I haven’t had much chance over the last couple of weeks to get into the garden to work, what with holidays, conferences, workshops and visitors. Today I made a start, it was a bit blustery and overcast this morning, here in UK we haven’t had the sweltering heat that’s hit most of Europe, thank goodness, just the occasional sunny and hot day.
The roses are all starting to bloom, though they have been somewhat battered by the wind and rain. The most eagerly awaited one this year was my Claire Austin standard rose, it was only planted in the autumn and I have a handful of beautiful creamy-white roses.
My favourite rose in the garden, Lady Emma Hamilton, is also making a good display, it’s evened out the balance a bit in the Amber & Amethyst garden…
A couple of weeks ago it was looking very pinky-purple. A dark blue veronica is in flower, together with lots of self-seeded purple poppies and foxgloves. The bright purple flower at the front is a perennial cornflower, it does tend to spread somewhat so I try and keep it under control-ish! The seed heads of the honesty are a lovely deep shade of purple-grey.
The purple poppies are all self-seeded, they’re so pretty and delicate and all shades of purple from almost white to a rich mid purple. They’re quite tall (about 24″) and statuesque. They’re popping up all over the place, though I think I did help the seeds to spread last year as I really like them.
I had a good weed in the autumn bed today, I got three trugs full from this area and there’s still a few to pull, mainly nettles as I didn’t have the right gloves on. In some ways I find the annual weeds easier to pull once they’ve got to a decent size, they’re easier to identify for one thing!
The foxtail lillies are looking stunning as the flowers gradually open up the stem.
On the back fence the rosa rugosa hedge on the left is looking really good this year. This is the first year without being within a hen run and boy can you see the diffence. It’s only just starting to flower but it’s so bushy!! Under the bushes is also looking pretty with geraniums, astrantias and alchemilla mollis. The clematis montana I trained up the arch just this spring is taking off nicely.
The wide bed infront of the big fence is filling up nicely, I’ve mainly planted shrubs but there’s a few perennials to add some extra colour, astrantias again and the roses are starting to flower, you can just see a purple clematis which has lost it’s obelisk so it is happily meandering through the shrubs!.
I think it’s a little while since I took an overhead photo of the garden, so this is what it looks like this evening…
It’s less than four weeks to our open garden weekend, so I better pull my finger out!
thecraftycreek 
Oh thank you for showing your garden and with such beautiful photos of the flowers too. I spend an hour or so each morning doing the weeding and have been rewarded with things blooming nicely so far. My poppies are just out and the wild roses are now in bloom. I adore this time of year and I’m so happy that intense heat missed you!
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Thanks Jocelyn, I should spend an hour each morning, r even just each day off! I’m very glad the heat missed us, I’m not good in hot climes 🙂
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So glad the heat wave didn’t fall on your area. I find it difficult to get out and do anything when it is hot. Your garden is looking good. Keep at it.
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ooohhhhh! do you mean you have visitors coming to wander around your garden to admire? (when you say “open garden”).
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Hi Claire, I’m hoping people will come and wander round and then make a donation to our chosen charity 🙂
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Hello Margaret, your garden is gorgeous. I’m just a little shade of green. I would love to have a proper garden. How many years have you opened your garden, I’ve heard that there are quite strict rules and requirements. Well done, you are certainly talented. Regards Mandy
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It’s the first time I’ve opened my garden, I’m not doing it through the Yellow Book scheme, just mainly to family, friends, colleagues and the occasional poster, I’m adding quilts and embroidery show to increase the appeal 🙂
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So hard to choose a favorite amongst all of the blooms in your garden! I love the roses and those purple poppies for sure, but you have cultivated such a wonderful place…your own Secret Garden!
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Everything is Gorgeous!
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Very, very pretty.
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Good luck with the open garden event. It is looking lovely now, especially like the foxgloves.
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The roses are so beautiful this year! Wishing you an excellent weeding week as the open garden approaches. People will love yours!
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