Sunday 21 July 2013

More of the garden and greetings!

Before I begin, Frugal Freesia believes she has found Hardup Hester's New blog. It does look very different so I hope it is hers. Anyway, herewith the link to said blog Hester's Marvellous Makes

Also want to welcome L to my blog care of bloglovin.

Today is another coolish (22C), overcast day and it is a blessing to enjoy judging by the forecast for the next couple of days (29-30C! muggy and horrid). For a change, none of the plants are drooping and seem quite happy.

We emptied our bath again this morning and managed to water along the back fence, including the pond area. Certainly made the frogs jump back into the dustbin pond. Obviously, we were very careful not to get any into the pond itself!

Herewith a few more shots of some of my flowers, starting with the hangings baskets either side of the front room window. They contain Nemesia - I think - and lobelia:

This big lavender plant is one of several in the front gravel garden. They get clipped to within an inch of their lives after flowering, but are getting to the stage where something more drastic needs to be done as they are getting a little leggy.

Did you know, what you can do other than throwing leggy plants away and planting new ones? Cut them back, dig them out, make the hole larger and deeper, add food, then rebury them up to their necks, water and they will grow and flower contentedly for many more years. I have done this twice before they got really fed up and had to take cuttings or buy new plants!
One of several Soldiago:
The first flower on my red Hibiscus shrub:
The final picture for this post is of yet more lavender. These are growing along our conservatory out front and are in their 2nd flowering year. They were self sown seedlings I found whilst cutting back the year before last. One looks sad all the time as it has the unfortunate placing on top of our sewage cover so has nothing but gravel to grow in. It might not make it, but if not, something else will go in there.
The next post will cover my fruit cage. See you then.

8 comments:

  1. I admire both your garden and your photography skills. A good camera would be wasted on me although I admit that I have not devoted any time to learning the skills needed.

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    1. It is really a good quality point and shoot. It can't do real macro - although DB says it can get pretty close if you know what settings to use!

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  2. You have plenty of colour in your garden at the moment.I cant get enough lavender in our garden, I've transplanted some seedlings from last year along our side path, which when they have bushed out will provide a lovely scent as they are brushed against.

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    1. The lavender and Soldiago is the main colour this time of year. In a few weeks, the things I have cut back hard should grow and bloom again where able, then it will be really nice again.

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  3. Interesting to see how that lavender is struggling ...hope it survives! I found today to be quite fresh, but yesterday even though dull, was muggy and close - not good for the asthma and loads of pollen about so sneezing and coughing - I'm one of the ones who enjoy the heat and clear skies. (Unless, of course, I am stuck in a large field with no shade!!). I have felt quite bereft these past two years, with such dreadful summers, it's great to have some real sunshine and warmth.

    I will take your advice about cutting back hard on the leggy lavender!

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    1. It probably wasn't helped by having to be lifted to sort out the blockage in the drain! Wasn't too muggy here yesterday and even the washing didn't get fully dry, had to finish it off indoors. We both dislike the intense heat and only tend to sit out in the garden on not too hot a day.

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  4. Your garden's looking very pretty DC and very colourful. Quite drastic steps to save a plant but it it works then there's nothing to lose. I'll give it a try
    Patricia x

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    1. If you are talking about the lavender, it does work but you need to do it after it has been clipped back to just above fresh growth and at the end of the season.

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