Angie's Garden Diaries

You bet it was!

When my brother moved into his house back in 2010, he had a reasonably well stocked garden. Very little of it too my taste and certainly not his! He doesn't do gardens! End off!  There was a raised bed in his back garden that looked like it hadn't been touched in years, it was over run with all sorts. In amongst the weeds, Japanese anemones and the cornflowers (centaurea montana) and many more were some huge clumps of Iris - bearded Iris judging by the size of the sword like foliage I told myself. I'm no Iris expert, far from it - they could have been anything really but that was my guess and I was sticking by it.

He announced that this was the spot his shed was going into and if I wanted anything, I'd best take it soon because it's all coming out! Without any consideration (at that time I knew no better) I came armed with spade and fork first thing the following morning. Some of the clumps were so large they were almost impossible to lift. My only choice was to slice through what I could and take a piece of each, leaving him with the impossible job of getting the rest out.

The only piece of knowledge I had concerning Iris was that they like sun - yep, sun! That was it. A quick internet search then told me they needed to be planted on the surface in order their Rhizomes bake in the hot sun. That made sense, when I considered how near to the surface they were when I attempted to lift them.  When I got them home, I chose a sunny spot in the back garden and lifted some turf. Dug over the entire area and proceeded to plonk them on, rather than in! I covered the roots and firmed them in. Ensuring the rhizomes were still on the surface. I religiously watered for the remainder of the summer. They hadn't died and had began sprouting some new foliage. Autumn and winter came and went - come springtime I was confident they were still alive. As the year went on, sadly they produced no flowers but they were still alive. Maybe next year - I kept telling myself.

Jump forward to late spring 2012, they looked ever so healthy and as we moved towards May, dare I hope for flowers?  Let me tell you, the suspense was killing me! May turned to June and still no flowers - disappointment again!  To say I was gutted is a bit of an understatement.  But they weren't dead - the voices in my head kept telling me that was a good thing. Then it happened! The wet summer of 2012 rolled in - the spot I had chose for the Iris flooded. I watched for weeks as the plants were drowning in front of my very eyes. I lifted what I could and potted as many of the shrubs as I had large enough pots for. I was determined I was not going to loose those Iris - I had brought them through this far, I wasn't going to let a bit of wet weather beat me. By this time - I knew that my front garden had far better drainage than the back garden.  Perhaps I should give them a go round them. As I dug them from the ground, that big slurping sound haunted me as I put the fork underneath them - I lay them in my neighbours greenhouse for a couple of days to dry out. Rightly or wrongly, I'll never know but when I went back to look at them, some of them were pretty rotten and mushy and of course, I think what roots they did have were left in the ground when I removed them. With nothing left to lose I re planted them in the front garden - where they were left to their own devices. If they were meant to be then they would survive. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Over the ensuing weeks, they got worse instead of better and any foliage that remained all but died right back. They've had it I told myself and I completely forgot all about them.

Last year, 2013 - we had a wonderful summer here in Edinburgh. One of the driest on record and I was amazed to see that some of the rhizomes had dared to put out some foliage. Yet again, these Iris had my hopes raised - they certainly know how to keep a girl (well, not quite a girl) on tenterhooks. Sadly again, no flowers. I gave them the good old talking too - you know the one. Either buck up your ideas or your out of here. I always think that odd because 9 times out of 10 it works.

I know I've kept you all on tenterhooks, I wanted to add to the effect and of course share with you just how great it feels to finally have some Iris flowers.

Back at the beginning of May, the largest clump had started to send up a few flower stems - had my perseverance, prayer and patience paid off, you bet! Look what I got

Unknown Iris

This Lemon/White flower was not alone - sadly unscented but you can't deny their beauty, well I can't that's for sure.

Further along the bed a couple of more rhizomes began sending up single flower stems - I dared to get excited. I kept my beady eye on them every single day.

Down by the front gate - we have another, identical it may be, I don't care - I'm just so pleased some of them have flowered.

We have twins - no, change that, we have triplets! Can you see it? You can just make it out. I must have missed a piece of rhizome when I was taking them out. This one is special - it's totally swamped by the surrounding plants. As you can see - this bed is now planted with moisture lovers, Trollius, Ligularia, Periscaria and Astilbe - just in case the flooding reoccurs but so far, touch wood, it hasn't!

A close up of the flower - this one obviously doesn't read the gardening books, whilst it's in a sunny spot, it certainly can't get baked in the sun - I had a look under the Persicaria it is growing through and I can't see the rhizome at all. It must be completely buried under the roots.

It's a beautiful burgundy colour with white and gold markings and scented too boot! I might never find out it's name - not that it matters, I'm hoping it's here to stay.

There are still many more rhizomes with leaf only, they are sorry pathetic looking things but hopefully given enough time, I'll have a few more to add to the collection.

Many more like these in the garden

I know there are many of you that successfully grow Iris, if you can offer any tips, I'd be really grateful. Would you recommend feeding them, if so what do you use? I know they aren't in a particularly roomy spot for them but in my hurry to rescue them I didn't give room much of a thought!

Since the end of May the garden has really started to come into it's own. There seemed to be a bit of a lull between the last bloom day post and the end of the Month. I'm none too worried about that, the exceptionally mild winter meant lots flowered earlier and in a normal year, would usually see the garden through to the end of May.

Out front, my non descript front garden has a few blooms. There are two real highlights out there at the moment, neither of them are particularly complimentary to each other in so far as colour is concerned. Tropaeolum speciosum, for 4 years, I thought was a weed growing up through the front hedge. I spent hours in the summer ripping heaps of it from deep within the privet. Yet, each year, back it came! It was determined to stay. I finally managed to find out what it was, learning that it's a fussy begger - I thought it best to let it hang around. I am currently trying to get the privet to grow tall enough to really show them off.

The first paeonies of the year are now blooming in the front garden. These, I have no ID for, as they were planted when I first moved in here and the labels are long gone. A close up of the blooms. The scent is amazing and it hits you bang in the face as soon as you open the front door. A bit too blousy for some tastes but the flowers don't last too long, therefore I like to enjoy them for the short time they are with me.

The old and the new!

As we go up the side path, in the wings, P. Sarah Bernhardt and Aconitum Stainless Steel are poised! Meanwhile, Rhododendron Goldflimmer is flowering far more profusely than this time last year. R. Goldflimmer is the last Rhododendron to bloom and always waits until June to share those purple blooms.

As we walk the remainder of the side path, just before we pop into the back garden proper, this is the view directly outside the back door. The path separates the Physocarpus from the rest of the plants but I like the effect these colours create here. Lonicera periclymenum, cultivar name Scentsation - really does as it says on the tin. It has an incredible SCENT! Even though the flowers are rather sparse right now, it can be smelt all around the garden. The Dicentra spectabalis will flower for a while yet - this one's always later and last longer due to the fact it doesn't get quite so much sun. I know I've missed the 'Derby Day' recommended trimming of the box hedge. I've put my back out (putting up that temporary expanding trellis you can see) and can't do very much and I wouldn't dare trust anyone else to do them. A week or two will make little difference to them, I'm sure.

Lonicer periclymenum Scentsation, Dicentra spectabalis
Physocarpus opulifolius Nugget

You can just make out one of the flowers of Aquilegia Spring Magic which had gone over already but after a couple of days of drizzle picked up again.

Just over the other side of the trellis, which kind of marks out a boundary between the side garden and back garden, is my teeny weeny wildlife pond. Little happens there, no frogs, toads or spawn. Plenty of other beasties and snails though. Maybe one day they will come. I don't grow much in the pond, it's way too small for most plants but there is a pot of Cardamine (which has finished flowering), Acorus and I fling in a piece of water hyacinth each year for luck but they never flower.
Surrounded by plants, which if I'm honest are generally not usually associated with pondside planting but they do well and are certainly not devoid of insect/pollinator activity.

Far left, just about to go over is Polemonium yezonense, around the front edge of the pond Ajuga Burgundy Glow and Aruncus aethusifolius, are filling out nicely. Heucheras Marmalade and Beauty Colour surround Geranium sanguineum and tucked right in almost out of sight is a little dwarf Geum, Dingle Apricot, which really needs bringing to the front. Clematis Scartho Gem - sets of nicely against the foliage of Cotinus coggygria Dusky Maiden. The two areas combined are, in my opinion, not unpleasant to the eye.

Back in May

Across the way, on the sunnier side - the Bumble Bee bed has undergone a bit of a change. The main focal point in this bed had been Physocarpus Lady in Red - the poor old Lady just didn't do it for me in that spot. The red of the Physocarpus really did stand out, for the wrong reasons! I had bought a new Hawthorn for elsewhere in the garden but after much toing and froing I decided that the double pink flowers would look way better down here with the blue, white and pinks in this bed, I set about removing the Physocarpus. I cut it back almost to the floor and moved it round to the front garden as a temporary measure. Not the best time of year for doing this. either moving shrubs or planting trees - providing I stick to a strict watering regime, then I'm confident they'll both be okay.
Here is the Bumble Bee bed yesterday evening - it was hissing down and quite windy, therefore the quality of this picture is not great. I am much more pleased with this now and I don't cringe each time I look at it.

In the foreground Nepeta Six Hills giant, Geranium psilostemon and Cirsium rivulare will need a bit of a shuffle around, Clematis The Vagabond has been flowering for weeks now.

In the far corner, a white oriental poppy mingles with Astrantia Buckland. This combo works well, the Astrantia gives much needed support to the poppies. Some of you will remember the issues I've been having with Patty's Plum elsewhere in the garden. There is a Patty's Plum in there too but it's not flowering yet. Sanguisorba Pink Tanna and a Blue hardy geranium will take over when the poppies have gone.

Also, tucked in away at the back, a young Lonicera x italicum Harlequin has flowered for the first time. It's still hidden behind it's neighbours but making good growth up onto the trellising provided for it.

One of my favourite hardy Geranium, G. sanguineum Elke, to give her her full name, has started scrambling around at the foot of the phlox and noble clover.

In the miniature garden, Sysrinchium EK Balls has started to flower - I love the daintiness of these flowers. I need to check but I'm almost certain that each month (apart from January) my miniature garden has had something in bloom. I'm pleased with that, as it's what I was hoping to achieve.

The trellis (Project Privacy) is still as yet, devoid of blooms. They shouldn't be far away. Roses, Honeysuckle and Clematis, I hope will create a riot of colour before the end of the month. Speaking of roses, the first rose to flower is a patio rose - Rosa Happy Time. It's a pretty little thing I picked up in the supermarket last year. Here's a shot taken last week - the other buds just about to open have taken a bit of a beating in the rain.

At the base of the trellis on the shadier side, a lovely little Mock Orange. I picked this shrub up in a local DIY store on the sale table for 50p last year - a little tlc and looks great, don't you think? Not quite as strong a scent and other's I've had the pleasure of sniffing.

Through the pergola arch on the shadier side, whilst the shrubs were all new to this area back in spring, they will eventually fill out this space. Meanwhile, the perennials that were already here fill in round about. Although the border will need widening at some point, nothing is really too big for it's allotted space at the minute, I'm sure will cope here until autumn or spring. It will depend on how long I can hold off my itchy trowel!

Shady corner of project privacy

Aconitum Gletscheris. This was one of 3 plants that really suffered back in the 2012 floods. Signs of life by way of the tiniest piece of new foliage, it was lifted and kept in a pot in the hope it would recover. This is a special plant - it was one of the first I ever bought for this garden and have never seen it for sale since. It's odd how we get attached to some plants isn't it?

Tiarella Spring Symphony is surrounded by foliage in all shapes and colours. Primula vialii is currently scarlet red, this will change in a few days.

At the base of the new Rowan, Trollius Cheddar is just about going over and Philadelphus Belle Etoile is about to come into flower. The scent of which just kind of creeps up on you as you walk up the garden. I say walk, what I really mean is hobble!

It's difficult to make out the Rowan flowers in this picture but they are there and are loved by the bees, except when I have my camera to hand that is.

The new bed, which is the feature of my End of Month View blogs has plenty in bloom this June. I'm going to be frank and tell you all - I'm not happy with it this June! My vision back in February is not what I've produced. I was in two minds whether to post about what was blooming in this bed, I struggled on and took individual photos of all the blooms but felt that was cheating and then considered how helpful some of you might be by casting a neutral eye over it and giving me your honest opinion. I think know where I've gone wrong - it's either the pokers or the lupins. The lupins should have been red, which I think might have drawn the eye down from the pokers on the back tier.

As it turns out, the 3 red Lupins I planted ended up blue, purple and a deeper blue. Certainly not red is clearly shows and describes on the label! A chance you take I suppose when buying young plants very early in spring, that will teach me for trying to grab a bargain! This hasn't happened to me too often I'm glad to say. Isn't it annoying. Thank goodness I don't have a Chelsea Show Garden to plant up.

I like the paeony and Primula together, even with the deep purple of the Clematis and orange of the climbing rose on the top tier thrown into the mix, it's not unpleasant to the eye. Deutzia Strawberry Fields also blends right in, I feel.

I also like the Poker and Primula together - please excuse the blue Primula in the shot, that's for elsewhere in the garden.

But marrying them together is proving difficult. Still, that's gardening I suppose! I do understand that gardening is a personal preference and each of you will have a different opinion, either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you'd like to express them that is!

Well that's my bloom day post, you've had your lot! Please join me and other garden bloggers over at May Dream Gardens. It's the place to be on the 15th of every month. Garden bloggers from around the world open their gardens and share with us all their blooming delights!

End of month view June 2014

End of Month View
May 2014

Green! Yes, that's the word that I think best describes this month's End of Month View.  The late summer flowering plants are gearing up. This bed was always meant to be a predominantly a late summer border, the garish colours of the flowers look better at the top end of the garden.

Presently colour/blooms come by way of Astilbes, Trollius and Lupins - The Astilbes have a few weeks left in them and the Lupins are perhaps on borrowed time unless they get a second wind.  I'm told, not checked though, that we are to get a rather wet weekend. If that's the case, it might breathe a bit of new life into those Lupins.
I'm far happier with this border now that the bright pink peony has finished flowering. That's on the list to be replaced in autumn. With what, I'm not sure - there are a few contenders already in the garden. The new Trollius, T. chinensis Golden Queen is presently at the top of the list. You can make out the flowers just left of centre.   The cardoon has taken on epic proportions in the last 4 weeks - it's full to bursting with buds. They are a long way off from flowering yet though.

On the top tier, the rambling rose on the back fence is flowering it's heart out. I've been training this on wires, a sort of espalier if you like.  Whilst I'm pleased with my efforts, it's a shame that it can't be fully appreciated now it's stuck behind the shed.  My concerns leading up to it flowering was whether or not is would look out of place but that isn't the case.  An alternative site for it gives me yet another dilemma! Decisions, decisions, decisions! Also growing on the fence a Pyracantha, has flowered and gone over since my last post - moving it here in spring without cutting it back, was not only difficult, I worried that it might not flower. I worried unnecessarily, it flowered beyond my expectation. There should be masses of orange berries later in the year.

Rose 'Félicité Perpétue'

The new patch of lawn is looking great, it has blended in with the older grass and is not so noticeable now. I've been keeping myself busy by having to weed out all the stray seed that got blown into the border. Just when I think I'm on top of it, more appears. It will be much easier to deal with when the plants are dying back later in the year.

Well, that's all for my End of Month View post for June. If you want to join in or read more on what's been happening at the end of June elsewhere, pop over to The Patient Gardener's Weblog, there's lots more to see.

They say that a true, pure blue in the garden is hard to find. There is masses written about plants that are or are not blue but in fact shades of purple, lavender or mauve which pass themselves of as blue. I do like blue in the garden, blue is my favourite colour. Whether or not the blues in my garden are in fact blue, they look blue enough to me to consider them blue! I've also read that bees, insects and other pollinators can't actually see the colour blue. I find that in my garden they have no problem locating these plants, in fact some of them seem to be favoured by them. I therefore conclude that it must the their scent that is the attraction. Some I find have obvious scent, for example Nepeta, Salvia and of course Lavender but others are completely void of any scent to human nose.

Only this afternoon I was driving past a garden that was full to bursting with Blue Hydrangeas. The sweeping bank that wrapped around the driveway was a sea of blue. The garden was large and could easily carry it off. How I wish I'd had my camera with me to get a shot. It was a sight for sore eyes let me tell you.

For a moment or two I had a slight pang of regret at having gave away my Hydrangeas last year. When I got home, I realised that my garden was not completely void of blue. There's lots of blues that I suppose aren't really blue if you want to get down to the nitty gritty but I'm not one for getting into the nitty gritty of such things, life's just too short!

Two blue plants that grow in my garden are really not for me, if I'm honest! I just get the benefit of the flowers. I grow these especially for the cats. One of my cats is particularly possessive over his catmint. He goes to all sorts of lengths to stop his brothers or neighbouring cats getting their paws on it. Here's a picture taken last year, I had just planted it and had a good old chew before I gave it some protection. You can actually see the loving and longing in his eyes or is it that's he's just high! More likely the later.

Titch looking admiringly at a newly planted Nepeta

Tip - For those that find cats destroy catmint - protecting the crown of the plant with an upturned wire hanging basket like this is great. It prevents the cats from rolling on the crown and killing the plant. It does look a little odd until the plants fills out and disguises the wires.

The dry sunny weather has done wonders for the catmint this year. Nepeta grandiflora Blue Danube - is a nice compact variety and thanks to the wire basket, remains very upright. This is the same plant as above one year on.

Another catmint, a taller more vigorous variety Nepeta Six Hills Giant. It can be rather floppy in the conditions in my garden but the wire basket just helps it stay a tad more erect but small enough to keep the arching habit the plant has naturally. The fact that Nepeta is popular with the bees is another good reason to grow at least one of these in the garden, providing you have a good spot for it that is.

Nepeta Six Hills Giant

Buddleia davidii Blue Empire, with a feeding drone fly (Eristalis tenax) is flowering a good couple of weeks earlier this year. I do hope we see some early butterflies to go along with it. I'll need to keep on top of dead heading if it's too meet the demand of the butterflies that appear later in the season.

Buddleia davidii Blue Empire and Eristalis tenax

A hardy blue geranium, naturally a bit of a clamberer rather than a clumper, has managed to use a nearby Clematis as support and is doing almost as good job of climbing the trellis as the Clematis is. You can make out Aconitum Stainless Steel in the border behind the trellis, another non blue blue!

Unknown blue hardy Geranium and Aconitum Stainless Steel

Spring flowering Brunnera produces an abundance of pretty little forget me not type flowers early in the year. The plants that grow here in full sun are generally a bit tired by the time we reach June, those in shade do far better. I learned many years ago that by chopping them right back to the ground, they produce new foliage in a mater of 2 weeks and a second flush of flowers mid July. Granted it doesn't flower quite so prolifically but I don't mind that one bit.

Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost

A new blue I've introduced to the garden this summer was a bit of an impulsebuy to tell you the truth. Once I got them home I really did struggle to find them a home. I found the dark blue quite intense and it clashed with almost everything I placed it beside. However, after reading they are short lived (expensive lesson!) I decided that I'd give them a go beside Primula vialii, which is also quite fussy but reliably perennial here in my garden for the past 3 years. So if it's to come back, this could well be the ideal spot.

Primula capitata noverna Deep Blue

The next blue came as quite a surprise. I have not seen this plant for 2 years. I planted 3 together in a clump summer 2011 and gradually they all disappeared. I planted Geranium sanguineum in it's place. Which appeared to be a bit more reliable in my garden. Isn't it odd when these things happen.

Geranium Pratense Black Beauty
and
Geranium sanguineum

Hosta Aureomarginata gets a bit too much sun, not only does it fade the foliage, it reduces the purple tone of the flowers to the extent they look almost blue when they are fully opened.

Hosta Aureomarginata

If you visit nurseries and GCs in summer there are generally a wide range of Salvias available in many shades of blues and purples. Salvia x sylvestris Blue Queen seen here with the blue of Clematis The Vagabond. Salvias are another range of plants that are loved by pollinators.

Salvia x sylvestris Blue Queen
and
Clematis The Vagabond

A couple of sun loving blues that don't cope with conditions in my garden - a blue agapanthus (there will be more on this plant in future blog) and Eryngium bougatii Graham Stuart Thomas grows in a pot, it means I can provide better drainage that is available in the ground.

Blue Agapanthus

Eryngium bourgatii Graham Stuart Thomas

The Eryngium should come complete with an ouch warning. If I've pricked myself on that sharp foliage once, I've did it a thousand times!

The bendy blue racemes of Veronicastrum virginicum Apollo fascinate me. No two flowers bend the same way. This North American native makes a nice statement in any border. Despite the fact it is not a native and blue, it still attracts plenty of pollinators. Except when I have the camera out that is!

Flowers aren't the only blues right now. Mahonia, The Oregon Grape (you can see why it got it's common name) is abundant with blue/purple berries or should that be grapes? Either way, they make a nice statement on their own. This year was the first it had flowered in 3 years, therefore the first time I've had berries. Whether or not they are eaten by the birds remains to be seen.

Mahonia x media Charity

More blue adornments, this time by the way of cones on Abies Koreana Silberline. Everyone that sees this tree comments on the cones and can't believe their eyes.

Abies koreana Silberline

The last of my blues in flower this week is a new Clematis I picked up in the supermarket in springtime. It was rather small but is coming on a treat in a pot until it puts on a good root system and I can plant it out in Autumn.

Clematis Rhapsody

So there you have them, my summertime blues! Are you a sucker for blue flowers? I know I am. Do you find that the pollinators are as attracted to the blues as they are other colours in your garden? You might not even like blue in the garden, I couldn't imagine a garden without it mind you.

I hope the weather has been kind to you all this weekend, as it has here. Long may it continue!

Shades of Blue

I've had a brief look back at what was flowering this time last year and to be honest there isn't really much difference - one noticeable difference is that plants that had just coming into bloom this time last year are well on their way this year and it leads me ponder what will be happening come September. Still, no point in worrying about that now and even if the worse comes to the worse, there's nothing I can do about it. I can't insist that Mother Nature puts the breaks on for a few weeks. Not that I would want her to anyway, the sunny weather has been a treat. worth from my new hose. It's been well used already.

This was the sight that greeted me as I walked out the back door on Monday morning. What had been the perfect mingle last year is this year verging on the over crowding, depending on your taste. I don't mind it like this as it means very few weeds to deal with. The sunny bed in the gravelled area out side the back door is a real treat at this time of the year. As you will see there is a wide range of plants blooming this week.

left to right:
Phlox paniculata Violet Flame, Hemerocallis Crimson Pirate and Erigeron Dunkelste Aller

Alstroemeria Inca Glow and Hemerocallis Crimson Pirate

left to right:
Hemerocallis Pink Damask, Rosa Rhapsody in Blue and Alstroemeria Inca Glow

Geranium psilostemon, Allium sphaerocephalon and Nepeta Dawn til Dusk

Clematis The vagabond

Clematis viticella Mme Julia Correvon

Nepeta grandiflora Blue Danube

One the shadier side of the gravelled area, I have had to take the shears to some Astrantia. They were on the verge border domination. I left a small amount of flowers purely for the benefit of the pollinators. This is another border that is now in it's fourth year and will need a bit of a shuffle and possibly widening if I'm to continue growing the same amount of plants.

Astrantia major Snow Star

Lupin Gallery Blue, Alchemilla mollis and Astrantia Snow Star

Before we pop through the arch to the back garden proper, the climbers I planted here in Springtime are slowly but surely making their vertical ascent. It will be next year before I am able to appreciate the effect I'm trying to achieve. Still, lets see what's flowering.

Both The Wedgewood Rose climbers are looking healthy but only one is producing blooms. By my reckoning they both receive a similar amount of sunshine. They were cut well back in spring before being moved to their new home. I wonder if I might have caused more root damage on one than the other, this rose flowers right up to the end of the year, so plenty of time yet. This rose has a wonderful fruity scent but if you get your nose right in the centre, there is no mistaking the scent of clove.

DA The Wedgewood Rose

Honeysuckle, L. periclymenum Fragrant Cloud to give it it's full name, another with a wonderful scent is on the same section as the non flowering climbing rose. My vision is to have the climbers reach the top of the trellis and cascade down over the other side.

Lonicera periclymenum Fragrant Cloud

In the long border in the back garden proper, this is the border that is the focus of my end of month view, my favourite combo at the moment and one that has panned out exactly as I saw it in my mind when I planted it back in 2012.

I just love the stature of the Ligularia, it looks great with the pure white of Astilbe Deutschland and the yellow is picked up by the stamens of the Philadelphus.

Ligularia The Rocket and Astilbe Deutschland

Just out of shot to the left and in front of the Kilmarnock Willow (which has just began suffering from rust) is another Astilble, Astilbe japonica Red Sentinel. Is said to prefer shade or part shade. To be honest, it struggled in those conditions in my garden but since moving it into a full sun spot, it's looking the best it ever has. Compared to the other Astilbes I grow, this one is quite short reaching a maximum height of 60cm.

Astilble japonica Red Sentinel, Persicaria JS Caliente and Primula florindae

As you can see neighbouring Persicaria and Himalayan Cowslips are just coming into bloom. Further on up to the top end of this border, which is in a bit of a 'tweeny stage at present. You know, when things have gone over and others aren't quite there yet. Helenium Moerheim Beauty is just beginning to inject some late summer colour at the top end of the garden. The large drift of these planted in spring, which all came from 3 plants that I divided up when I transplanted them, are shall we say, in your face. Oddly though, they are far more verging on red than they've ever been before. They do recommend dividing them every 3 or 4 years, perhaps I've rejuvenated them.

Helenium Moerheim Beauty

As we walk back down towards the house, the opposite side of the garden, is a bit more shaded. The border curves round the step of the decking. The curved end receiving far more sun that the rest of the bed, is home to Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton. My experimental planting scheme comprising of Rose along with a Sedum and Heuchera that compliments her bronzy coloured foliage hasn't quite gone as I had hoped. Whilst all the plants are happy together, I'm not so keen on the Heuchera flowers drawing the eye from the beauty of Emma's blooms. I'm tempted to snip of those flowers when the Sedum finally blossoms to see the effect it has, so watch this space come next bloom day post. Everything else in this bed is in a bit of a guddle, due to the fact things were moved around to make way for the Laburnum in spring. More Autumn work!

Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton, Sedum Red Globe and Heuchera Palace Purple

Down in shady corner, which despite the hot dry weather is still looking remarkably lush. The different shapes, textures and shades of green courtesy of the Ferns, Hostas and Tiarella is only added to when blooms spring up here and there.

left to right:
Primula capitata norverna, Primula vialii, Tiarella Spring Symphony and an unknown Hosta in flower this July Bloom Day

Just before we leave the back garden, the first flower on one of my Fuchsia has opened. I received some Fuchsia cuttings from Helene over at Graphicality UK a while back. Now, I'm not a particular fan of Fuchsia but my mother is and each year she asks me to grow some for her and each year I make some lame excuse to save me the effort. Since I received the cuttings from Helene, which she was over the moon with by the way, she appeared home with another given to her by her friend. See what you've started Helene! Joking aside, they are all coming along nicely and have made great growth. I should have more blooms over the next couple of weeks.

Fuchsia Annabel

Sitting on the back step alongside the Fuchsia is a pot of what was meant to be Trailing Begonias? They don't do much trailing in my opinion, more like semi upright with a dangly flower stem. Somehow, I don't think the breeders would appreciate giving them such a non de plume. I don't know what I've done wrong. I've tried them in full sun, I've tried them in part shade. Any ideas? Or am I just being too impatient.

The side garden, which is predominantly a spring garden, Zantedeschia aethiopica and Hosta Frances Williams have bright white blooms right now.

I've deliberately omitted what's blooming in the front garden this post. There are blooms but they are going to get a post all of their very own. I've finally got a plan for the garden out front. I'm quite excited about it and feel it deserves a stand alone post.

I'm late at posting this Bloom Day Post, for once I'm just not disorganised - The Garden Gremlins struck again! I tripped over my own feet, fell full force into the whirligig, brought it crashing to the ground in two pieces, smashed my front tooth and knocked out a crown. I've had other priorities this last couple of days! All is well, teeth are fixed and new whirligig has been installed. Thankfully, as my son and his GF are just back from their vacation in Cyprus with two suitcases full of dirty laundry. I'll be over later to see what's been going on in all your gardens this July.

At the tail end of summer last year, I was visiting friends living near the city centre here in Edinburgh.   In the city, refuse is collected by way of a communal bin system. Large refuse bins are sited in many of the streets.  When the bins are full or even on occasion when they are not, waste is just heaped on the ground around the bin.  Often this leads to making passing by these bins hazardous for pedestrians, abled bodies or otherwise!  Litter and fly tipping are pet hates of mine. What has this got to do with gardening I hear you ask yourself? I'm getting to that.

When we were leaving my friend asked me if I'd be so kind as to pop a bag of rubbish in the bin at the end of the street. It would save her going down later. No problem, I told her.  As I got nearer the bin, I thought it was full as some lazy so and so had created a big mound of garbage bags around the bin. Amongst the pile of bags and other garbage, I noticed 2 plants had been discarded amongst them.  After spending the next few minutes putting all of the bags into the rather empty bin, yes, Mr or Mrs Fly Tipper was a lazy so and so (you can add your own expletive if you wish) and couldn't even be bothered to lift up the lid. I gathered up both the pots and popped them into the boot of the car. Both were easily identified, the first was an Agapanthus. It was kind of in flower.  The other a Yucca but other than that, I haven't a clue!

Here is the Agapanthus as it was when I brought it home. Rather pot bound don't you think?

You do wonder why folks throw some plants out but what ever the reason, I'm just glad I was in the right place at the right time. Their loss and all that!

Windswept and interesting!

Getting it out of that pot was not easy. The roots had grown through the holes in the base and I just couldn't get any purchase on it at all. Out came my trusty utility knife and pad saw. I was sure the plant could cope with a bit of root damage so all I needed to do was to take care and not loose a digit or two in the process. I began hacking and sawing away at the pot. It took me quite a while to eventually free the whole thing up.

Root, toot and I'm oot!

Just get a look at that root system! It was all root and very little compost as far as I could see.

Where to start? The root ball was solid. I plunged it in a basin of water for an hour or so. Purely in the hope it would soften and free the roots up a bit.  In the end, I had to be really brutal with it, handfuls of roots were coming away. They were very brittle, the water obviously hadn't soften them one little bit. They might even by brittle by nature for all I knew.

What to do next? I remembered reading that they perform better when they are pot bound but from what I could make out by looking at the plant, this may well not be the case. Rocket science was not needed to see that.  I didn't want to put the plant under any more stress than I already had, I decided just to pot it up into a bigger pot at this stage. I would revisit dividing it should recover and come back next year.

For a week or so it looked a bit worse for wear but regular watering and some rain, it began to pick up. It was kept in a cold greenhouse over winter. If I had know we were to have a frost free winter, I'd have risked leaving it somewhere sheltered. Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it?

It didn't die back completely (as my other Agapanthus does) but that could also be the result of the mild winter rather than it being evergreen. I'm extremely doubtful of ever finding an exact identification, there are way too many hybrids and cultivars out there to even narrow it down.

Bad hair day!

If you'd like to jump forward 10 months with me and take a look at how it's doing this summer. It is flowering but even less that it had appeared to do last year. Obviously my potting on didn't do quite what I had hoped.

I just need to take the bull by the horns this autumn and set about dividing it into smaller pots. I suspect it's going to be a bit of a real slice, dice and hack job rather than gently gently!

Before you ask, the Yucca? Well, what do you think? I really need some advice here if anyone has any to offer.

For a while there, each new leaf was splitting across width ways when they reached a height of around 5 inches but that seems to have stopped now. All new growth recently has been much healthier and is no longer splitting. I think it's crying out to be repotted but am unsure of what's going on with those tuber like 'things' on the surface. Are they roots? Which growing medium would you recommend? I know in the ground they will prefer a sunny well drained spot but don't think I'd risk putting it in the ground here as the winter wet will probably be an issue as might winter temperatures. I'm thinking a John Innes based compost, with some grit and some soil conditioner to retain a little moisture.

It was nice to find 2 good sized plants and even better to have rescued them. After all, if I hadn't someone else definitely would have. I know I'm not the only one to have found plants in the most unlikely place. Chloris over at The Blooming Garden has a Yucca in bloom for the first time since she rescued it from the municipal dump a few years ago. What about you? Any exciting finds or perhaps you found a monster, a plant you regret rescuing and are wondering why you ever bothered in the first place.

My garden has been a tad neglected this last week or so. I've been thoroughly enjoying the TV coverage of the Commonwealth Games. I'd have loved to have got tickets to attend some of the events but my working day and other commitments just doesn't allow. The home countries have all done tremendously well thus far and all teams from the UK have exceeded their medal expectations. I know it's not gardening but for those that might not have seen coverage, a wee Scots girl from the Shetland Islands became the youngest ever to win a commonwealth medal. At 13 years of age, Erraid Davies's moment has made us all proud and stole the hearts of many. A big well done to all those involved in Glasgow 2104.

High and dry describes the month of July this year. High temperatures and very dry weather. I'm ever so glad I replaced the old cumbersome hose with one of those expanding light weight jobs. It's made a time consuming job far more bearable. Since bringing it home I've not been without volunteers to water the garden for me. If only I had known it would be so popular, I'd have bought one sooner!

End of Month View June 2014

The sea of green in June's End of Month View is in the not so dim and distant past. When I planned this border back at the beginning of the year - my aim for this bed was two fold, late summer colour and plenty available for the pollinators. It had been my intent that Helenium Moerheim Beauty would be central to this bed at this time of year. It's never without wildlife visitors. We don't see butterflies here until around now, therefore I feel that it's important to have lots of late flowering plants. The new grass has taken well and looks like it's always been there. The stone edging has worked well, the lawn mower cuts right over the top.

I wonder, can you spot the subtle difference between the two shots? I've had a pot of Leucanthemum Banana Cream sitting around for a while. It had been destined for a spot in the front garden but I had never got round to planting it in the ground. I popped it in here too see what difference it makes. I like it. I think there needs to be something between the Helenium and the lower growing plants in the front row in bloom at this time. Had my dwarf yellow daylily flowered it might have made a difference and we shall see what happens when the Sedum flowers in a few weeks . I moved a decent sized clump of the daylilies here back in spring, perhaps I should have divided it at that time too because if I think back, I'm sure it didn't flower last year either. They do say that daylilies need to be regularly divided to perform at their best. A job for spring.

There will be a void when the Verbena dies, it's not perennial here and I've never found a seedling, despite me letting the plants to go to seed for the last 4 years. Last years plants, elsewhere in the garden obviously made it through our frost free winter but are rather sorry looking specimens this year. I need to source a more permanent resident for this spot. Dotted throughout the border is the later flowering Allium sphaerocephalon. These Alliums are British natives and are loved by all the pollinators. They are a lot more reliable in my garden than the larger flowering types. I shall be planting more of these bulbs in autumn. The Lupins, I apologise for sounding like a broken record each and every End of Month post - not red, not dwarf and not staying! A replacement for those will need to be sourced too.

I couldn't resist a close up of the Helenium. I've just got myself a new phone and am impressed with the camera on it. The next couple of shots were taken with it's camera.

To the left of the Helenium, you can just make out the flowers of Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky. I like the effect the white flowers have with the red and orange blooms, I hadn't been sure this would work. As they mature, they will fade to pink and my opinion might just change. We shall see what happens. Crocosmia Lucifer is also coming into bloom, still a tiny wee clump and I know from experience it won't take too long to bulk out.

Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky, Helenium Moerheim Beauty
and Crocosmia Lucifer

To the rear, the Cardoon, Helianthus Lemon Queen and Verbena bonariensis are just starting to flower. This is the first time I've grown the perennial sunflower so am rather looking forward to seeing it in full bloom. At this moment it's smothered with flower buds and a lonely single flower.

On the top tier, the Clematis montana and Pyracantha I'm using for fence cover are make good ground. The Pyracantha flowered profusely and should be covered in bright orange berries in autumn. The Clematis can make it's way along the trellising 'til it's heart's content. Although you can't make it out from the image, there is a little surprise lurking about up there. Helene over at Graphicality-UK commented on her summer flowering pink Hellebore in her most recent Bloom Day Post, Helene, you are not alone. Look what I found on one of my trips up to the very back of the garden. This plant did flower in the winter, unlike Helene's which chooses only to flower in summer. Isn't it nice to have a plant flower out of season?

A 2014 summer oddity!

Weighing up all the positives against the negatives, the scales come down in favour of the positives this month. The border has filled out well in the few months since it was planted out and although it's not so obvious from the shot, there is plenty of room for most of the plants to fill out over the next few years. I will find that this meme hosted by Helen over at The Patient Gardeners Weblog extremely useful when it comes to autumn time when I need to do a few tweaks here and there.

Off now to have a nosy at what's going on in your end of month view. Thanks for reading.

In a recent post Chloris over at The Blooming Garden wrote about Taste in Flowers. In her post she touched on varying tastes in flowers over the years.  It was considered a brave post by a few. Me included.   I had prepared a post a while back but was a bit apprehensive about hitting the publish button. It's easy to read blogs and not comment on a particular plant we don't like or wouldn't grow in our garden.  It thought you'd be interested in reading on how my taste has changed even in such a short space of time.

When my gardening journey began back in 2011, I knew very little other than what I had picked up attempting to grow a few plants in the teeny tiny garden of my old house.  I didn't have a specific style in mind, somewhere between cottage and a rustic look just about covers it.  My gardening style is still in it's infancy and is constantly evolving.  I am really enjoying learning.   It's mostly through trial and error and from what I pick up reading blogs. I am not big on reading gardening books.  Already I am much more appreciative of a plant growing healthily and happily in the right spot is far more worthy of our precious garden space than one that is sickly, struggling and ready to drop dead at the drop of a hat. I'm willing to bet that I am not alone in the fact that some genus of plants have grown or crept up on us.

I used to be scared of roses! I know that will make some of you laugh but I really was petrified of them. They come across as awkward and unforgiving plants.  Where to snip, how to snip and when to snip. There are so many different opinions on how to grow them and take care of them successfully.   For me, as a beginner, I don't mind telling you it all made my head spin.

The initial framework 2011

I decided one day to take the bull by the horns and jump right in with both wellies, so to speak. If I was going to attempt to grow a rose, I wanted to try something a bit different and made the decision, after coming across a gorgeous image of a rose being grown against a wall espalier style, I just knew I had to give it a go. Now, I didn't have a wall in the right place but my back fence was screaming out for some sort of cover and seeing that it wouldn't take up too much precious ground space, why not? Lets give it a go. I did suffer a bit of a set back in the first year. I was disciplined and spent many an hour or so tying in the stems and by the end of the summer, although I had no blooms what I did have was a carefully tied framework with which too work. In the winter storms of 2012 my back fence came

crashing to the ground and with it went the Rose. It was severed at the base and all my hard work was lost. I erected a new fence but hadn't held up much hope for the rose. Would it regrow come spring? Indeed it did and I spent the next 18 months tying and snipping again. This was my eureka moment, I realised that roses were not as difficult to grow than I had previously imagined.

Rose 'Félicité Perpétue'

My second attempt was also on the vertical - a pair of climbing Wedgewood Roses over the seated arch. The scent drifting around as I relaxed was heavenly. I was a bit shell shocked one day when I answered the door and Jim (a neighbour) called round as he just wanted to tell me how beautiful my roses look from his upstairs window and they had been a real pleasure for him as his mother loved pink roses. He thought of her each morning as he drew open the curtains. How sweet is that?

The Wedgewood Rose

Encouraged, I added another pink rose to my collection. Rosa Princess Alexandra of Kent drew me in when I saw her gorgeous blooms and scent when I happened across her in the GC. She just had to come home with me.

Rosa Princess Alexandra of Kent

The style of garden I am trying to create would be, I think, quite incomplete without roses. I am so glad my initial apprehension has gone and I gave roses a chance. What ever was I scared off? I've fallen hook, line and sinker for roses. So much so I've added another 9 to the garden this year. They are of course deserving of their own post but here's a wee sneak preview.

Rosa Port Sunlight, Fighting Temeraire and Lady of Shallot

I used to walk around GCs, often with my mother in tow, take one look at all the Fuchsia on offer and think why? No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't see the attraction. My mother loves Fuchsia and we would often have the discussion about me growing them in the garden for her. My answer was always no! However, earlier in the year, I was kindly sent some Fuchsia cuttings by Helene over at Graphicality UK. I had explained to Helene that I did not particularly care for Fuchsia but my mother absolutely loved of them. She encouraged me to give them a go, convinced I would be converted. Upon receipt of the tiny Fuchsia cuttings, my mother promptly told her friend, a Fuchsia fan herself, that I had finally relented - she came home with a good sized pot of yet another Fuchsia. I am truly amazed at just how easy these plants are. They are no bother whatsoever. An online gardening friend offered the advice to feed them with tomato food, other than that, they take care of themselves. How right both of them were. They truly are no bother at all. They are all doing well and take pride of place on the back step. I must admit they are growing on me!

Various Fuchsia

I touched on the subject of right spot, right plant at the top of the

Out with the pink!

page. My next choice kind of came into the garden by way of necessity rather than choice. Part of my garden that occassionally suffers a wee bit of waterlogging makes choosing plants rather difficult. It doesn't regularly happens and over the past few years I've given up on many plants. After doing a bit of research, Astilbles seemed to be the perfect choice for this spot. My image of Astilbes was mass planting by local authorities of feathery pink and purple blooms. They just we not me! They were not the look I was after. However, trying to keep an open mind, I managed to source some that would not break the bank and if I didn't like them, I wouldn't be so worried about ripping them up and tossing them out. They thrived and did remarkably well in that particular spot in the garden. The pink/purple was still bothering me but upon coming across a white flowering variety in a local GC, I decided to replace the pink with white and pair it with a yellow flowered Ligularia (another plant I had seen and not found a particular fondness for). This combo really has done well in the garden and now I wouldn't be without them, not in a million years!

Astilbe Deutschland and Ligularia The Rocket

I added another Astilbe to my collection, I like this one too. A dwarf Astilbe, A. Red Sentinel looks good at the front of the border, I think.

Astilbe Red Sentinel

Yellow flowers tend to remind me of huge swathes of yellow daffodils in springtime. I am not a fan of huge in your face yellow daffs. I know from previous blog posts that opinions are divided on the yellow daffodil front. As a compromise too not growing yellow daffodils, I first tried some white flowering daffodils, they were far easier on my eye and then soon followed some species and dwarf Narcissus. I still don't grow any of the large narcissus that many of you love and I don't see that changing in the foreseeable.

White, dwarf and species Narcissus growing in my garden

As I sit here contemplating on how to end this blog, I could easily go on forever but I thought the perfect ending would be to open the floor to my readers. How have your tastes changed over the years? Is there a group of plants or maybe just one in particular that you did not particularly want to grow or maybe you were gifted one and have learned to love it? Maybe like me, you never will grow a shrubby Potentilla or covet after a carefully tended display of summer bedding. Do share, if you have written a post or would like to write a post on the same topic, please leave a link in the comment box. We'd all love to read it I'm sure.

I thought for a wee change I'd start by sharing with you a little area in my garden that I've never shown before. This wee border came out of necessity rather than planning. Have over purchased in the shade loving shrub department more than once, will I ever learn? I doubt it! I lifted a row of 3 x 2 slabs round the back of the house and over the years it's kind of become a shade lovers plonking ground. I've also found it is the perfect spot in the garden to keep poorly Heuchera, they seem to thrive round here and as you can see last years invalids are doing remarkably well and are flowering now.

left to right: Heuchera Black Beauty, Caramel and Marmalade

and on the other side of the path, 3 more fully recovered Heuchera Caramel, albeit less floriferous. This part of the garden is never used, it's mainly the thoroughfare between me and next door. I legally have to allow them access to my side path but they never use it, except to pop over for a blether.

and more!

The late flowering Clematis are now blooming. Does anyone remember the Clematis I moved in springtime? The one with the humongous root ball that caused me to have a high blood pressure reading at the docs a couple of hours later. As you can see in the large picture, it has done remarkably well, reaching up and along the trellis. I'm so glad I took that risk now. It looks great meandering it's way along the top.

C. Princess Diana, Macropetala, Mme Julia Correvon, Rhapsody and Ville de Lyon

In the sunny bed outside the back door, many plants are looking rather tired, I commented last month that this border is in need of thinning out. My autumn preparations have began and I have widened a small part of it and it's ready for some new occupants. One of those new occupants is a white rose. I wanted a pure white rose and chose R. Susan Williams-Ellis. Trying out the bed for size, with her soon to be neighbours.

Phlox paniculata Violet Flame, Lonicera Fragrant Cloud and Rosa Susan Williams-Ellis

In the same bed, the seed heads of Clematis The Vagabond look every bit as interesting as the blooms. There is an Escallonia iveyi struggling to flower beneath the mass of Clematis foliage. Another issue that needs addressing come autumn. Does anyone clip back their Clematis by half in autumn, does it spur on new growth? I'm thinking I would be doing the Escallonia a favour, giving it a bit of breathing space, so to speak. It can't be happy under there. I suspect it's almost bald under there!

Allium sphaerocephalon, Veronicastum virginicum roseum Pink Glow,
Monarda Croftway Pink and Leucanthemum Broadway Lights

Across the way on the shadier side, my teeny tiny wildlife pond is covered with pond weed and certainly about the only thing that thrives there! Mainly with foliage interest, Kirengeshoma palmata is just coming into flower and the Cotinus is now of reasonable size that it's producing a bit too much shade for the Stachys under planted there, it is said to take a bit of shade but it's now reaching out for light. This plant will benefit from a move over to the sunnier side in autumn. Another plant that is loved by the bees and copes much better with the growing conditions in my garden that it's cousin Stachys byzantina.

Kirengeshoma palmata and Stachys officinalis Wisley White

There isn't much else going on in this bed, it's predominantly filled with Astrantia and having had a chop back a couple of weeks ago, are now putting on new leaf and they will flower again before they die back for winter. A couple of Heuchera and a Hosta are blooming this bloom day.

Heuchera Paris, Hosta So Sweet and Heuchera Marmalade

As we go through the arch into the back garden proper the pot of trailing Begonias are still flowering away, granted at bit windswept and interesting. I've grown rather fond of these and might give some more a go next year. They certainly add a splash of colour where there is little else in flower.

The top bed, which is the subject of my EMOV, Persicaria overload, just about describes it. I used the Persicaria to fill the gaps between the shrubs. They like it there, as you can clearly see!

Persicaria amplexicaulis JS Caliente

Yet more Persicaria, along with Crocosmia Lucifer and Helenium Moerheim Beauty providing for the pollinators. Interestingly I've seen very few butterflies. With the perfect summer last year and the even more perfect summer this year, I would have thought they'd be about in their droves this year. Alas, this is not the case.

I'm surprised that Helianthus Lemon Queen is shy at flowering. You can see the Cardoon and Verbena are not so coy. I wonder if I expect too much from them in their first year. The recent high winds had me a bit concerned but all is good and still vertical!

Heading back down towards the house, Persicaria Red Dragon, is making a bid to out grow everything round about it. It's flowers are like the Helianthus are rather sparse.

Persicaria microcephala Red Dragon

If we head down the side path towards the front garden, in the side garden, which is predominantly a spring/early summer border, the Cyclamen are sprouting here and there. Bought and planted in flower last year, I'm glad to see their return. Nestled in amongst some ferns, they brighten up this wee spot.

Cyclamen hederifolium

Out into the front garden, last year's gap fillers made a return. I had formed no attachment to these plants, knowing that I'd probably never see them again. It's nice that they have returned. Sadly, they will not fit in with my plans for the front garden come autumn time. Speaking of autumn, can you see the peony foliage taking on some autumn colour. Where has the year gone?

Scabious Beaugolais Bonnets

Rudbeckia

On the other hand, three plants flowering now that will fit in with my plans are a couple of Crocosmia and a dwarf daylily. The Crocosmia were corms given to me last year by a friend. The yellow is C. George Davidson and the bi-coloured one was supposed to be C. Emily Mckenzie but obviously not! I like it and it has a reprieve for now. The Daylily is one I've had for many years and long lost the label. It's a dwarf evergreen, so there's every possibility that it's H. Stella D'oro.

Well that's about my lot this bloom day. I'm joining with other garden bloggers over at May Dream Gardens that are sharing what's flowering in their gardens in the middle of each month. See you there!

End of Month View July 2014

There is now a distinct chill in the air of an evening. Many of the plants around the garden are gearing up for autumn. However, if the press are to be believed we are in for an Indian summer come September....roll on Monday then! It's chucking it down here right now, early Friday evening. We are experiencing a few more rain falls here and there and of that I am glad - keeping this new border and lawn adequately watered in it's first season has been a long slog! Lack of water here in Scotland is certainly not the norm. We are renowned the world over for our miserably wet summers.

End of Month View August 2014

For this month's view I decided to take a couple of steps back and capture the entire area up there at the back of the garden.

Sorbus Autumn Spire
yellow berries

I wanted to include the Rowan tree in the shot. New to the garden earlier in the year. It should have been planted last autumn or at the lastest early spring but by the time I had made up my mind we were well into late spring, knocking on the door of early summer. This year has been one of the driest I can remember, I've had to be very diligent when it came to watering. I was doubtful of getting berries this year. Although the Rowan flowered, the blossom didn't last very long, over in a matter of a day or two to be precise. I had put this down to stress of me possibly not providing quite enough water. I did up the watering considerably from then on in and it hasn't looked back. You can just make out in the large image the little bunch of yellow berries. I'm glad I chose this variety (S. Autumn Spire), I like the yellow berries way more than the red - it's nice to be different. We've lots of Rowans growing nearby and all of them produce red/orange berries, I hope the birds appreciate something a wee bit different.

The new lawn, although it doesn't show in the picture, I feel could do with a little pick me up - it's looking rather parched close up. I'm not one for feeding lawn, lawns generally do just fine here on their own but only this morning, as I was mowing, I thought it was looking a bit miserable. I've given it a general lawn feed and just hope I don't live to regret it. Although the instruction said it can be used right up until September - it's at the back of my mind it's late in the year and don't particularly want growth to go into overdrive. Mind you, it won't the the first time I've had to mow the lawn in winter.

There have been two minor changes since last month. The first, was to do away with the Sambucus Black Lace on the back tier. There had been a niggling doubt in the back of my mind at the time of planting - I was betwixt and between the Sambucus and the Physocarpus. The Sambucus won on the day of planting but the niggling doubt just didn't go. I've now swapped it for the P. opulifolium Lady in Red - I like it far better than I did the Sambucus. I think the reddish tones of the foliage fit better and the fact that it will grow no where near the massive proportions of the Sambucus, is another plus. I don't think you've seen this back tier since the early summer growth sprut of the perennials on the lower level. You might be wondering what I've done with the Sambucus - it's found a new home in the neighbour's garden.

The Clematis montana Marjorie and Cotinus Golden Spirit have also settled into their new home well. Whilst the jury is still out on the Pyracantha as fence cover on the back fence, I have been tying in the growth from the clematis away from it but should I feel the urge to remove the firethorn if it gets out of hand, then it won't take too much effort to redirect some of the Clematis growth that way.

The contrasting difference I was hoping to achieve between the Sambucus and Cotinus is still achieved with it's substitute. The observant amongst you will spot an out of place Verbascum. Well not entirely out of place but certainly not reaching the 1.5m as promised on the label! The Verbascum being raised a further foot higher than the perennials on the lower tier was supposed to make height that it would still be seen behind the taller perennials below. What happened? Too much shade created by the other plants, I think. I've been doing a bit of reading up on this plant and it is said to be more reliably perennial than other verbascums, if it returns next year, I'll find a new spot for it. Verbascums generally don't do very well here in my garden but no point in making the effort now if it doesn't return next year, it can wait til spring and as you can see, the Hellebore is still flowering too.

The other change is not so apparent and came about when I got in a bit of tizzy regarding what might happen if we ever experience flooding again. I lost so many plants a few years back that the risk of loosing my rather expensive Itoh hybrid Peony is one risk too many. It's been replaced with a red flowering daylily and a new home found for the peony in the front garden.

I would like to offer a public apology to the Lupins. I've did nothing cut complain about them for the past 4 months or so. Many of you liked them and some of you even when to the bother to suggest on what to do to help bring out the best in them. My, how the tide has turned! I'm growing rather fond of them - I'm not entirely sure why, I can't quite put my finger on why but it could be one of two reasons. A. The yellow of the Helianthus and the Blue of the Lupin go really well together or B. Of the 3 plants, the two growing to the rear have been completely smothered by the larger one in front (proof that not all were dwarfs varieties either!) and rather than 3 different colours of lupin plants - a group of blooms in the same colour is making it much easier to the eye. It could of course be a combination of both reasons or neither but I've said it now and just for the record, I'll repeat myself......I like those Lupins!

Another combo I think is still looking good and should continue for a while yet - Hydrangea paniculata, Crocosmia Lucifer, Persicaria JS Caliente, Helenium Moerheim Beauty and Sedum spectabile. Nice autumn colour on the persicaria foliage too.

We all like surprises, don't we? I'd like to end this post with a couple of surprises, nice ones, I should add.

Back in November, when I was moving a honeysuckle that had been growing over the front panel of the shed, a stem with the tiniest piece of root detached itself from the root ball. Thinking little off it, I stuck it in the ground and completely forgot all about it - I was taken a back when I spotted a single stem meandering it's way along the ground between the plants. I untangled it and brought it out into the light and within a day or two, the sorry pathetic looking buds fattened and opened.

Lonicera periclymenum Fragrant Cloud

Another wee surprise lurking around in the undergrowth is an Aster, just poking it's head out from beneath the Philadelphus. Last time I had Asters in this part of the garden was before the flood. That was back in 2012 - I hadn't noticed it last year. Either the parent plant has recovered or it is a volunteer. It will be nice to see what colour the blooms turn out to be.

Thanks for reading and please join me over at the Patient Gardener's Weblog to see more End of Month Views from gardeners across the globe.

As well as my Bloom Day post, I'm kind of using this post as an update to what's been going on in the garden this last couple of weeks. I'm having a hard time juggling everything at the moment and not had so much time to spend blogging. I do try to keep up with what's been going on in your gardens, albeit I don't often have time to comment, please know I have been reading!

The promised Indian Summer, I think, got lost on it's way across the globe! Granted temperatures have been a little higher than I'd normally expect here but from early evenings through to late mornings, it's been misty and damp, so a bit like India in the Wet Season. The plants taking full advantage and I'm pleased that one or two are blooming for a second time this year.

Last post, there was a Hellebore flowering out of season. This September, a Rhododendron and Cowslip have joined the party! You are not seeing things. This Rhododendron flowers at the end of every summer, I've read that Rhododendrons often rebloom if the season has been very dry. Whilst it has been dry here, same can't be said of previous years and yet it bloomed bang on time in September the past 7 years. I thinned out the Honeysuckle (L periclymenum Scentsation) in the larger picture and it seems to have taken exception and put on just as much new growth as I cut out, which kind of defeated the purpose really. L Sweet Sue on the large trellis, flowered way back in May and that too seems to have found it's second wind. I mentioned back in my July post that I was about to chop the Astrantia back to encourage a second flush of flowers. A few of you commented on this at that time and as you can see - it works! All now have lovely healthy foliage and pushing up a few flowers, which will continue right to the first heavy frosts.

Roses reblooming this September - the only two plants not new to the garden this year are The Wedgewood Rose and Princess Alexandra of Kent. I've fallen head over heals with Apricot and Yellow Roses this year.

Rosa: (clockwise from top left) The Wedgewood Rose, The Lark Ascending, Lady of Shallot,
Graham Thomas, Crimson Cascade, Susan Williams Ellis and Princess Alexandra of Kent

I'm sure I've mentioned previously that peach/apricot roses will be the main feature of the front garden in future summers. My improvements have been popped on hold. I ordered Crocus bulbs online almost a fortnight ago and have yet to be dispatched. This is the first time I've ordered any sort of plant on line and thus far, I can say I'm not terribly impressed. I want to get those Crocus bulbs in under the roses before I get the perennials in, it would make planting a whole lot easier. I've also ordered an arch, which will define the entrance to the front garden. This I had not expected to be delivered so quickly, allowing me to get on with the other jobs, alas I'm stuck in limbo - I just don't possess such patience!

Out front at the moment, the Rudbeckia are still looking great, a yellow late flowering Kniphofia has finally decided to throw up some flower stems. I suspect that these two will be a bit too zingy for my plans out here but lets enjoy them for now. The pot of orange begonias covers some bare earth before the cats get their paws on it!

Rudbeckia and Kniphofia Bees Lemon

I'd like to introduce you to the culprit behind my latest plant addiction Rosa The Lark Ascending. The first rose I bought for the front garden, as soon as it bloomed - I was hooked! Seen here with Salvia Amistad. I have to say, of all the perennials in the garden, this newcomer has kind of taken my breath away. I'm reading conflicting reports on it's hardiness therefore I must get some cuttings on the go tout suite! The trellising is also new and doing a grand job of keeping back the neighbour's Kerria. Now all I need do is concentrate on the suckers coming under the fence. Whilst I detest this plant for it's growth habit, I don't mind the flowers. Because of the way she ~~prunes~~ hacks at it, it flowers all year round. I suspect, that's also the reason for all those suckers, her plant is trying its best to get out of the reach of those shears of hers.

Rosa The Lark Ascending and Salvia Amistad

A clump of Shasta daisies, having spent a couple of years in a container, struggled this year. Now they have their roots in the ground are making a bit of an improvement.

Leucanthemum Snow Lady

The Buddleia providing much needed nourishment for the butterflies that are now starting to appear. The butterflies have obviously been about, just not in my garden, judging by the damage done on this red admiral's wings.

Buddleia davidii Empire Blue and Red Admiral butterfly

As we go through the gate down the side path, the side garden it mainly a spring border and along with the out of season Rhododendron blooms there are a few wee autumn treasurers too.

Inherited dwaft Rhododendron

Cyclamen hederifolium and Colchicum

Out in the back garden, thinning out the bumble bee border is finished. I took full advantage of the cooling temperatures and got to work on it. The over crowded clumps of daylilies have all gone (elsewhere), the mildew infected groups of Monarda have gone to the great bit compost bin in the sky and the Escallonia who's only purpose (not intentional) was too act as support for a Clematis has been chopped back. Unfortunately, getting it out of the ground is not going to be such an easy job. I need to look into treating it with something to kill the roots in situ. Come to think of it, I'm not sure 'The Bumblebee Border' is a suitable description now. I need to rethink that description and rechristen it.

Three roses (Susan Williams Ellis, Princess Alexandera of Kent and Rhapsody in Blue) were used as colour inspiration. The colours theme in this border will be Pink, Blue and White. The newly extended space will, I hope, give this border a bit more of a cottage feel. The Honeysuckle and Clematis already growing there will cover the fence and trellis, taller perennial foliage will also do their bit. I've kept and added to the collection of good old garden stalwarts, aquilegia, peonies, hardy geraniums, sedums, nepeta and oriental poppies - this far corner still has a fair bit of colour and one of my favourite late summer bloomers is just coming into bloom. Even one single flower stalk fills the air with it's sweet, almost candy like scent. Just wish I could put my finger on what it reminded me of.

Actaea simplex Pink Spike, Rosa Princess Alexandra of Kent, Sedum (unknown), Anemone Pocahontus
and Sedum Purple Emperor. Still blooming in September

Lemon Scented Perlargoniums have only just decided to flower! These are the remaining plants from cuttings I took last year. I had cuttings root in water and a few gardening friends and neighbours have been gifted the remainder.

There is little to see in the left hand side of this border, new plants are still small and other perennials are currently in die back mode. A couple of Sedums are however, just coming into their own.

Sedum telephium maximum Gooseberry Fool

Sedum cauticola Coca Cola

Over the other side of the trellis - plenty of foliage paired with a few Clematis flowers. The late summer flowering shrub Heptacodium miconoides is just coming into bloom. You know it's been a good summer here when it flowers. In general, this usually flowers later and the buds have been known to get caught by an early frost. The Alchemilla is also throwing up a few late blooms too.

I had hoped Clematis Ville de Lyon would not suffer the powdery mildew it used to in it's old home but the move has not improved things. I will, I think, need to source a replacement - a far more resistant form.

Clematis Ville de Lyon

You know it's been a good summer if the Heptacodium manages to flower before the first frosts hit them. There are not many shrubs that flower this late in the year and the fact that it's scented is another bonus. It's a cousin of the Honeysuckle, just in case you are interested.

Heptacodium miconoides
aka Seven Son Flower Tree

The top end, the sunniest spot in the garden and the topic of my EOMV is still looking in reasonable, I think. The perennial sunflower, Helianthus Lemon Queen, has exceeded my expectation. New flowers are opening every day. For the moment, I am leaving the tall stems of the Cardoon alone. I am interested to see if the birds are attracted to those seed heads. The yellow/orange berries of the Pyracantha adds a bit of colour to the back fence. Sedum, Persicaria, Crocosmia, Verbena and Helenium still have their wares on offer for the pollinators.

Persicaria JS Caliente, Chinochloa rubra and Sedum

In the purple corner, there really is a bit too much purple foliage going on here. This was not intentional, it was the only place I had gaps in which to move a couple of plants back in springtime when I was planting the trees. I had also forgot the left over foxglove plant, that had been temporarily heeled in too. The colour of the strawberry foxglove pairs perfectly with the darker foliage.

Digitalis x mertonensis, Sedum Red Globe and Persicaria Red Dragon

I love the Sedum and Heuchera combo - I do however need to keep on top of not letting the Heuchera flowers, otherwise it all gets a bit busy. Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton, trapped between them and the Viburnum will be moved into the front garden pretty soon. She flowered pretty poorly this year, I don't know if it's lack of sun or lack of space. The foliage is healthy enough, which I would have thought was a sign she was happy enough.

Sedum Red Globe and Heuchera Palace Purple

More contrast and yet more purple foliage - this time Physocarpus Burning Embers makes a wonderful foil for the flowers of Kierengeshoma palmatum.

Physocarpus Burning Embers and Kirengeshoma palmatum

Well, that's just about it from my garden this September Bloomday post, as usual, it ends with an invitation to join myself and many other garden bloggers posting on the 15th of every month on what's blooming in their garden, regardless of where you garden. We all love a nosy around other folks gardens don't we? You can join in here too!

I end with a shot of the Fuchsias on the back steps. You can read all about how they came to my garden here. I grow these for my mum (she lives with me), she loves Fuchsia and I'm not their greatest fan but for once I relented and to be honest, I'm kind of glad I did, they add a bit of colour to an otherwise dull stone step.

End of Month View August 2014

According to the press, we are, here in Edinburgh experiencing one of the driest Septembers on record this year. I'd pretty much agree with that!

The only thing normal about the weather this week is the wind. We've had a fair few good drying days - is that a saying those of you from other parts of the country or planet use? It's regularly used by neighbours here abouts as a way of passing the time of day.

Helianthus Lemon Queen, must have put on another foot of growth over the past 4 weeks - I just love the size of these beauties and they are doing a far better job of hiding fencing than the shrubs are right now. The cardoons are long past their best, I read somewhere that the birds should enjoy the seeds from this plant, I'm not sure how long those bone dry stems will last in this wind, so they'd best get a move on! It's hard to miss the acid yellow berries on the Pyracantha (P. Golden Charmer) covering the back fence. Both the Helianthus and Pyracantha really stand out when the sun has gone over the roof tops.

Cardoon seed heads

On a scale of 1 to 10, one being unhappy and 10 being ecstatic, I'd say I am probably around a 7.5 with this new border but putting together this post over the last 9 months will prove useful to me whilst planning what needs doing between now and spring.

My favourite combo in this bed just has to be the trio of Persicaria, Sedum and Helenium. I removed Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky, as I had better use for it elsewhere in the garden. When I get round to my autumn tidy up, I will move the clump of Crocosmia Lucifer back a bit towards the fence, where it will get even more room and make a sizable clump before too long. Slap bang in the middle is a lovely grass, Chionochloa rubra (a native of New Zealand), commonly known as red tussock. It makes a gorgeous mature specimen, as seen in my local nursery, whether or not it survives the winter wet in the ground here, remains to be seen. I've grown this for 2 years in a container but have chanced it in the ground this year. I think the pot was holding it back and it's enjoyed getting it's feet in the soil. Keep your fingers crossed for it please.

Butterflies and Bees enjoying the late summer sun. Thankfully there is still plenty on offer for them.

The little Aster that appeared from beneath the foliage of a geum a wee while back, is just now blooming it's little heart out. Now why can't the others look this good? I have these dotted around the garden and all of them are looking, well, rotten really. That's as good a word to describe them as any I suppose. This little clump is a remnant returning after the floods of 2012.

Aster novi-belgii Purple Dome

If we do a 180° turn and look back down towards the house, the young Rowan is just beginning to look autumnal and I was absolutely fed up looking at the rust ridden Kilmarnock Willow - it's been relegated to the great big garden waste container at the local dump. The Laburnum I purchased for elsewhere in the garden back in spring has been moved into it's spot. I am much more happy with this area now. Those Laurels at the back are going to a neighbour just as soon as we can coordinate removal. We missed the window of opportunity back in spring, hopefully she can get herself into gear and ready to receive them at some point in the next few weeks.

Autumn foliage on Sorbus Autumn Spire

My plans over the next few weeks will be to cut back and tidy up what's needed in this area. Since I haven't done any weeding in and around the plants since back in spring, I have noticed that there are a few clumps of creeping buttercup appearing here and there and the odd marestail popping up. The buttercup will be easy to eradicate but the marestail no so!

Thanks for reading my End of Month View this September. Please join me and other garden bloggers over at The Patient Gardeners Weblog who are posting this month.

I nipped along to the local GC for some bird feed earlier this morning. I was standing in the queue for the check out, it was surrounded by Christmas Time! For me it's a bit too early to be thinking of Christmas, I much prefer to focus on Christmas when we reach November. It seems I wasn't the only one, the couple behind me and the two ladies behind them were commenting on just how early these displays appear. I know not if it's because the weather is still great and it's way to sunny to contemplate the cold dark days of winter or if these displays are appearing earlier. I seem to remember that stores used to wait until Halloween was over before tempting us. Is this just my imagination or are those marketing managers getting earlier?

Amongst the Christmas Cheer, the racks of spring bulbs, stood tall, teasing us all with their wares. I decided to take my eye off Christmas and distract myself by perusing the bulbs. I wasn't on the look out for any more bulbs. In fact, I had just spent a few hours earlier in the week under planting the new roses with a couple of hundred of Crocus bulbs, I had no plans for more bulbs at this precise moment. My back is still a bit stiff from all that crouching and crawling.

Amongst the selection of Crocus on offer I came across a variety I had never seen before. Orange Monarch Crocus. On any of my days out at Early Bulb shows, I had never seen Crocus looking quite so orange. Deep golden yellow, verging on the orange yes, but orange? No! And it comes complete with it's own purple flame. It sounds ever so warm and cosy doesn't it?

You know where this is heading don't you?  The novelty alone made these totally irresistible. Marketing Managers 1 - Angie's Garden 0!  The bee friendly stamp gave my purchase all the justification it needed. Have I ever seen a bee in my garden at Crocus time?  Certainly not in a regular winter, that's for sure. Maybe like me, they'll be taken in by the novelty value! You never know til you've tried, right?

As you can see from the label, they are described as 'The Only Orange Crocus' complete with capital letters on every word. What's that all about? Further investigation on the web, I have found many sites offering these bulbs up for sale. It seems the name varies depending on which one you visit. I found it listed a both C. chrysanthus and C. vernus Orange Monarch. An image search produces colours ranging from orange to yellow.  I wondered if the image been fiddled with - time will tell, won't it? The fact that this is a relatively new cultivar means there was little information readily available.

Or so I thought. I came across a thread on the forum of the SRGC, here, where this bulb is the topic of discussion. A couple of submitters seem to think this is in fact Crocus olivieri balansae Zwanenburg that has been given a fancy new trade name, complete with it's own ® just to make it more appealing and has been about for quite some time, 1983 to be precise. Just to confuse maters even more, an image search produces what look like, to me, identical looking flowers. In fact, the same picture seems to do the rounds for both.  I say that as a complete novice and these are just my observations.

Crocus Orange Monarch is far easier to say than Crocus olivieri balansae subsp. Zwanenburg, providing you even know how to pronounce most of the later, that is. It's a bit of a mouthful, so I can see why breeders might want to change the name for us common folks! They are not the first and certainly won't be the last to do such a thing.

All I need do now is select a nice sunny spot and hope to share them all with you come springtime. Will there be Orange Monarchs in Scotland? We shall see.

In some ways mid October has crept up on me but weather wise, it has come with a great big wallop to the back of the head. It's got remarkably cold this last couple of days and I'd be surprised if we don't get our first frosts quite soon.

Something I rarely do is compare the previous year's bloom day post, purely because I really only have 1 full years worth of posts as a comparison. I thought the garden was looking so good this October, I wanted to see just how different things were this time last year. Lo and behold, things are not that different really. My mind is obviously playing tricks on me.

The work I've been carrying out in the front garden is almost complete, the new arch was put in on Friday. I had hoped to get it done a few days before hand but could not coordinate time with my son to hoist it into position. The planting scheme in the front garden is loosely based, I say loosely, because my plans to have peach and yellow roses accented by the deepest of blue/purple perennial

Liriope muscari Royal Purple

hasn't quite gone to plan. I have been attempting to source reliably hardy perennials in same shade as Salvia Amistad but they are scarce. Of course, I set out on my search a bit late in the year. I've already under planted all the roses with purple crocus, so come springtime I will be on the lookout for more. In the meantime to fill the gaps, I have used blues, yellows, oranges and reds. Following advice from a couple of you last bloom day post, I have successfully struck some cuttings and even after just 1 month they appear to be well rooted. I only need to get them through winter time on the kitchen window sill now. I live in hope that this sunny spot, between the hedge and fence is protection enough.

Salvia Amistad in October 2014

It's a toss up between the Salvia and Rosa The Lark Ascending as to which is my favourite new addition to the garden this year. I just love both of them! This rose is extremely healthy and very sturdy, it holds it's blooms upright remarkably well. It hasn't stopped blooming since I brought it into the garden back in June.

Rosa The Lark Ascending October 2014

Of all the other Roses, which are I'm sure putting down roots rather that blooming again - Port Sunlight and Lady of Shalott have lots of buds and the blooms that manage to open are pretty soon spoiled by wind.

Rosa Port Sunlight

Rosa Lady of Shalott

The only other blooms right now in the front garden are the Rudbeckia and Sedum Autumn Charm, charm by name, charm by nature. This sedum is always the last one to flower in my garden. I'm suspecting it may be a bit too pink to be out here but I'm letting it have it's moment before I move it round the back. I spent an age the other day looking for the label for the Euphorbia griffithii Fireglow - no wonder I couldn't find it, it's balancing itself on top of the Sedum, can you see it? I hate loosing plant labels - I like to keep them all for reference.

Rudbeckia Goldstrum and Sedum Autumn Charm

Wandering through the gate, the side garden has some mixed feelings towards autumn. The Acer generally doesn't begin to turn bright red until nearer the end of the month and the star Magnolia is as fresh as ever. The Hostas and deciduous ferns have began their decline, whilst the Primulas are refreshed and perking up now that the air is cool and damp. I was complaining recently that the couple of Asters I grow were looking awful. They generally don't do well but I had completely forgot about this one growing round here. It's looking none too bad.

Under the Asplenium a few Cyclamen hederefolium flowers linger. I like the leaf on this one, it's silver coloured centre is quite attractive.

Cyclamen hederefolium

The honeysuckle further down the fence is holding onto a few blooms this late in the year. It flowered beautifully back in June and has been producing blooms sporadically since then. I thinned this out quite a bit and in my over zealous pruning, have lost most of the berries.

Lonicera periclymenum Scentsaction

Round the back of the kitchen extension the secret shady bed is still looking remarkably well. The Leucothoe have yet to show some Autumn colour but the Heuchera continue to flower this October. Sadly the variageted Euonymus has almost reverted to pure green foliage. Getting no direct sun I suspect is the cause.

Left to Right: Heuchera Crimson Curls, Caramel and Marmalade

The gravel area outside the back door has had a bit of a redesign. I've extended both the shady and sunny side this summer.

The revamped shadier bed - a few Honeysuckle flowers on Lonicera periclymenum Sweet Sue at the top of the trellis. Heuchera and Astrantia blooms are hanging on in their but the star of the show here right now is the Mahonia. It's flowering earlier this year. I'm pleased it's now making a sizable plant. This bed now has better proportions I feel. I had no real need to buy any new plants, everything growing in this bed before had got a bit cramped and just needed spaced out a bit better. I did though treat myself to a lovely white flowered Japanese Anemone. Her name is Andrea Atkinson. She is full of buds but they refuse to open.

Mahonia x media Charity

Astrantia Snow Star

The sunnier side is looking rather bereft of blooms at the moment. I won't feel the benefit of my changes here until early next summer, in the far corner Astrantia Buckland and Sedum are flowering. The Sedum has been taking a bit of a battering. Not from the weather but from the cats casing the few remaining bees that are around the garden.

Unnamed Sedum, Astrantia Buckland and Euphoria characias White Swan

This blue sage has been flowering all summer. I almost ripped this plant out in springtime but am kind of glad I kept it now. The dry year has really suited it.

Salvia x sylvestris Blue Queen

Sedum Gooseberry Fool is a favourite sedum of mine. It's creamy white flowers have a tinge of bronze. It flowers later in the year too. The only down side is that the dying flowers look rather dirty and are not really very attractive.

Sedum telephium maximum Gooseberry Fool

Through to the back garden proper, the climbing rose on the arch has thrown up a few flowers but they look awful, I didn't waste my time taking any shots. In the far right corner - also in need of extending since most of the plants have outgrown their allotted space. I'm not sure how much scope for extending there is here but I'm loathe to loose this planting combination. I had hoped to take Lady Emma Hamilton round to the front of the house but there really is no more room.

Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton, Sedum Red Globe and Heuchera Palace Purple
in front of
Viburnum tinus Eve Price and Physocarpus opulifolius Burning Embers

Lady Emma just fills the air with her citrus scent - you don't have to get up close to appreciate it, you can sniff her out at one hundred paces! Her bronzy foliage is just an added bonus.

Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton

Further round in this bed a couple of late flower stems of foxgloves have appeared. They certainly don't have the stature of earlier blooms but are more than welcome this month. No signs of autumn on the Enkianthus yet either.

Digitalis x mertonensis

Directly opposite, a clump of Persicaria is refusing to give up this year. Sunlight squeezing between the houses opposite just catch the foliage at just the right spot.

Persicaria amplexicaulis JS Caliente

The hot sunny bed at the back of the garden, which most of you are familiar with, as it's the subject of my End of Month View. It's still giving it's all. Helianthus Lemon Queen stood up to the winds much better than I had anticipated. A few stems have bent over but I can't be sure it's the wind too blame - it could have been the cats up to mischief! I haven't the notion to struggle in there and tie them up. The Persicaria and Helenium have been flowering non stop since the middle of July. That's not bad going in my opinion. Any plant that flowers for 3 months just has to be invaluable in the garden.

Persicaria JS Caliente, Helianthus Lemon Queen, Helenium Moerheim Beauty and Sedum

Verbena bonariensis and Red Admiral butterfly

We are still seeing some Red Admiral butterflies in the garden on sunny days. They are taking advantage of what blooms are left on the Verbena.

Before I invite you all over to May Dream Gardens to see what's blooming in everyone else's garden this October, I thought I'd share with you some sunflowers standing out against the bright blue sky this afternoon. Thanks for reading.

Helianthus Lemon Queen

When working in the garden this autumn, take care around spots where already established clumps of bulbs are. It's so easy to get carried away and forget they are there!

Tips sliced of some snowdrops

Had a bit of a close shave with some emerging snowdrops this afternoon. Luckily I noticed them before I was able to perform a complete slice and dice!

Is it me or are they very early to emerge? I don't think I've noticed them above soil level quite so early before. Has anyone else noticed theirs yet?

I don't often find the time to post a Foliage Day post but knowing that I had little on midweek this week, I thought I'd join in. Of course, I hadn't factored in Hurricane Gonzolo! Had I done so, I'd have taken a few shots at the weekend but me, I'm never that organised. Granted the wind has calmed down a fair bit today and we have not experienced it quite so bad as it has been elsewhere in the country. Standing poised, with the camera in hand, waiting for breaks in the wind - anyone watching must have thought I needed my head looked at.

We can always rely on Leucothoe for a bit of Autumn/Winter colour but temperatures have not quite been cold enough to get them going. Leucothoe are rather unassuming shrubs the whole summer but come winter, they begin to earn their keep. The are usually more red/purple by this time of the year but me, I'll take any colour I can get as the garden begins to go to sleep.

Leucothoe walteri Royal Ruby
Heuchera Caramel and Marmalade

Leucothoe axillaris Red Lips

The Witch Hazel, Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena, to be precise was new to the garden last winter. Sadly, most of the foliage succumb to the winds this last couple of day and now lie in a rather ugly heap at it's feet.

Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena

All is not lost however, do you see what I see? My garden is definitely at sixes and sevens! My previous post was about the snowdrops surfacing, the first signs of flowers on the Witch Hazel are just breaking. That little ribbon is more threadlike at the moment and I almost missed it.

Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena

There is a stark difference between the 2 climbing Hydrangea. The one in the sunnier spot is looking decidedly peely wally, yet the one growing in total shade has only just began changing colour.

Hydrangea petiolaris

The golden foliage of Jasminum Fiona Sunrise was a gift last year from a friend, she hadn't been aware that it was tender when she purchased it. It came through the mild winter last year but sadly did not produca a single bloom this year. It found a temporary home in front the teeny tiny Acer palmatum dissectum Garnet, which should by now be a fair bit taller than it actually is. It's been stood on, damaged by cats and had at one point had all but a single stem left due to my clumsy feet. 5 years on and it's still no more that 10 inches high, which is around half the height at which it was bought! Still, it has guts and is determined to survive.

Jasminum officinale Fiona Sunris and Acer palmatum dissectum Garnet

Children of the eighties will remember the lyrics of Karma Chameleon by Culture Club - personally I wasn't a fan, way too tomboyish for all that make-up! The tune and words Red, Gold and Green are now stuck in my head. Don't you just hate those blasted Earworms! All together now.......

♫ Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green ♫

One the top tier at the very back of the garden - difficult as it was to get a decent shot in such windy conditions, I'm pleased how these shrubs are working together to if you stand just at the right angle that is. They are still rather small in stature and are currently over shadowed by the perennials growing in front of them.

Cotinus, Physocarpus and Acer

A closer look at the Cotinus foliage shows that it is still looking really quite fresh as we veer nearer to November. It's well sheltered in this corner.

Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit

I hope you don't mind me continuing with the Cotinus theme - Dusky Maiden has shone all summer long and yet, this late in the year shows little signs of autumn yet. Meanwhile, Grace, whom I moved round to the front garden earlier in the year is not happy with the windier position out there.

Cotinus coggygria Dusky Maiden and Heuchera Marmalade

Cotinus coggygria Grace

The red stemmed Cornus is loosing it's foliage at a vast rate of knots in the winds. The foliage only began turning a few days ago and to be honest, I expected to awake and find it bare, just like the Rowan this morning. There are a few left to share their colour.

Cornus alba Sibirica

As I wander about the garden, I realise it's not all about the shrubs. At ground level, some of the perennials are adding their own touch of Autumn.

A new addition to the garden, the autumnal colouring of Epimedium warleyense Ellen Willmott looks great. I could not resist the colours - I bought 5 plants, 3 are in the ground in the front garden and I've yet to find a spot for the other 2.

Epimedium warleyense Ellen Willmott

The bold foliage of Darmera peltata is beginning to look rather dramatic. I first came across this plant a few years ago, in flower, I missed the autumn colour last year when it was still quite small but this year, it's made good growth and you'd need to be looking in the other direction to miss it!

Darmera peltata

The distinct lack of slugs and snails in this very dry year has meant that even then Hostas are getting in on the Autumn Act!

Autumnal Hostas

Finally, the different shapes and colours on the autumn flowering Cyclamen are just as interesting now that the flowers are almost gone.

Cyclamen hederifolium

If like me, you'd like to celebrate the foliage in your garden this autumn, please pop over to Christina's Blog and share with us what's happening in your part of the world. Everyone's welcome, the more the merrier! See you over there!

I must say that I've truly enjoyed taking part in End of Month View posts this year. Joining in has really made me concentrate on what's been going on in this border. Work on this bed started at the beginning of the year. Participation in this meme hosted by Helen over at The Patient Gardener's Weblog has been a bit of a change for me. I chose the plants, planted them and let them do their own thing. This is not how I normally go about things in the garden. I'm a plant now and think later kind of gal, or I was. It's been good to see how plants have settled and performed without my interference. Helen, credit to you, you've taught me how to be a bit more patient. No pun intended, honestly. Thank you!

It's hot, hot, hot! For October here in Edinburgh that is! Despite a couple of cold mornings, the

End of Month View
September 2014

temperatures here in Edinburgh continue to impress.

Mind you, we are forecast more seasonal norms from next week onwards. I need to find the time at some point to get out and chop a few things back. Most of the flowers are finished, as you can clearly see in the large image below, taken a couple of days ago.

I think the Acer on the top tier is the stand out plant, foliage wise, this week. Perennial wise, the Persicaria continues to impress me. It is now entering it's 5th month of flowering.

End of Month View October 2014

A few other blooms are putting on a brave face. Sadly, I've not seen any bees or other pollinators for at least a week. It's shame really, as it's not only this border that has blooms, there are lots more elsewhere in the garden.

Lupins, Sedum and Helianthus blooming end of October

Geum Bell Bank, might be showing signs of powdery mildew but it is not blighting some welcome late blooms. These coppery pink blooms, may for some, be a bit wishy washy in comparison to other Geums available but I don't mind that, I rather like it. I also find this plant holds a bit better shape than some that I've tried and got rid of before.

Geum Bell Bank flowering end of October 2014

The Photinia fraseri Red Robin, which for the first few months, was quite frankly, getting on my nerves and all summer it just blended into the background, so much so I hardly noticed it. The plant had previously grown a bit straggly, not quite how I envisaged it. So back in April I introduced some canes in an attempt at getting it to grow a bit more upright. They seemed to have done the trick and is now making quite a nice shape. It's earned itself a bit of a reprieve for now.

Photinia fraseri Red Robin

There is little else to report for this post, other than the fact, I spent a few weeks contemplating about how this area of the garden will look come spring time. I noted at the beginning of the year that I would source bulbs to plant this autumn and to be honest, I'm betwixt and between on what to do. Nobody will venture up here in the winter, would they be a waste of time? I know I should plant some for the early pollinators but I do have lots more elsewhere and I'm not sure how much of a difference having a few more here would make. We shall see how I feel when the time comes. It's not difficult to source bulbs by the pot full in springtime here.

I hope the weekend is a good one and I'm off now to see what's happening in your garden! Thanks for reading.

I'm in need of a wee bit guidance - can you help?

rooted Salvia cuttings November 2014

I took some cuttings of my gorgeous Salvia Amistad back in mid October, as was suggested by a few of you when I raised my concern re getting it through winter. I rooted some in water and also the more conventional way in compost. The ones in water rooted rather quickly (50% success rate) and were potted up into individual pots 2 weeks ago. Those that have successfully rooted in the compost took a bit longer but are now showing signs that they have rooted. Tiny roots are now appearing from the holes in the base of the pot.

This is where I get stuck! Do they need individual pots now or will they happily survive in the same pot for winter? - and - At what point to I nip them out to make them bushier?

These are my first attempts at taking cuttings so am quite excited that I've had some success. Any advice greatly appreciate. Thanks.

Salvia Amistad and Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Some of you might remember the incident I had with the whirligig early in the year. A brief reminder for those that don't - I tripped over my own feet and went crashing into it. I not only completely snapped the metal post at surface level, rendering it completely useless, I lost a crown and cracked my front tooth into the bargain!

Purchasing a new whirly, brought with it the opportunity to find it a new spot in the garden. Where it had previously been sited, was at one point, in the dim and distant past the most practical place for it. That did however mean that planting in the area had to be dictated to allow for the laundry to waft freely. This was not conducive to my ever increasing plant collection and certainly did not help in my urge to deepen and widen borders to make room for them.

A new spot further up the garden was chosen and in it went. It's new position worked really well all summer and the fact that I chose one which hoists up means that it is not hampered by anything. I gave myself a pat on the back, as you often do.

All was going well, until it rained rather heavily. A few rainy days later, it was apparent that I needed some sort of solid surface on which to stand when loading and unloading the whirly. The grass beneath was getting heavily compacted and further use, especially in winter/spring, would mean the whole area would become a quagmire.

I had some Marshall's Heritage paving slabs that I had previously from lifted from elsewhere in the garden. I was going to offer them up on Freecycle but never quite got round to it. My forgetfulness paid off, it means I don't have to cough up for new slabs now. They are, or will be, sandstone colour when I manage to get the power washer on to them.

Over the weeks between September to October, I tried out the individual pavers in different positions/spacing, moving them around until I got a layout that was practical. The offset T route seemed to work best coming through the arch. I continued positioning the slabs right up to the decking, it allows a natural flow straight from the house right up to the back of the garden now.

I've still got to lift the turf and sink them down level this will allow me to run the lawn mower right over the top of them when I mow the lawn. The lawn that had suffered by my previous design attempt has now fully recovered - you'd never know it had been starved of sunlight for a couple of weeks.

All I need do now is work on a vista to the left of the step leading up to the deck. But that is something for another day and another project.

A brief chat with my neighbour Jim the other day, consisted of the usual pleasantries around the family, weather, and gardening, as is usual with these kind of conversations. We both touched on the subject of the old Birch tree that used to stand between his and another neighbour's garden. Despite it's size, we both kind of miss it. I'll bet we are not the only ones - the birds probably do too! It was taken down a couple of years back.

Then, as fate would have it, a few hours later I read Pauline's EOMV, her Birch trees featured heavily. You can read it here, if you haven't already done so. Immediately, I remembered falling for her Silver Birch/Cornus winter combo last year and wishing I could replicate it or something similar in my garden. Back then it was immediately put to the back of my mind. Maybe one day I'd have a big enough garden in which to give them a go.

A visit to my local nursery, Binny Plants, whilst taking my youngest niece home following a weekend sleepover, would fill my Sunday just nicely. It's sometime a bit too handy that it's en route to my brother's house, or on the way home, depending on how you like to look at these things.

I had planned to fill the now redundant space behind the shed with a new tree. I noticed earlier this year that he had a couple of Kashmir Rowan trees in stock. Sorbus cashmiriana and it's white berries would do the job. Something a bit different. There are plenty red and yellow berries elsewhere in the garden, this would make a nice change. After getting there, I was disappointed to learn that he had sold out and if at all it would be next year until they are back in stock. Ach well, I'll just have to wait!

Billy, the nursery owner and I stood and had a wee blether, seeing as the nursery was very quite. It usually is at this time of the year. I was admiring the red Cornus stems and how they stood out in the low afternoon sun down at the bottom of his garden, where it borders part of the Golf Course. I then commented about Pauline's Birch/Cornus combo I saw the other day and how I'd love a white stemmed birch in the garden but felt I hadn't the room. As luck would have it he told me that they had some purple leafed birches that would eventually have white peeling bark and that it's size might be better suited to my garden. Betula Crimson Frost were new in stock, which explains why I hadn't noticed them before. They are narrow and very upright and not nearly as large as some Silver Birches. I walked over to have a look. Not that there was much too look at, they were rather small and of course at this time of the year completely naked! I asked myself 3 question. Was I particularly after one with green foliage? Considering I hadn't gone shopping for a birch tree, foliage green or otherwise never crossed my mind! Could I live with the Purple foliage? No brainer, I do like plants with purple folage. Finally, Could I make room? Make room? I had the perfect spot which had been cleared for the Laburnum back in spring but since I chose to plant the Laburnum elsewhere, I had filled the gap temporarily with a couple of perennials. You bet I can make the room! Sold! Fate has played a big part in choosing this plant, I just hope it likes my garden. It will be a few year before it's big enough to be partnered with a red stemmed Cornus and a few more after that before it makes some real impact in the garden but it's good to have something to look forward too.

When I had finished paying and making my way over to the car, I decided I'd take the long route home and visit another favourite nursery, New Hopetoun Gardens. Those of you in the UK familiar with BBC Gardening programme, Beechgrove Garden, will know only too well that one of the presenters is the wife of the owner of this independant garden centre. I might find the Sorbus in stock there. Indeed I did find the Sorbus in stock. I chose not to hang around as it had just started raining and I didn't have a jacket with me. It really is great to have such top quality nurseries less than a 10 minute drive from the house.

Here they are, certainly not much to look at right now. The Sorbus to the left is a great deal bigger that the twig that is the Birch Tree. I think the phrase is 'they have potential'. Tomorrow's job is to get both of them in the ground. Thankfully it's still warm enough for planting. It's not often we get a chance to plant out in November here in Scotland.

Sorbus cashmiriana and Betula Crimson Frost

It amazes me that this pencil thin chocolate brown, almost black stem, will become a beautiful white, peeling trunk in a just few years time. Isn't nature wonderful? I have to admit though, that I was a wee bit disappointed that they take so long to turn white. I had no idea before today that this was the case. Every day's a school day, eh?

Stem Betula Crimson Frost

A solitary leaf lingers long enough for me to get it home and take a shot. I can see now just how it earned it's name.

Betula Crimson Frost

I can't believe that in a matter of 10 months I've gone from a garden with no trees to a garden with 5 trees. That of course might be 2 or 3 trees too many, I might never know - I'm not getting any younger am I? Why shouldn't I enjoy a few trees right now, I should have planted them 4 years ago when I first set this garden out! If the worse comes to the worst, I'll be looking to employ a tree surgeon!

I wonder, has fate ever played a part in choosing a specific plant for your garden? Do tell us? As if impulse buying isn't costly enough, I now need to contend with fate when I go plant shopping!

Was it worth the wait?

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day June 2014

End of Month View June 2014

Summertime Blues

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day July 2014

One man's trash......

End of Month View July 2014

Never say never!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day August 2014

End of Month view August 2014

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day September 2014

End of Month View September 2014

Orange Crocus?

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day October 2014

A wee word of warning

GBFD October 2014 - Autumn Colour

End of Month View October 2014

To pot or not to pot?

Recycling stepping stones

One, two, tree!