#miscanthus

Six On Saturday: Flattened

/ n20gardener / 11 Comments

Somewhat ironically, both the water bill and heavy rain came this week. One was more welcome than the other. We are on a meter and all the water butts were empty. The garden has had a heavy soaking and the butts are full again. The alchemilla that was frothing last week is now flat, verbena bonariensis, veronicastrum and even shorter plants have joined the downward trend. But the rain was needed. Here’s six from the garden this week.

One

Flattened echium. I’m not too bothered about these. They came from a pack of free seeds, they are a good colour but really they are in the wildflower category and I’ve decided they are not keepers. They will go before they set seed.

Two

I’m sure the hydrangeas loved the rain but the flower heads just could not bear the weight so they are bowed down to the grass, I may take off the lower branches for some cut flowers.

Three

The miscanthus ‘Silver Feather’ doesn’t seem to have minded too much. I like this grass and it has grown to a good size in this its third year in the garden.

Four

The hebe should be sending fireworks of flowers off in all directions but they are heading downwards now. I hope they will spring back when the rain stops.

Five

The heuchera’s slightly shiny leaf looks well in the rain. I particularly liked this variety and tried for some time to buy a couple more but couldn’t. I gave in and bought something similar but it has an even shinier leaf which doesn’t appeal quite so much.

Six

Here’s one I missed earlier! Tree seedlings are a constant problem and there’s also a spare plant support waiting for a Japanese anemone which I think has given up the ghost for this year. Behind, the climbing hydrangea isn’t doing too badly at all.

I have been enjoying some garden produce this week: green beans, lettuce and potatoes. The blackcurrants have been picked. They were not too plentiful this year. I wonder if birds ate some of the flowers. The rain will have been perfect for my second sowing of carrots which had just germinated, and, if I don’t keep a close eye on them, I think the courgettes may be roaring away. My always neglected front garden will also have enjoyed the downpours. So all in all, I’m not going to moan. Well, just a little one. I noticed the lawn was speckled with slugs!

I’m off to Jim’s garden in the blogosphere to catch up with other SOSers. Have a great weekend, come rain or shine.

Six On Saturday: Farewell November, farewell Autumn

/ n20gardener / 5 Comments

Finally, the hose pipe ban has been lifted! I can’t think that I will be rushing out to water the garden any time soon, it has been drenched every other day throughout November. I have only just begun to plant a few tulips and a little tidying in the border has commenced. The regular downpours have served to show how infirm the potting shed greenhouse is. This one has a wooden frame and the apex has separated allowing rain to seep in. Sogginess abounds. Out in the garden things are pretty soggy too. Here’s six things I noticed this week.

One

I have just managed to complete a task that was long hanging over me. The scented leaf pelargoniums have been cut back, removed from their summer pots and moved to the potting shed greenhouse for the winter. I have overwintered these pellies for several years now and, dare I say it, I am just at the point where if they didn’t make it I wouldn’t be too sad. On the upside the potting shed and compost smell delightful at the moment.

Two

There are just one or two splashes of colour in the garden at the moment, this little ray of coreopsis continues to send out new blooms.

Three

The continual rain has more or less done for the roses. As each new flower arrives it is deluged by the next downpour. Here is ‘Gerturde Jekyll’ valiantly having a go.

Four

Strangely the seed heads of eurybia are holding up. They caught my eye during a spell of border tidying and were spared the chop.

Five

I may have mentioned that I’m just dipping my toe into growing grasses and this miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’ has done well in its first year. Slightly fuzzy flower heads as they are so difficult to capture. I’m looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

Six

Lastly arum italicum subsp. italicum ‘Marmoratum’. I’m guessing the ‘Marmoratum’ bit. I inherited this one. There were warnings that it was a thug and would spread uncontrollably. It must be in a very inhospitable spot because it has yet to move one inch. I like it, it even looks good after rainfall .

I’ve just received notice that I have one more green bin collection for the year. That gave me a wake up call. The gardening season is coming to a close. The last of blackberries need to be cut back and added to the green bin. That’s my next task and then there are more leaves to gather. No frost yet, but overnight temperatures have been as low as 2 degrees. December approaches.

Don’t forget to visit Garden Ruminations for all the links to other SOS posts.