End of June

(collage created using picmonkey)

As we near the end of June (this year is going much too quickly), it is a good time to look at roses. June has been good to them this year, despite the baking heat last week and then the heavy rain over the last few days.  I love roses and here are just a few:
top row, left to right: Chandos Beauty, Ferdinand Pichard, New Dawn
middle row, left to right: For Your Eyes Only, The Pilgrim, Eyes forYou
bottom row, left to right, Gertrude Jekyll, Madame Hardy, Rosa Mundi
I do have some deeper pink/red roses too, but haven't taken any photos of them yet, although I probably will.

A Riot of Roses!

Collages created from my photos using picmonkey

So far, 2015 has been a wonderful year for roses here in my garden.  I have managed to squeeze twenty-two into my garden, adding to the collection over the years.  There is a pale pink theme going on, but this wasn't a conscious decision - it was mainly about the scent.  I have got one yellow rose and I have added some white and deeper pinky red this year, mainly in pots.  Most of them are in flower now and I am really enjoying the colours and perfumes.
Above top row from left to right: Gertrude Jekyll; Mary Rose: Cottage Rose
Middle row: Jacques Cartier; Ferdinand Pichard; Constance Spry
Bottom row: Chandos Beauty; Bright as a Button; Blush Noisette

Just a few more...
Clockwise top left to right: New Dawn; Diamond; Rosa Gallica Versicolor (Rosa Mundi); Frilly Cuff.
Diamond was my most recent purchase, just last week, and this is its first flower.  It is a miniature rose with a slight scent but is covered in buds.
 I do enjoy the garden when the roses bloom!

July 2013 - blooming marvellous!

 The recent sunny weather has done wonders for the roses, which have been lovely this year - not just in my garden but in everyone's, I think!

 Rosa Mundi has been beautiful but has been suffering from mildew as the soil has dried out so much, so I have been trying to remember to give it extra water.

Cottage Rose has done really well too.

My favourite (but don't tell the others!), Gertrude Jekyll, has been the best it has been for quite a few years.  You can also see Clematis 'Arabella' and Hydrangea Arborescens 'Annabelle' in the background.

The clematis (I think this is Etoile Violette, but if not, then it is Jackmanii Superba) has just started to flower and has helpfully draped itself across the trellis, disguising the fact that the trellis has seen better days!

 Beautiful!

 Finally, here is my first proper vase of sweet peas.  I know everyone seems to grow them and they are rather ubiquitous at the moment, but these are the first I have grown successfully from seed. I am delighted that after a very slow start when I planted them into their tub in June, they are getting into their stride now and looking fabulous.  These are Cupani and a mixture of fragrant ones.  I think I like the scent, but now and again, I'm not sure.

I couldn't resist a slice across the colours - the colours of July in my garden.

Roses

 Finally, my roses are blooming and I just had to cut a few and bring them in.  They are Ferdinand Pichard, Rosa Mundi, Gertrude Jekyll, Geoff Hamilton and Mary Rose.  (You may also have spotted a stray astrantia that sneaked in the top photo).

More of the same, but without the astrantia and with more Ferdinand and Gertrude added in.  The scent wafts around the sitting room and is wonderful.  Roses are one of my favourite plants and given a half acre garden, I would grow many more varieties.  In my small back garden, I have crammed ten of them, but would love more.  One day...

Roses and Clematis

More highlights from the garden and despite the lack of decent rain, the roses and clematis are doing well.  Another of my favourite roses, Rosa Mundi, looking fantastic with a few drops of rain on the petals.  The raspberry ripple swirls on the petals make each flower an original as no two are the same.  It is also one of the oldest roses still in existence.

A relatively new Clematis - Filigree - which I bought last year from QVC and a Raymond Evison introduction.  The two small plants survived the awful winter and I planted them together in a terracotta pot earlier this year. They only grow about 12 inches in height and are happily growing through an upturned wire hanging basket as a support and are starting to trail slightly over the pot which is very attractive.  The flowers are an unusual silvery grey/lilac and open out with darker stamens as you can see from the older flower below.

A Symphony of Pink!

My garden is flowering madly at the moment and I have a huge number of plants with pink flowers - not necessarily by design. There are also touches of blue, white and purple, but at the moment it is predominantly pink. Still, when the flowers are this gorgeous, I don't mind.

From the top - Rosa Mundi (Gallica Versicolour), Cottage Rose, Penstemon Garnet. I love this penstemon as it came through the coldest winter for 30 years completely unscathed and it is in a pot. I tried to take some cuttings but all but one have wilted and died. Undaunted, I shall try again because I would like lots more of this plant.

Clematis 'Piilu' which is very reliable and floriferous. For the first time this year, it has produced double flowers (below) at the same time as single flowers (above). It also has produced a multitude of buds too. It is a great plant.