Papaver orientale 'Perry's White'

A recent addition to the garden. And I cannot think why it has taken so long. The annual variety of Poppies still show their faces year after year (always somewhere new of course), but now I hope that this little beauty will flourish and grow into one of the giant specimens I have admired in other gardens.

Hamamelis vernalis 'Sandra'

Witch hazel.

More like witchcraft.

Herald of Spring, well, maybe one of the heralds...

Every home shoud have one. The scent alone will awaken the bees from hibernation. Find a nice shady spot to keep it sheltered from the summer sun and all this can be yours. A perfect compliment to the glorious autumn colour of the foliage. (See earlier post)

Fractal the cat

Admidst the undergrowth there lurks the wildlife.

Well, maybe not so wild. In this case, 'wild' is perhaps not the word that best describes Fractal; For that is his name.

He is though, a cat that lives up to that which his name implies - Chaotic!

All other wildlife that may appear in the garden is safe from harm when Fractal is about. Whilst he may give the appearance of being alert and cat-like, he is in fact a complete and utter scatterbrain. He will run rather than confront. And that is what makes him so dear. He is, and will remain, the BEST cat ever. May he live a long and happy life.

Hamamelis vernalis 'Sandra'

Autumn colour! With a shrub that gives this wonderful colour what more could one ask? The fact is, this shrub gives a yellowy, stringy bloom in spring that has the most scintilating of scents.
I like the autumnal feel of a garden. The smell of the earth and the leaves. The knowledge of 'a job well-done', as the garden closes down and tucks itself in for the coming winter...

Araneus diadematus

'Sharing' a garden means just that.

One has to be adaptable.

How can it be denied that these creatures have their place? They are as much a part of the garden as the shrubs and perennials themselves.

Some hang around and become friendly enough to pose.

- And so, ladies and gentlemen please show your appreciation for...

The Orb Spider.

Alcea rosea

I didn't plant it. It arrived on the wind as they now seem to do every year.

Yes they get rust. Some even appear where they are most inconvenient. But the majority take their place and do their own thing without any interference from me. As they seed so freely I am content, and the colour variation is enough to keep things interesting. Long may they remain.

Geranium asphodeloides

Geranium. What a wonderful group. You will find a geranium for all occasions.

This one is excellent for ground cover and simple beauty.

Lost count of how many there are in the garden and one day I will do an audit...

Meantime I look at them and wonder at the simplistic joy they bring to a garden. I urge everyone to seek them out, to plant them and enjoy them. Accept no substitute, get the real thing... Disappointment will be a thing of the past.

Passiaflora caerulea

Bricks. Useful things. It is possible to build houses out of them. If you do build a house or buy an existing one, then one is left with an area that can be exploited.

The Passion Flower. Give it some support against a warm wall and look at what your get!

Tricyrtis stolonifera

Ain't it a beauty?

A little bit of shade around the roots and they say thank you with delicious flowers such as these. Seeing a plant thrive and come back again is just one of the delights of growing!

Sorbus aucuparia

Years ago a passing member of the family - Turdus merula (Blackbird) - passed overhead. It may have been a comment on the state of the garden at that time or perhaps he/she just may have been unable to stop it... He dropped his deposit.
Amongst the debris was a seed. It fell. It was nurtered by nature and, as such, it developed. The resulting tree is here to stay! Thank you Blackbird. Though, the sound of your song in the gathering gloom is reward enough! I do not begrudge for one moment the berries that your ancestors enjoy...

The position of the tree would in ideal circumstances, have been a foot or so to the left; But who am I to complain? I can live with it!

Inula

Minor problem here. I cannot yet be sure of the variety; Reserach is ongoing.
The real thing to concentrate on is this Gap-filling plant and its flowers.
A gift that arrived last year as a mass of root in a carrier-bag. After a good soaking and then planting in a sunny corner the result is as you see...

Anemone hupensis var Japonica

August and they arrive. The simple flowerheads swaying in the breeze. The freshness of the bloom is displayed for all to see. 'Here I am, come and see!'

I like just about all of the Anemone family and these are joint number one. The other joint number one is, of course, any other anemone that is in bloom at any time of the year.

It is in the simplicity of it. Being of simple mind it is inevitable that simplicity will play a part.

Agapanthus 'Headborne Hybrid'

It has been a very dry summer. The rains that provided this lovely picture are sadly, not enough. That is not to say tho' that the rain was not welcomed!

The Headborne Hybrids are many and varied. It is possible that they will be replaced with something less tall, but they will end up being put into a pot; After all, to do without them would be silly.

Fargesia nitida

Bamboo. Any variety. Wonderful things for bringing a sense of air to a garden. In this case it also provides shelter to the Lion-Dog who was a gift from friends and Poppy who loves the garden to sleep and to play. A well- behaved variety is nitida, doesn't 'run' like some and keeps itself upright. So good in fact, I put another clump the other side of the steps...

Alstroemeria aurantiaca (aurea)

Alstroemeria. Beautiful plants. This is a recent purchase and though the combination with the Agapanthus is rather nice it is doubtful that the two will remain together. This is just one of the positions that the pot has been plonked since we got back with it. I will find the perfect place for it soon.

We took a trip up to The Peak District and discovered a lovely nursery, http://www.dungevalley.co.uk/ and figured that if was strong enough for the Peaks then 'down south' would give an even better chance. Besides. how could anyone resist such a wonderful colour?

If you are in the area during late May, I strongly urge that you drop in to visit this delightful place.

Jasminum officinale ‘Affine’

If one introduces an arch into a garden it is normal to assume that one wants to grow something over it.
I chose the Jasmine.
The Jasmine however, decided that it didn't want to pander to my needs and refused to give out a scent. Two years passed; This year the first blossom (shown here) arrived and after a few sniffs dark thoughts began to arrive in my mind... What use is an arch without a shrub that has scent growing over it? I decided to let it go and to replace it in the Autumn.
No prizes for guessing what Jasmine did next.
The scent is wonderful! It is almost the quintisential English garden smell.
And the sting in the tale?
It has been let go. Now an unruly mess that will require a lot of careful pruning to get it back into shape. It winds its way through the arch in a way that will, in future years, prove hazardous to the integrity of the structure. Meanwhile, I revel in the glory of the odour!

Trillium sessile

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that Trillium represent something of an obsession. I love them. I think they are simply perfect. I see no fault with any one of the variety you care to mention. But there is a problem; Soil. I am in the midst of a chalk-bound range of hills. I sit on clay and, whilst the chalk is in short supply this side of the hill, it is evident that it is not acidic in any way!
However, with a goodly application of leafmould and well rotted compost it is possible to produce a happy plant such as the above. Oh Happy Day!

Clematis 'Golden Tiara'

Clematis 'Golden Tiara'

A corker! Oh, how she flowers!
And therein is the problem. Wrong place. I have given it a strong support but it overflows and is simply far to vigorous. It takes over and simply swamps!
It has to be moved. Not a task I relish. Maybe I will wait until it has finished flowering...
What could replace it though? So many choices, so little space!

Cematis 'Venosa Violacea'

Clematis Venosa Violacea

A joy. The seat at the top of the garden provides a welcome haven of shade during the hot spells, and during the start of summer Rosa 'Constance Spry' Smothers the wooden structure. As Constance fades away this beautiful clematis takes over. Who can argue with such a joyous arrangement?

Cematis 'Venosa Violacea' & Rosa 'Constance Spry'

Corydalis lutea

I make no apology for this. Some would consider this a weed. Around here it grows everywhere. The railway bridges seem to be a favourite place but it does not confine itself. It is true it seeds freely and turns up all over the place but, look at it..., how can you turn it away? Sometimes I pull it out, most times I just live with it. The foliage is delightful and the flowers bring a smile no matter what. The blue flower beyond is Geraniun nodosum, another wonderful plant that seeds freely.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

This is the second flush from Nelly as can be seen by the seed head behind. The rose poking itself into proceedings is Rosa 'New Dawn'.

Clematis 'Nelly Mosa'

Clematis durandii

Continuing on... High summer and this cascades over the wall and shows itself off against the dusky wall. A substantial wall it is to. Something that has been added to the humble abode to keep the sloping garden from sliding into the kitchen! The builder (a craftsman - retired) lives in Australia. How lucky then that his efforts should have made an impact on such a meagre plot in dear old Blighty.

Clematis x durandii

Camelia 'Debbie'

It seems appropriate to swing across from the rhodedendrun toward the camelia. They sit side by side and compliment each other very well. I feel I ought to apologise for the picture, it does not show dear ol' Debbie at her best. - Maybe next year. Keep her watered during summer and the rewards really are massive!

Camelia williamsii "Debbie"

Rosa 'Teasing Georgia'

We have a variety of roses in the garden and this is one of the recent additions. It was a gift. And as gifts go, what a result! - beauty-on-a-stick! Further pictures of roses will follow.
A David Austin rose.

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/

Rosa "Teasing Georgia"

Allium christophii

Sometimes the effect of the wine kicks in and you see something that until now had passed you by. It could be called - That 'Blue Peter' moment...

Take a Galaxy, any galaxy, a globular cluster would be appropriate; Here's one I grew earlier...

Allium christophii

Rhododendron luteum

Start at the very beginning: OK, maybe not the first to bloom in spring, but it IS the first to greet me as I step outside my back door.
Spring; Scented blossom. Bright colours...

Rhododendron luteum Posted by Hello