JUST FLOWERS!

14TH AUGUST 2018 - NORTH YORKSHIRE

That is the second Spring Bulb Catalogue to arrive by post this morning – must mean the Summer is nearly over and the bedding plants can be allowed to finally relax.

 Weather here has been abnormal for last three months - no rain and daily temperature in the high ‘twenties’. With lots of watering and feeding, everything (true what they say on the ‘Miracle Grow’ packets – at least double the norm when it comes to blooms) has been truly magnificent.

Trailing begonias dominate this basket

The seeds planted in early spring have all flowered – even those supposed to wait until next year. Dahlias, hollyhocks, nicotiana, geraniums, lupin, delphiniums, sweet williams, nasturtiums, petunias, cosmos, lobelia etc. etc., have all performed in the one hundred and twenty tubs and hanging baskets and in the ground.They have been fed and watered each day.  When temperature reached mid ‘thirties’, baskets were treated twice. 

Peachy powder puff hollyhock

Dahlia - which should have been red, but never mind

Having placed and order for plug plants during the cold dark days of January, forgot about these and re-ordered in March.  The situation in April in the greenhouse became chaos as they started to arrive by post immediately after Easter, before the night frosts had departed. Lost around fifty percent due to planting out far to early. Bizzy Lizzies, fuchsias and begonias couldn't manage the cold nights and expired. However, the mass of plants arriving soon after made up for their loss, and by mid May the garden started to look ‘Horticulturalised’ (thought this was a most descriptive word for ensuing chaotic planting and flowering).

Just another basket!

Rich velvety red trailing petunia

Baskets and window boxes in profusion

Love this display of giant begonias

Lobellia and busy lizzies enjoying a hanging basket

Away from annual bedding plants, the roses have out performed the first year expectations. The climbers have been a bit slow but the third bloom, which is imminent, should be splendid. The H.T. Roses planted last October and nourished through the long winter are well settled in, about a metre tall and have all bloomed and perfumed at least once. Some are about to perform for the third time – all due to lots of feeding and lots of water (easy to forget roses need masses of water when it’s dry). ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, ‘That’s Jazz’, ‘Litchfield Angel’ and ‘Prima Ballerina’ have been, and still are, outstanding – ‘Falstaff’ is a disappointment , due for the ‘chop’ and will be replaced in October.

Golden Celebration

Prima Ballerina

Gertrude Jekyll

Tranquility

Super Trouper

That's Jazz!

Bedding Dahlias are still at their best, full of colour and bloom – well supported by daily dead heading, watering and weekly feed. Bishop of Llandaff is glorious in vibrant red (only one plant, as the other three sets of tubers purchased, at great expense failed to grow, put not your trust in the hands of experts?). The other tuberous dahlias, supposed to be red, have flowered extensively but turned out white or red and white stripes (never believe the plant suppliers once again).

Vibrant Bishop of Llandaff with its stunning bronze foliage

Pretty bedding dahlia with dark foliage

Another clump of pretty bedding dahlias

The plethora of Fuchsias (purchased from the local Morrison’s Supermarket for £1- per plant) are wonderful, every possible variety from Tahlias to massive ‘Australian Giants’ are in full dancing splendour.  It will be time soon  to take lots of cuttings for over wintering under glass. Fuchsias, like dahlias, always respond to lots of TLC (tender Loving Care, Lots of Feeding and regular watering) and hopefully, will flower well into December.  Many are slight frost tolerant – so real value for money and a multi talented show which always impresses those non gardening neighbours and city based visitors.

Just a couple of fuchsias

The hoped for ‘Spires of Summer’ have actually happened, delphiniums in multi hues of blue, purple and white, lupins in reds, orange, cream and mauve, hollyhocks in white, peach, claret and red, Oriental Lilies in White & cream and nicotiana (now 1.5 metres tall and ever fragrant on a balmy evening. Should have read the seed packet properly as thought they were dwarf variety – look a bit strange in the hanging baskets but never mind Eh!) Have filled the two flower beds, giving height, width and lots of continuing colour.

Dreaming spires

Five troughs planted with Ivy Leaf Geraniums, Pelargoniums (trailing geraniums really), lobellia and begonias have flourished to such an extent that they would not look out of place on the front of a Bavarian Chalet. Hanging baskets, fed daily, have become two metre pillars of flowers – all due to the wonders of ‘Miracle Grow’ fertiliser (hope they see this and send me a supply for next year?).

Bavarian style troughs full of geraniums and lobellia

So a full year away from our Portuguese Idol has been very interesting and productive, even with less heat but more water. Leaving at the end of July last summer meant we missed the horrendous fires visited upon many of our friends – have been delighted to see the photographs of the recovery of their land and gardens – nature is a wonderful healer, as is human determination, and the scars will soon fade into memory. 

Well lawns and hedges to cut, must keep the Head gardener happy or no coffee!

Must dash

see you soon

Stuart.