Hot and Bothered.

It’s been very warm of late, little rain and hot days leading to a very dry garden. I have resorted to the hosepipe on a couple of occasions, mainly in the White Garden as it also contains a boggy bit that also needed a bit of a top up.

The Hot Border is in semi shade for the majority of the day and this has helped no end. All seems to be working well. Another year will see it knit together nicely.

Some plants that are peaking at the moment are …….

 

Hydrangea villosa

Helenium Waltrout

Hemerocallis Scarlet Oak’

Clematis Durandii

Lysimachia variagata

Salvia unknown

Canna ‘Cleopatra’

Helenium ‘Moorheim Beauty’

Bomarea Hirtella.

Dahlia unknown

Foliage of Canna ‘Cleopara’

Cautleya spiata ‘Crug Canary’

Crocosmia Lucifer

New Season, a Fishy Tale and a Favour.

After ordering more seeds than I can ever use, they arrived last week.

These along side some veg seeds for the allotment, came within 4 days of ordering. Among them are some goodies to try to grow for the conservatory. In the past I have successfully grown Bomarea Hirtella which I think now needs a permanent home outside as I don’t think I can put it in a bigger pot. I have a sheltered spot for it, so that’s another task.

The climbers I have chosen this year are Dicentra Scandens, a yellow climber with ferny foliage that will scramble to about 2 metres. This should over winter as a tuber.

Elytropus Chilensis is one I have never heard of but I am always up for a challenge. This is a woody evergreen climber with purple throated flowers and a delicate perfume.

I’ve always loved the Maurandya plants that I often see when looking in the orangeries in stately homes. So seeing M  ‘Magic Dragon’ which is a hybrid grown by Plant World Seeds , I thought this was the one for me to try. Fast growing and coming in colours ranging from pink to red. I think these will fit nicely into my conservatory colour scheme.

Gloriosa Rothschildiana is another climber that I admire in orangeries, and this I am determined to get to flower. It looks so stunning and is probably one I would have to work into a textile piece.

Still with seeds, Malcolm sowed his tomato seeds last week.

They were up in 5 days….

Just a little taster of a rose to come. Rosa Banksii Lutea already showing buds. Please Please no frost ……

And now a Fishy Tale.

For a couple of years now I have been following Mobana Origami . I have been fascinated by paper folding for a few years now and found his work to be quite addictive. At present he is working on folding a life size elephant, if you want to see his progress then you can follow the link.

Sipho Mobana also folds the most realistic Koi Carp. So this I had to try. Following his tutorial I came up with these.

And I don’t think they look too bad. I used origami papers for the 3 to the right and the left one is magazine paper….I really enjoyed making them and to finish here is a photo of my fish in the pond.

A big favour to ask….Does anyone know whether I should put this in the ground….!!!!  Eomecon Chionantha…commonly called Snow Poppy..I have had it in a pot for a couple of years and I believe it is rampant….Please will someone help me out of my dilemma, or in goes in the bin. Thanks…