The end of June is a funny old time of year really – perhaps more so this year because we have had such a rubbish May and June – but the last week or so there has been some warmth in the air, and the garden responds.
At the end of June, the garden looses some of the freshness and joy that the early summer brings, many of the plants start to loll around, and I don’t mean falling over and needing to be staked - I mean they loll around looking relaxed and, well rather as if they are loitering, looking a bit fuzzy and muzzy. The cerinthe in particular in guilty of this. The individual plants and flowers are still beautiful – but as a drift in the top border they look a bit messy, so it will be back to the cutting garden for them next Spring!
The Salvia involucrata however, promises much loveliness -
Although you cannot seem them (yet) in the top picture the dahlias planted behind it were supposed to be d. “Dark desire”. Sadly they are not, they are a rather strange shade of orangey pink – pretty but not in this location – and I am a little bit cross!
The view through the gate when you enter the garden ….
In a few weeks time the cosmos purity will have grown up in front of the green chairs – I was so pleased with the way they looked last year I have done the same planting this year.
Just inside the gate is the middle pond that we put in to replace a vast camellia that we removed
Half way down the garden to the studio – the wild border is full of colour and texture – and it now starting to look mature.
And it is here I sit and look out over the garden and just now I think – “Well its not looking to shabby at all”!
Thanks as ever go to Helen / Patient Gardener for this very useful end of the month review.
All looking fab and floriforous – should be good for September
Helen´s last post ..End of Month Review – June 2011
Thanks Helen … fingers crossed now that nothing keels over and everything (apart from the weeds) continues to grow
K
I can’t believe the difference you have made to this garden in a comparatively short time. Well done
Thanks Mum
I think it is starting to knit together now – and looking more “mature” still a few gaps and a few bits to sort out over time
K
xx
If you need any weeds, you know where to come. I love the view from where you sit.
Dear Karen, Your garden makes me happy to see it! The grasses and the yellow make me smile. I see your artist’s hand in your plantings. My favorite shot is the view from the gate~just marvelous. My sunniest border has similar plants but they are all reclining toward the sun and daily beg me to cut down the elm tree! gail
Gail´s last post ..Muse Day: The Bee and Lovely Mosquito
Your garden is nowhere near shabby, not even in the vicinity! It’s just beautiful. The plantings are working so well … well apart from your concerns about that Cerinthe and those Dahlias! You’ve really created something wonderful.
Bernieh´s last post ..It’s Time To Flaunt An Australian Daisy
Wow, your garden looks great, really beautiful. Love the stone in your house too.
Looks pretty glorious to me.
The spectacular tree behind the French grey chairs – is a copper beech or … ?
Elephant’s Eye´s last post ..Feedburner, FeedMedicAlerts, July Poll
Hi I dont know the exact variety – but the tree that you asked about is an ornamental prunus of some kind – it does not usually have any fruit – but surprisingly this year has produced 2 cherry look a-likes!
It is one of a handful of trees that were in the garden when we moved in
K
then I shall watch my shoulder high Prunus nigra with a cautious interest … also had a few ‘cherries’ which the birds enjoyed.
Elephant’s Eye´s last post ..Feedburner, FeedMedicAlerts, July Poll
Your garden is looking absolutely beautiful, you should have no worries at all. All you need now is gentle rain at night time and sun during the day to keep it looking this good !
Pauline Mulligan´s last post ..A week at Aigas.
Your garden is looking fabulous! I really like your use of grasses.
Christine @ The Gardening Blog´s last post ..The first tulip emerges and other joys from my winter garden
You have a gorgeous garden. Beautiful colors. Thank you for sharing!
Rooted in Atascocita´s last post ..Lawn Maintenance Secrets
so much gorgeousness … it has a very restful and calm feel to it, despite the hot colours. Love it, those chairs are pretty fab too.
Zoë´s last post ..Life is just a bowl of cherries
Not too shabby at all!! My goodness, it’s stunning!
Think you are going to have fab opening Karen.
Just keep at it – England expects……….!!!
Best
R
Robert Webber´s last post ..Graffiti Me Happy!
I love the textures and forms in your garden, Karen. Can you tell me the variety of Achillea that are with the Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forster’? They look a very interesting colour and they’re something that grows very well for me. Christina
Christina´s last post ..End of Month View June
Christina, I grew them from seed and the mix is called “Flowerburst Red” and described as mainly red, rose and violet shades. They flower the first year from sowing, this is the second year in the ground and they have really got going great guns now.
Chiltern seeds have them as do quite a few other seed suppliers, not sure where you get seeds from where you are!
K
Your garden’s looking quite wonderful.
No shabbiness in evidence at all – and in the last photo the willow looks beautiful, strange to think of how it looked when newly pruned now, it is the perfect backdrop to all that lush loveliness. Sorry about your dahlias though, it is such a pain when you buy things and they flower in just the wrong shade to work. It happened to me last year with some gladioli, which turned out to be a virulent eye-watering scarlet instead of the promised deep purple. What are the deep red flowers in the half-way-down border? Helenium? They look stunning with the grasses and achilleas.
Janet/Plantaliscious´s last post ..Experiments, surprises and an identity crisis
Hi Janet, Yes they are Helenium “Moerheim Beauty”. It is a pain when flowers are not what was ordered and/or expected.
Thank you for your comment about the willow tree – I am so pleased with it – as it looks so much better than before it was pruned, and I was so worried when we had it done!
K
What a lovely garden! I love the cottage garden plants. I’ll be back to see more!
Susan@Holly Grove´s last post ..Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Lovely garden and lovely lovely words. made me smile.