Having just had a very hot week (well, hot for the UK) and then torrential rain yesterday, some plants are flowering a little earlier than they would normally. Above is Agapanthus Navy Blue.
Here is Agapanthus Silver Baby which has the faintest tinge of baby blue to the edge of the flowers. I would normally expect them to flower in August. Incidentally, they didn't flower all that well last year and this year, I potted them on. Listening to an Agapanthus grower on TV at one of the RHS shows, it seems that they need to be potted on annually, split when they get too big and given space (rather than being crammed in, which was the general wisdom) and fed. It has made a difference to mine this year, so I need to add that into the Spring maintenance schedule.
My lovely Hibiscus Oiseau Bleu is flowering earlier than in the past. It looks like it has leaned over a bit this year or maybe it is just bigger so it seems to be taking up more space.
My blue hydrangea is looking lovely and still blue, which is encouraging.
Clematis Blue Angel is flowering away (even if some of the petals have been eaten by marauding snails).
Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle is flowering beautifully too. I cut her back really hard in Spring, but she has responded well.
Hydrangea Dark Angel is also putting on a good show.
Hydrangea Little Lime is a new to me plant with lime green flowers which age to pink. So far, it is doing well.
Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine is also looking good...
with the creamy green flowers which age to a fuchsia pink.
Finally, on this Hydrangea-fest, here is 'Fireworks', flowering well.
Beautiful! One of my agapanthus (agapanthi?} has seven flowers,the other has none. Thought we had lost that one last year during the Beast from the East but it has recovered bar for the flowering. My purple hibiscus is just starting to bloom, the pink is still in bud.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. It has been a funny year weather-wise so far - dry and warm in February, wet through June, really hot last week and now torrential rain. It's no wonder the plants get as confused as we do. However, on the whole, I think the plants cope better than I do!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Loving your garden.
ReplyDeleteWe are (officially) still in winter. A very, very dry winter. Nonetheless the first daffodils (sunshine on stalks) are in bloom and more and more bulbs are emerging from the ground each day.
Thanks, EC. I love to see the daffodils - they are so cheerful and a harbinger of Spring. I hope you get some rain soon.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Looks like your garden is thriving, mine has suffered from the wind and rain and I think I've had the best. I'm waiting for the second flush of roses.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Thanks, Briony. My garden is pretty sheltered with brick walls and fences and does have a bit of a micro-climate which can help. It is really packed with plants too. I'm waiting for the second flush of roses too, but have crocosmia, asters and grasses together with the hydrangeas, which will keep going I hope, all standing by for an autumn display. My goal is to have something interesting in the garden every month of the year and I am slowly getting there.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Dear Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that a heat wave attacked UK. We visited UK in early July, and we were lucky because the weather was mild and comfortable.
Agapanthus, hibiscus and hydrangea in your garden look so stunning!
Thanks, Poirot. It was only for a week and the temperatures weren't that hot compared with other parts of the world, but it was too hot for me! Early July was much more comfortable. I have quite a collection of hydrangeas now - I think I need to stop buying them!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
Your garden is looking very pretty with beautiful flowers. Such a shame when heavy rain batters the blooms xcx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chrissie. I do like lots of colour in the garden and that is happening at the moment. So far, plants seem to be holding up against the weather - heat, rain etc. so I hope that they will continue to manage.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie