Late summer can be a tricky time in the garden. The summer plants have finished and the real autumn ones haven't started, but I have been very pleased by the highlights I have seen over the last few days. Hibiscus 'Oiseau Bleu' has been beautiful this year - very floriferous and bridging that late summer gap extremely well.
Here's a polymer clay pendant design just waiting to happen!
The Clematis 'Crystal Fountain' was a disaster earlier in the year - no flowers, eaten by snails and looking awful. However, it has perked itself up and it is rather a diva plant... "look at me!"...so I did look at it.
I liked the combination of geranium Rozanne, which has been flowering for ages, and a new crocosmia 'Emberglow', which I bought from Barnsdale.
The ever reliable rose Molineux, showing a delicate apricot tint on the petals.
Japanese Anemone 'Bressingham Glow', I think. I am sure I didn't plant it where it is, but it has brightened up this dull and slightly-shaded-by-jasmine corner.
Another pleasing combination of crocosmia (probably the species) with buddleia 'Buzz' magenta, supposedly a dwarf variety, but not this year!
Here is the piece de resistance! I haven't grown raspberries before, so ordered three canes for a tub, back in Spring. The one I chose was Joan J, an autumn fruiting variety.
Here are the first fruits of my labours. In fact, the plants have been relatively undemanding, except with water - they get through a watering-canful most evenings. I have fed them occasionally too.
I am very proud of this achievement and we are enjoying the fruits as they ripen. Sun ripened and still warm, they are delicious.
Hello and welcome to my new followers - I hope you will enjoy reading my blog.
I love crocosmia, my absolute favourite plant. I've also planted autumn fruiting raspberries, and just picked my first two. I love this time of the year in the garden.
ReplyDeleteJoy xx
Dear Joy
DeleteThank you. I am gradually adding to my crocosmia collection (3 different ones, so far) and my favourite is Honey Angel which came through last winter completely unscathed and is just starting to flower now. My raspberries are in a large tub but as they are cut down to the ground in Spring, I am hoping they'll be OK for a few years in there. It is certainly starting to feel more autumnal out there, particularly in the mornings, but I love this time of year too.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Ellie
I think you have got some gorgeous flowers in your garden if the above are only a selection. I have odd bursts of colour but nothing spectacular.
ReplyDeleteDear Anne
DeleteThank you. I do have bursts of colour in the garden, due to the highlights you can see above and the hibiscus in flower is spectacular, but there are areas of green as well (not quite so impressive to look at!) I am a bit of a plantaholic and have lots of things in pots and tubs (none of which match, but I am not worried about that). I am a sucker for colour, so am always on the lookout for the next plant, usually without knowing where I can squeeze it in, hence more pots and tubs! There's no hope for me!
Best wishes
Ellie
I can attest to my Wife's love of plants! I've had to set up a high-rise trapeze system in order to navigate safely to the back gate! A neighbour foolishly entered our garden in order to retrieve his child's ball... We found him living in our shed and surviving on scraps from our bird table, unable to find his way back out.... But I still love her.....
ReplyDeleteDear Chris
DeleteThank you. I'm not sure what people will think now! The garden isn't quite as bad as you say, but I'll admit to needing good balance to manoeuvre your way down the path without falling over or knocking anything over.
Love
Ellie x
What a sweet exchange!
ReplyDeleteHow did you manage to grow Hibiscus? I thought they grew only in hot countries. The clematis is spectacular and a lovely colour too.
Enjoy the Raspberries.
Dear Toffeeapple
ReplyDeleteThank you. The Hibiscus syriacus varieties (I have four of them - Oiseau Bleu, Hamabo, Woodbridge and Red Heart) are all hardy in the UK and have all come through the last few winters with no problems, although they are all planted in the ground. There are lots of other varieties which are more tropical. Oiseau Bleu (Blue Bird) is the oldest and biggest of the four and has flowered brilliantly this year. They are late to put out their leaves (May/June) and flower around August/September. The clematis is doing reasonably well now but does seem to be liked by snails.
Best wishes
Ellie
Thank you Ellie. I learn something every day, isn't that marvellous?
ReplyDeleteDear Toffeeapple
DeleteThank you. I love learning new things and gardening is a great teacher - just when I think I have got to grips with something, I realise how much more I have yet to learn! Have I persuaded you to plant a Hibiscus in your garden?
Best wishes
Ellie