There is a lot of recovery going on in the garden after our harsh summer- but we also have had Scottish weather the past two weeks, strong winds, heavy rain and fresh temperatures- so everything has slightly stopped in its tracks, not quite knowing what is going on. Me included. So, thinking back over the spring and summer, here is a mixture of plants that caught my eye and survivors in the garden. Rosa ‘Woollerton Old Hall’ is a creamy-yellowy-apricot rose that just seems to keep on giving. I bought one as a gift for a friend and she has been delighted with it all summer- and apparently, it has an strong and unusual scent, which makes it a good ‘un all round.
In my friend Jane’s garden, a lovely blue-veined white geranium, not sure which, looked glorious in late June.
I loved the burnished look of this Potentilla ‘Arc en ciel’ which I saw in the Ludlow Food Centre garden section. Golden tips to the petals and a darker, ruffled centre- very pretty.
Again in Jane’s garden, this sumptuous rose ‘Wild Eve’ is almost Titian-esque in habit, hanging in swags over the foliage.
Monarda ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ is adorable and could be seen all over Shropshire in June. It doesn’t like Tostat- and the only Monarda that does is ‘Monarda fistulosa’ which can take some dryness without mildew.
A big investment pays off in Jane’s garden. A great idea to create a rising range of arches creating a strong diagonal sweep over the garden.
Another ‘Jane’ rose, very pretty and just perfectly balanced on the acidic side of pink and peach.
A longer view of Jane’s garden- showing the full effect of the well-positioned arches.
At last, a little colour and life returns to us in Tostat- I love the orange and the blue, the blue gets deeper as the flowers mature, which makes for a great contrast with the lime-green foliage. Such a good plant.
And, the only flowers on Geranium ‘Havana Blues’ this summer can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But, I am rethinking some of the planting to give this good geranium a bit more cover, and hopefully, there will be more flowering next summer. Geraniums are forgiving, although you have to wait until next year.
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