Tend&Grow

A crimson Bottlebrush, Callistemon, although I’m not entirely sure which one it is. Possibly Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’, but regardless many are flowering now and all are real head turners. Next, Star Jasmine or Summer Jasmine, as some prefer, Trachelospermum jasminoides, a climbing evergreen with a strong sweet jasmine like scent. Lastly the popular Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, a tactile herbaceous perennial beginning to flower now.

Relatively daring planting combination of Achillea filipendulina and an unknown Kniphofia uvaria cultivar. Good dramatic impact at this time of year and a bit more alive than similar situations elsewhere.

Hydrangea arborecens ‘Annabelle’, popular, good looking and easy going flowering now at the beginning of summer. The Everlasting Pea, Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial version of the annual sweet pea (although the flowers are not fragrant) flowering and growing strongly at this point in the season. Lastly the shade loving Hart’s-tongue fern, Asplenium scolopendrium, looking fresh with new leaves.

An enchanting rose stated as a procumbent (ground cover) rose by some and as a shrub rose by others. Bred by Kordes Roses (Germany) in 1936. Here seen in shade and as a shrub, albeit on the lean side. If it wasn’t for the fence offering a bit of support I could see it wanting to procumbere. Not especially fragrant which is a shame and not a repeat flowerer, but still wonderful nonetheless.

A useful perennial, but once you have it, very hard to not have it. Looking good here with Aruncus dioicus and Philadelphus for a back drop.

In flower Blue Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana, worth looking at; in leaf is unremarkable and can look tatty at times, but right now is the best of it and that’s the first picture. Second an unknown cultivar of Red Hot Poker, Kniphofia uvaria, that’s been here and there in the garden for 18 yrs. Lastly the most commonly seen Day Lily, Hemerocallis fulva (having a particularly good year), which also has many cultivars like the previous two, a plant that can take more than its fair share of the garden and is capable of elbowing out its neighbours.

Meadow buttercup, Ranunculus acris and the Oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare are both perennial wildflowers with the Meadow buttercup peaking just before the Oxeye daisy but with some cross over, in this garden meadow at least. No two meadows are the same in my experience and can vary year to year.

Biennial Fox Glove, Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora, the delightful small tree Cornus kousa, aka Kousa Dogwood, and lastly scented Mock orange, Philadelphus coronarius. White on green at a colourful time of year.

Papaver somniferum, diverse flower colours and types all excel in the self seeder category of garden plants. Singles, doubles, pom-poms, reds, pinks, purples, whites.

Perennial Delphiniums in bloom. Annual self seeded poppies, Papaver somniferum, flowering now along with self seeding evergreen perennial Sisyrinchium striatum.