Sunny Saturday

After some rather windy and wet weather for a few days, the sun finally shone and I attempted some more photos. Although they’re nothing new; you’ve all seen them before, it was nice just to get outside.

A young Sea Holly plant, waiting to be planted into its final home

Tiny Forget-me-not blooms; rather late but welcome anyway

Thursday was spent power hosing the decking and walls. It’s amazing! You’d never realise just how much dirt gathers in only a year. I had planned to seal it too but Pete being lazy didn’t want to go to B&Q to get some. I’m quite annoyed actually because jobs he was meant to do have been ignored and with the anticipated winds, rain etc from Hurricane Katia I know we won’t be able to do it over the weekend and into next week.
Asters given to me by my neighbour are almost ready to bloom… The flutters and other insects love them

Friday again we could’ve sealed the decking and once again he didn’t want to go to B&Q. Instead I moved the Monkshood from the new border and planted it on the upper tier. I then planted Miscanthus ‘pink flamingo’ in its place and a few Burnetts.
I’m on a mission to get as many of the plants in pots into the ground before winter not only to clear the decking but also to allow room for the many Tulip bulbs I need to plant. Then it’ll be a case of waiting for the crocus, iris etc to come and I can plant them around the garden.

Flat-topped Aster is beginning to seed. It seems too early for it to be finishing already.

Only one Gladioli is blooming, the rest all seem to be blind…

Saturday morning we set off early to the shops, spent way too much at B&Q on hedge trimmers, lamps, and all manner of other things. However I have now managed to oil the decking at last. The house smells of a chemical factory now so all windows are open to help get rid of the smell (next time I'll try to find some 'friendly' oil, as this stuff I discovered is really bad for the environment... I've never done this type of thing before and didn't realise).
Some small Hellebore plants arrived today and I really want to get them settled before winter - very much looking forward to their blooms in a few months!
It's Pete's birthday tomorrow so hopefully the weather will be ok and we'll get out somewhere.

Harlow Carr’s blooms have been damaged by the rain, not to worry as there are plenty of buds waiting.

Crocosmia are almost finished too, few blooms are left.

Comma chrysalis shows little changes; there seems to be a strange silver-ness on the right. Is this the chrysalis breaking open and revealing the first signs of the butterfly within?

There are lots of these small yellow and black ladybirds around at the moment. They’re always on this geranium.

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Fluorescent Bouquet

I’ve been taking advantage of the profuse blooms from the Crocosmia for the past month and placing them in vases with various flowers from the garden.

Orange is not a favourite colour of mine, but as these were inherited with the property I have left them… so far… They offer much needed ground cover and colour until I’m in a position to get rid of them should I choose to.

This vase is the Crocosmia mixed with various shades of Scabious.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as knowing they’re from your own space, rather than bought.

Sweet Peas also often feature in this vase, if only for their scent filling the room.

I'm having a long weekend break to Edinburgh... Any suggestions on where I simply must go? It's festival season still so there will be plenty around. I am no stranger to Edinburgh, I have particular problems with evening entertainment and really need something interesting to do. I'm not a pub goer, neither of us drink heavily so don't want to sit around in a pub/club/bar all evening.

Late Summer

Mornings are much cooler and the days are reaching nice, warm temperatures. These I can live with, I've had enough of hot, muggy, grey days. Last week we had a corker, it was so heavy and horrible, I just don't know how people put up with it for long periods of time… as the day progressed I gradually felt more light-headed and sick. Finally 4pm came and I virtually ran out of the office, OH was meeting me and we went for a meal, the restaurant was air conditioned and almost immediately I felt much better.

I have some more catching up to do; I've been sparse on posts this month and haven't really even mentioned any of the veggies I've grown.
The tomatoes have begun ripening a few weeks ago, I cannot remember their type but they were supposed to be an early variety… I wouldn't really call this early! Anyway, I also have some gardener's delight and a cherry which was given to me by a colleague, they are by the back door of the house and are also now ripening. I want to try a Heritage variety next year, does anyone have any suggestions?

Our Rosarie de l'hay has had a second flush of flowers, I am so very pleased as the perfume… it's to die for. If I could effectively collect it in a bottle to smell all year, I would.

This summer I have seen lots of these around:

We’ve also had this visiting, I've never seen quite such a huge Hoverfly before…

The Gatekeeper had its eye on me…

But soon went back to eating

Meanwhile another can be seen on the Coneflower

Crocosmia takes over at this time of year

And I've been using it in vase arrangements… Photos will be posted another day.

A (Carder??) Bee, very fluffy it is, too!

One of my Rudbeckia has opened double, not complaining though…

A tiny moth I know I've seen before, and know they do not have a common name, only a long latin name so I won't waste my time attempting to find it again…

Cherry or Gardener's Delight by the kitchen door… Others on the plant are turning orange.

Does anyone know what this Cotoneaster is?? It has the strangest growing habit I've ever seen and I cannot say I'm a fan of this 'messy' look. It was here when we moved so I have no idea what the previous owners planted.
I think I'm going to have to get rid, it clearly wants to grow much too large for the space they gave… And to think they'd originally also planted Portugal Laurel right next to it, madness.

The 'early' Tomatoes… I *may* have already eaten a few... For testing purposes, clearly.