Resilience in the garden (part two)

Following on from my previous post, here are a few more plants which have done well during this hot and dry summer.  Above is Clematis heracleifolia Wyevvale, which is a perennial non-clingy herbaceous plant.  This one is in a pot, so it has been watered this summer, but I divided it in the Spring and put the division into the border and that has not had any extra water.  It has pretty blue/purple flowers and a scent which reminds me of soap.  Not unpleasant, just soapy.

This is Clemaris heracleifolia New Love which is in the border and had no extra water. It has flowered for a long time and is still going strong. 

I forgot to put this photo in my previous post - this is the back of a flower of Japanese Anemone Ruffled Swan - so pretty.

The ever reliable Asters or Symphyotrichum as they have been re-named (they will remain asters to me as it's much easier to say and spell!).  Above is Aster/Symphyotrichum novae-angliae September Ruby.  I love the helpful way their flower centres change colour once the pollen is gone.

Here is  Aster/Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright.  These two are great and don't get the powdery mildew that others may succumb to (yes, Aster/Symphyotrichum Little Carlow, I'm looking at you! To be fair, that plant is probably planted in the wrong place with not enough moisture at the roots...)

Liriope Muscari is the unsung hero in my north facing border. It is reliable, comes back every year, (needs dividing, but I am a bit worried about doing that in case it upsets it) and gives me the green strappy leaves to enjoy as well as these purple flower spires at this time of year.  

The flowers are really interesting too. 

Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle, my favourite hydrangea, who usually appears on this blog at least once a year, will not be making an appearance. The heat and lack of water did her no favours and she is a shadow of her former self.  I may have to address that for next year...

Beeing busy in the garden

I just happened to have my camera to hand when I spotted this very busy bee on the japanese anemone Bressingham Glow.

This isn't unusual as the bees have been loving this plant.  However, I also managed to capture a bee in flight in this photo which I was very excited about - actions shots don't always work for me!

We are enjoying some late summer sun and temperatures to match this week.  I have quite enjoyed the cooler temperatures during July and August but I know that a lot of people will be pleased to see the late summer returning.  My three coloured hibiscus is flowering away although you can only see the pink and cream flowers in this photo.  You'll have to take my word for it, there were also blue/purple flowers!

Aster Mrs S T Wright.  Yes, I know that it should be Symphyotrichum novae angliae Mrs S T Wright, but that name doesn't trip off the tongue, does it?  However, the plant itself is a good reliable flowerer and has mildew resistance.  Apparently it was developed pre 1907.

Perennial sunflower - Helianthus Lemon Queen.  It can be invasive but I love it anyway.  It hasn't been to bad in my garden, probably because it doesn't actually have that much space!

Finally for now, a little delicate japanese anemone which I thought I had lost.  Anemone hupehensis Pretty Lady Maria. 

It is indeed very pretty.

The seasons change part one

Photo from royal.uk

Things move on and change, it is part of life, although a part that can be difficult to adapt to.  Last Monday we saw Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, which was a credit to all involved.  It is the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one.

Friday saw the Autumn equinox, and the garden is slowly but surely starting to change.

My cyclamen hederifolium plants are flowering which always says Autumn to me.  You may remember I have increased the collection with a couple of little plants that were growing in the patio, having been taken there by ants.

They brighten up the shady corner.

Hydrangeas are changing their petal colours too.  This is Paniculata Pinky Winky, which has been lovely this year. 

The Asters are also in flower.  They have been reclassified as Symphyotrichum but will remain Asters to me! Above is Mrs S T Wright...

...and here is September Ruby.

Finally for now, here is Clematis Wyevale, with its lovely blue flowers and slightly soap-like scent.  More to come in part two.

Autumn days and my thoughts on composting

It is a lovely October so far in this part of the country and I am trying to savour every minute that I can. Above is a 'Magical revolution' hydrangea, slowly taking on some autumnal shades.

This is the colour of the sky recently.

The perennial sunflowers are still going strong, but you can see how much more shade this area gets now.

The sunlight on the miscanthus flower heads is always so beautiful.

The asters are also still doing well - this is Symphotrichum Novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright (she will always be an Aster to me!).

More gorgeous miscanthus heads...

...and again.

In other news, I have emptied my compost bin and sieved the compost.  Those of you who are gardeners will no doubt be familiar with the whole compost making process and how to achieve the best results.  

I had a few bad years, because although I thought I understood the process, it needed some tweaking.  However,  I think it is now working well.   I have a plastic 'Dalek' shaped bin and you have to remove the whole bin to get at the compost.  I left it for two years, thinking all would be well, only to find it really wasn't. The compost had condensed into a solid mass  and there were no worms to be seen.  I emptied it out and started again, this time adding a layer of paper and egg boxes in between the kitchen scraps.  I also started to turn the heap a couple of times over the year.  Adding the paper layers and turning the compost have made the difference.  The resulting compost is now lovely and soft, crumbly with an earthy smell.

Having sieved the compost this time,  I shall refine my additions to the bin further.  While tea leaves rot down beautifully, tea bags don't.  Egg shells take a while too, but the pieces that are left in are small and will rot down and also provide some air.  Some compostable plastics take a long time to rot down.  I am not  adding citrus as the worms don't like it.  Potato peelings need to be added in small amounts as sometimes they have a habit of sprouting.  

It has been a real learning process but I am so happy with what nature and those clever worms have given me.  The compost will be added to peat free multipurpose compost for planting and potting on and as a mulch around some plants.  

Treasures in the garden

There is that feeling of autumn, particularly today as it is raining, but the garden has been so dry that it is good to get some rain.  There are a couple of little areas that I am particularly enjoying at the moment.  Above is my collection of cyclamen hederifolium, with their dainty pink flowers and marbled leaves.  Two of these I rescued as they had self seeded and started growing in cracks between the patio paving.  They would have been walked on, so I had to intervene and they have rewarded me by flowering. 

They are such little beauties, aren't they?  They are on the patio at the back, in a nice shady area.

In a complete contrast, here are some bigger treasures to enjoy.  Helianthus Lemon Queen (perennial sunflower) which is bringing a touch of sunshine despite the clouds.  It can be a bit invasive, but it has to compete with asters and a rose, so it is kept under control.  I think the rose is winning at the moment!

It has such bright and cheerful flowers.

They make me smile (and the insects really like them too).

The last rose of Summer and welcome Autumn

It has become quite autumnal fairly quickly, but there are still lots of plants in flower.  Above is Ferdinard Pichard who has been wonderful this year and has a lovely scent too.

Rose William Shakespeare 2000, late to flower this year, but still producing blooms.

The more autumnal flowering plants are always welcome - japanese anemone Bowles' Pink, 

Symphyotrichum (Aster) novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright, 

Symphyotrichum (Aster) Little Carlow.

A new plant - Clematis 'Little Lemons'. I thought a small clematis I could grow in a pot with little lemon flowers would be a great addition to the garden, so here it is.  

There are seedheads and flowers on this plant, so I hope it will do well for me and be happy.

The buddleia is still flowering for those insects who are still flying to collect nectar.

Miscanthus is looking elegant and dramatic, as it does every year.  If I had a bigger garden, I would have more of these plants.  Welcome to Autumn, with its changing leaf colours and gradual slowing down of the garden in readiness for Winter.  There is still a lot to enjoy.

A Frosty (but magical) Start

It has been quite frosty recently and some of the plants in the garden looked quite photogenic with a sprinkling of sparkle.  Above is a rose.

 The flower heads of an aster looked as though they had been dusted with icing sugar.

The two Blueberries, Blue Pearl, are hanging on to their leaves.

 A miscanthus looked ethereal with its flowers highlighted.

I have mislaid the label for this one, so am not sure which it is (Ferner Osten? Kleine Fontane?), but it stands beautifully upright.

 Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle looks lovely most of the time...

...in winter, the flower heads show lovely variations in tones of sepia...

...and look almost magical with the frost on them.