On Thursday the Flower Moon lit up the sky as the last supermoon of 2020 was seen at its most impressive. Par for the course here in the south-west the sky was cloudy when it rose at around 8:45 p.m. but I managed to get a photo through the Velux window later on that night as the clouds briefly parted. And this weekend is a bank holiday weekend – one like no other – not only was it held on a Friday, but it was also the 75th celebration of the end of WWII in Europe; in lockdown. All sorts of celebratory events had to be cancelled, but apparently street parties in isolation went ahead. I’m not one for celebrating these sorts of events. Flag waving doesn’t do it for me.
And the garden calls loudly at this time of year. Not only are the perennials awakening from their winter slumber, but the weeds are on the march too (how many bindweed plants can you find in these photos?) Taking every advantage of the sun and the rain this week. Lawn mown, except for my teeny-tiny wildflower meadow bit which is now producing camassias, but they’ll wait until another week and all the tulip pots moved to the working part of the garden (the Wild Garden) ready for emptying.
So let’s have a look what else is happening this week:
(1) Aubrieta in the walled sunny garden is looking extra good this year. I have a few areas of it but this one is doing the best and creeping down the wall. Maybe it likes the shade it gets from the weeping buddleia? I must try and get some cuttings from it for the Cornish hedge in the Wild Garden.
(2) Ajuga reptans is commonly known as bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle. The ‘reptans‘ in its Latin name is derived from ‘repto’, meaning ‘creeping and I am trying to get it to creep along my woodland border to fill in the gaps. It is slow to grow, but that might be because the baby’s tears loves to cover this area too! At this time of year it has lovely blue flowers. Mine is ‘burgundy glow’ and a lovely colour even when not flowering.
(3) Another woodland border plant is this lovely Primula japonica ‘Apple Blossom’ (Japanese primrose) with shell-pink flowers adorned with a red eye. I should have six of these in the border (and I was hoping for different colours, but they were all the same) so far only this one has reappeared, but it has several flower spikes this year. Unlike the primulas along here, this one disappears completely in winter. They look lovely with ferns and hostas.
(4) Clematis on the fence by the Raised Beds. This was a cheapo one from Asda and is doing very well. The flowers start off quite small but are a decent size now. A montana I imagine. I am leaving it to cover this fence along with a honeysuckle, also from Asda, but will trim accordingly when it is necessary.
and now two unknown plants that are growing in the Cornish hedge. I have been planting cuttings of plants in my garden here mostly, though I did buy some campanula and small Persicaria and last year I scattered a packet of wild flower seeds over it. The only things that grew from that were some pretty red poppies.
(5) So is this a “weed” weed or a “wild flower keep sort of weed”? Anyone know? It looks as if there will be a daisy-like flower any time soon. I am waiting for the flowers to open before I decided whether to keep it or remove it. The stalks are red, hairy and square. I think it might be Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-eye daisy). If it is then I need to do some thinning!
(6) This one has this feathery foliage which is quite pretty. Possibly cow parsley or wild carrot or sweet cicely? I haven’t seen any sign of flowers, but then it is hidden by #5
As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to our host, the lovely Jon, AKA ‘The Propagator’ who is being particularly brief today, but where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world.
Take care out there!
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
It’s always interesting to see more of your garden, Jude! What a pretty colour of aubretia this is, and I too find ajuga very reluctant to establish. The clematis is most likely C montana ‘Grandiflora’ which has suddenly decided to romp away here too. What will you be putting in your tulip pots when they are emptied? No rain here but we may get a little drizzle today which I would not be unhappy to see!
The tulip post will have Cosmos in them. But I am only planting the glazed pots and a couple of small half barrel containers that live in the courtyard. They have daffodils in them but only two produced flowers this year so they need emptying too. I might try some calendula and nasturtiums seeds in the zinc container, see if they germinate! The orange should look nice against the green.
I look forward to seeing them Jude. Are they big pots? I tried cosmos in pots once and they were, I thought, too tall
Your unknown looks like my ox-eyes. I did some thinning as they fill my borders. Though you can’t tell I thinned as still no bare ground. Still plenty of daisies left. But trying to give alliums some light.
Nice moon pics. Too cloudy for me too so I went with playing with silhouettes instead. One on my six.
Your garden is looking lovely. I seem to have pots absolutely everywhere at the moment, full of things I’m trying to harden off prior to planting out. I find that Bindweed is impossible to get rid of (I don’t use any sprays), especially when it comes under the fence from next door.
Yes, well I have a complete wilderness at the other side of the fence, so no chance of eradicating bindweed or brambles 😟
I love your flower moon picture, I meant to take one but forgot about it too. I am with you on the flag waving. Oh no, bindweed, it’s a nightmars.
Nightmare indeed! And no chance of eradicating it as over the fence is a wilderness!
Lovely to have a virtual wander around your beautiful garden. I know what you mean about the weeds being on the march…ground elder here. Argh!
If only the S&S would eat the weeds and leave the other plants alone! I have pulled out loads more bindweed today – I swear it climbs about a foot a day!
I wish! Unfortunately they seem to eat in the most destructive way possible – straight through the stem of some much waited-for flower. Last year I was ever so disappointed to see the damage they’d done to the stems of irises that were just starting to bloom. I think I’ll try a thick mulch of sand around them as a temporary barrier…wish me luck!!
A beautiful garden and wonderful plants. 🙂
Thank you!
We had overcast skies for the flower moon also Jude. I gambled and decided to skip going out to shoot so I was kind of happy it was lousy photography. Is that mean?!?! Loved, as always, the garden review!
so beautiful photos!
So much knowledge here!
Beautiful photos 💖
Thanks!
My pleasure, followed you 🤗