Every One is My Favourite!

Hello Friends

It's July 1st and we're sitting under a cold blanket of sea fog that rolled in off the Atlantic last evening.  First thing this morning the heating came on, and I'm not sorry in the least, it's that chilly! I would rather this chilly fog than the searing temperatures in Pakistan and the Pacific North West.

I don't know why it is, but with each new flower that blooms, every one is my new favourite.

Rosa Mundi is now opening.  David Austin describes the fragrance as "old rose".  I describe it as intoxicating and divine.  I really must get these out of the pots though.

Alchemilla Mollis, or Ladies' Mantle.  One of the great doers in any garden.  It fills in gaps with large mounds of furry green leaves which come to life when covered with early morning dew, or after a fall of rain, when the hairy leaves gather the moisture into a thousand crystal jewels.  This dew is considered by Alchemists to be the most pure and precious, highly prized water of all for their magic.

At this time of year, the bright lime green yellow flowers open, and that acid pop of colour seems to compliment anything it flowers against, making everything sing.  The garden is a froth of puffs of yellow, and the stems are stunning in small floral arrangements.

You can throw almost anything at this plant and it will still come back, giving of it's best, year after year.

The dwarf clematis is now full of leaf!  Great joy that it has recovered so well.  It just goes to show how tenacious nature is.  Maybe the plants shall inherit the Earth after all?

The yellow rose is now opening in glorious clusters of sunshine

I bought these lavenders last Spring.  I followed the instructions to pot them up to bring them on before planting out but they didn't grow, not one inch, and I am very disappointed with them.  They looked so dishevelled in January that I nearly threw them out as a bad job, but I didn't.  Still nothing happened, but this Spring, in desperation, I put three plants into the border and they have done very little, and now I'm noticing yellowing of the leave, however, the ones still in the trays do suddenly seem to be putting on some spurt of growth, doubling in size and have produced some spikes.  I must prepare space for them, lickity split, to plant them out in the hopes all is not lost.  

I put down a layer of Strulch, an organic, mineralised straw mulch and soil enhancer and now wonder if that is causing the yellowing?

My fir tree which was not doing well after repotting is recovering nicely!  Sometimes all you need is to give plenty of TLC, and have a lot of patience!

Finally, even though Summer is only just here, there's that early reminder that Autumn, with all her glorious bounty, is just around the corner.

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well

p.s. due to this being Wimbledon fortnight, comments may be delayed in publishing and may not get an immediate reply!