The Herbaceous Borders

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Jackie continued her planting today. My major task was dead-heading.

Planting in Dragon Bed

This section of the Dragon Bed shows how what was a large, gangly ficus until Aaron removed it six days ago has been replaced by the Head Gardener’s selection.

View from Butler sinks along Dead End Path

The chimney pot in this shot of the view from the butler sinks at the end of the Dead End path

Chimney pots planted

is one of the three in which Jackie has now completed this year’s arrangements.

Kitchen Bed

Brick Path 1Brick Path 2The stone planters in the Kitchen Bed have received similar treatment, as have these two urns leading us to the original section of the Brick Path taking us from the south end to the house. This pair necessitated an urgent trip to Otter Nurseries late yesterday afternoon to buy a few more geraniums.

 

Margery's Bed

A yoked pair of hanging baskets introduces us to Margery’s Bed,

Phantom Path

alongside which raking of the Phantom Path has commenced. The gorgeous pink rhododendron seen through the arch on the Cryptomeria Bed

Garden view from Weeping Birch Bed

is also visible from the brick section of the Oval Path, along which coils

Sprinkler on Weeping Birch Bed

the hose delivering sprinkled refreshment to the Weeping Birch Bed.

Gothic Arch

A white rambler and a purple clematis share the Gothic Arch;

Clematis on Agriframes Arch

The combination is similar on the Agriframes Arch, and we can name the rambler which, yet to bloom, is Wedding Day.

Geraniums

These Rozannes behind the iron urn are perhaps the most unusual of the blue geraniums.

Sambucus nigra and geranium palmatum 1

Beside the potting shed at the corner of the Rose Garden sambucus nigra and geranium palmatums sit happily together.

rose Absolutely Fabulous

Rose Absolutely Fabulous

Rose Garden 2

occupying the foreground of this image is now beginning to bloom;

roses Just Joey and Love Knot

Just Joey and Love Knot are at the far end.

rose Lady Emma Hamilton

Lady Emma Hamilton

Rose Garden 3

peeps round pink foxgloves at Absolutely Fabulous.

rose Little Rambler

The aptly named Little Rambler scales one of the pergola posts.

Hoverfly over For Your Eyes Only 1Hoverfly over For Your Eyes Only 2

I concentrated much of my dead-heading efforts on the Rose Garden, giving me ample opportunity to photograph hoverflies like these skimming For Your Eyes Only. For this purpose my camera hung round my neck as I snipped.

Herbaceous border 1Herbaceous border 2

The beds alongside the Back Drive have demanded that they now be called the herbaceous borders.

Poppies

They contain different varieties of poppy,

Rose Félicité Perpétue

and Félicité Perpétue now wears a green and white shawl.

This evening we dined on pizza supplemented by a topping of bacon rashers; plentiful salad, and cold baked beans. I drank Cahors malbec 2015. Jacke had previously slaked her thirst with fizzy water, or, as she termed it, ‘eau petillante’.

51 comments

  1. Having just had a catch up of the last few posts it’s amazing how the garden has burgeoned in the last week! We could do with some rain down here again. Proper rain, not the mizzly stuff of yesterday.
    A belated Happy Birthday to the Head Gardener.

  2. I do love ‘For Your Eyes Only’ and like every time I look at the photographs of your garden, I wish I have more room (and sun) in my garden.

  3. Great shots – I am always stunned at the varieties you guys have – really a fabulous collection, and so well laid out. Your last paragraph had me Googling twice. ” eau petillante” – I drink it every night & used to call it “seltzer water” I think I must adopt Jackie’s lovely name – if I can sum up my high school French pronunciation. – I am still mulling over bacon rashers – is that bits of bacon on your pizza?

  4. Derrick, the flowers are beautiful, and as always, I wonder just how many hours and hours of work you spent out there.
    I also want to comment about your header photos. I guess I never realized that they changed and what made me notice it today was the “Filthy McNasty’s” image 🙂

    1. I’m rather struggling with the headers. What I would like to do is use the feature photo each time, but I don’t seem to be able to do that. Either I get none at all, or they are randomised. Many thanks, Laurie

  5. You have blessed each of those flowerbeds, paths, props, pots and nooks and corners of your arbour distinct characters. It is hard to choose a favourite from the floral aristocracy.

  6. The chimney pots were a genius purchase. The climbing, flowering vine growing on the arbor is beautiful and creates a lovely “frame” for other flowers in the background. 🙂

  7. Such delicious roses abound in your garden! I just visited the International Rose Test Gardens in Portland, always an inspiration. For years I didn’t enjoy roses all that much but when I moved here–a great climate for flourishing–I was won over.

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