We are in the middle of a spell of perfect summer weather with warm sunshine, a soft breeze, blue skies and swallows skimming over the meadow. The huge honeysuckle in the crab apple by the house is sending waves of sweet scent through the garden and sound of birdsong is a constant accompaniment to our lives. The Phaeum group of Geraniums have all but finished, the Oriental poppies are in full show and the various Clematis are on their way, along with the campanulas and Leucanthemums, confirming that summer is here indeed.

This picture is of part of the new beds that I planted up in March – the predominant colours have been pink, blue and purple so far with Geraniums ‘Orion’ and ‘Nimbus’ in full flow. But now the gorgeous Californian poppies are opening, the Lychnis coronaria is close to flowering and the Hemerocallis are one their way. I think it’s going to work out fine.


Eschscholzia californica ‘Red Chief’. Grown from seed and raised in plugs this spring.

And though there seems to me to be an endless list of jobs not yet done, it’s been heartening to hear the stream of complimentary comments of visitors, especially about the standard of maintenance. Frequent mowing, edging and weeding does makes a world of difference to the appearance of the garden, setting off the showier plants beautifully. All credit to Pete who does most of this back-breaking work. His other project last week was to build a shade tunnel behind the polytunnels. I’ve been desperate for shade for some of the Tatton plants and for many of my woodland treasures and finally we have it. Nice job, Pete.

The nursery is looking good too – everything is healthy and growing well and the new layout seems to work really well.

So Tatton Show is now the focus of my attention. I’m off to Great Dixter later in the week to see how things are progressing in their exotic garden and do a bit of a plant swap. I have got most of the structural plants I need, though the Musa basjoo haven’t worked out quite as I hoped. I was after leaves, but I seem to have Cheshire bananas instead…

With this year mostly under control, I’m already starting to think about next year. I’ve cleared the greenhouse of all the early plugs and seedlings and now need to line it with shade netting to start on cuttings – the strong sun in there will burn them up otherwise. First up will be the beautiful tree in the front garden – Heptacodium miconiodes – and the Exochorda. After that the Salvias and Penstemons and then anything else that takes my eye. And yesterday marked a little milestone in the gardening year – I collected the first seeds of the season. The Pulsatilla seed heads are changing subtley from silvery green to silvery grey – my cue to collect them. And I got to the Lathyrus vernus in time this year. Last year I found only the double helix husks of the empty seed pods. And just a few Anthyllis vulneraria coccinea seeds – there’ll be tons more soon. I’m going to sow early this year, it’s so much easier to keep plants over winter that are properly established.

And finally a new flower picture – thanks to Linda Young for the ident on this very choice little Iris-like plant in the scree garden. It is Diplarrhena moraea: ‘

June 9, 2008  
  ,