After all the rain and cool temperatures we have had it has been a lovely warm weekend; even at times, dare I say it, too warm for gardening. Saturday was spent at the local HPS group meeting which I always enjoy as I rarely come away without learning something. I also inevitably come home with some plants despite telling myself there really is no more room. This week’s purchases are an Iris Louisiana ‘Sinfonietta’ and a Phyteuma scheuchzeri. Apparently the Iris Louisiana likes the same conditions as Iris Siberica and will cope with a little flooding from time to time.
This photo doesn’t convey the wonderful iridescent blue of the flowers which in fact almost match the pot. It is such a wonderful blue that Bob Brown made me go outside to admire the plant before I bought it. Anyway it is planted in the corner of the patio and fingers crossed it will do well.
To continue the small planting theme I also emptied out the spring bedding in the Jasmine planter and replaced it with Begonias. This is a repeat of what I did last year which isn’t very original but it worked well and I walked round and round the garden center and
I also did some tidying up in the front garden, cut the grass and pondered what I could add to the Driveway Border to add some extra height and interest now the Irises have gone over and the Crocosmia aren’t yet flowering. I think I need some Verbascum. I am going to go for the Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’ as the white will continue the theme of the Potentilla and the dark red/burgundy flower centres will pick up on the Alliums and Erysium. I just need to decide whether to buy some plants now or whether to sow seed and be patient.
I then set too and tackled the patio border which has been swamped with Welsh Poppies and Bluebells. The new Edgeworthia is being eaten by something and I am assuming its slugs although the Kirengeshoma next to it is also suffering from holes appearing on the leaves and I’m not convinced this is slug damage as they are very regular. Anyway, I thought if I cleared away all the bluebell and narcissus debris then this would reduce the places for pests to hide and provide a healthier environment. I dug up all the Welsh Poppies. I know some people love them but they are like a weed in my garden self-seeding everywhere and I find their yellow flowers distract from the rest of the plants. I am sure en masse somewhere they would look fabulous but not dotted through my border. I also dug up what bluebell bulbs I could locate and I have replanted them up the garden. I know there are still some in the border but they are mixed up in the roots of the perennials and it would mean lifting plants etc. Anyway, the border looks a lot better now and I think the plants will be healthier.
Not bad for a day in the garden. Still lots more to do but then that is gardening for you.
