes for a good display this year.

Six

I can’t ignore that other indicator of the garden on the move: tree seedlings. Oh my, what a crop of them I have this year. The back of the garden is set aside for the veg and fruit growing and this particular space is destined for potatoes. The asparagus bed, in its second year of growth, is also showing a healthy crop of seeds. There’s work to be done here!

It was not a week for getting out in the garden, the rain was welcome but I could have done without the gusting winds. There wasn’t even time to sow seeds in the shelter of the greenhouse. I managed to pot up dahlia tubers and cut out the dead wood in the choisya. It might survive, as might the cistus. Today I spotted some new green growth in amongst the dead looking stems. There is hope. There’s plenty more to see in Jim’s garden, he hosts the Six On Saturday meme so stop by and take a look at his six and the links to all the other SOS gardeners. Happy gardening.