I have been enjoying my garden this summer. It's frustrating because I can't get out there and garden 8 hours a day which is what I really need to do to get totally on top of it before the end of summer/sunshine, but hopefully in a couple of weeks I shall be able to garden when I want again - AND go for walks again.
Anyway, I have managed a bit of pottering, mask on, Haymax balm round nose etc and a hat on to keep the worst of the pollen away. I have also been inside looking out, and thinking that the "stone garden" - the right hand side where the wildlife pond and the rockery are, and which has a slate slabs and chippings base, was looking very empty now the Aquilegias had gone over (v. quickly this year too, due to the heat). Then I thought, well, I have LOTS of things in planters, and they are a movable feast, so I have been reconfiguring the area, and putting roses where they will make an impact, with a view to planting them in their new situations, and giving that side a totally different look. My garden has been reinvented a lot down the years, and this week I have the "move-its" again!
The first rose to get moved was the splendid Tess of the D'Urbervilles, who now brightens the corner of the bay window. I'm not sure I can plant her there without some industrial digging, but I will see what I can manage. Until this spring, this corner was absolutely PACKED with Monbretia corms about 6" deep, and then I got ruthless . . . A couple of little plantings and it is looking pretty.
You will have to ignore the pile of cut down Aquilegias in the middle there, but I like the way the Delphiniums almost glow against the dark backdrop - they really draw the eye to the back of the garden. The white rose left is Lichfield Angel (not Cathedral as I wrote the other day). I think that will be planted there in due course.
View from the pathway across the same area. Zepherin Drouhin, on her support, has been joined by a big Lidl Salvia, and two Lupins, plus the two rescued Hollyhocks which won't do anything until next year now. The pot behind them has a bright pink Clove Scented Pink which exactly matches ZD. The blue pot on the right hand side front of the wall has the little arching Fuschia I got from the Nursery on Tuesday. I can't remember if the Pinks with it are white or pink, but 'twill look pretty anyway.
Mother and son - Miffy broke into a run when she saw me, obviously thinking "food", whilst her son, Little Whale, was doing a Perambulation of the garden to see what I had been up to.
Right, this won't do. My bed is calling me, and let's hope I can sleep better - I had another 3 1/2 hour night on Wednesday and was so dizzy all day long afterwards. Stepping down off the steroids now, so fingers crossed I will be ok after.
