Typically as summer arrives the British weather deteriorates. Combined with the dull skies my enthusiasm has plummeted this week too and I have found it difficult to work up any energy to get outside. And where did that violent wind come from on Thursday that even managed to upend my hydrangea in a very large container? Fortunately, on Tuesday, I did get around to planting the 7 new plants which arrived at the end of last week and take some photographs. I also thinned out the lettuce and salad leaves I had sown, and ate the little seedlings rather than them away. Very tasty too! I hope the ones left continue to grow and provide me with some tasty salads in a month or so.
Seems like a good week then to introduce to you the six new Heucheras/ Heucherellas I bought – all from Heucheraholics nursery and all in beautiful condition. (1) – (4) have all been planted in the new semi-shaded bed that I created last autumn under the twisted hazel tree which gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I had to remove a pink Geranium x oxonianum from there first that was threatening to take over the entire bed. It took a lot of pulling I can tell you! And getting your eye poked out by a hazel branch is no fun either! (5) and (6) are in pots and will be moved to the front courtyard where it is shady all year round.
(1) Heucherella ‘Buttered Rum’ – Beautiful deeply cut maple shaped foliage in rich caramel tones. Foliage colour richens and deepens to a rich glossy burnished rosy red in winter. Masses of spires of fuffy white starry flowers all season. Looks lovely in partial shady border or as a container plant. (when I looked at my order this should have been ‘Brass Lantern’ but that must have been sold out). I’m not unhappy with the substitute, though I shall be keeping my eye on its location as my other Heucherellas (not from this nursery) have died.
(2) Heuchera ‘Champagne’ – Lovely amber peachy champagne -gold foliage with a silvery white veil that changes through the season. Light peachy flowers on maroon stems adorn the plant with their elegance. Lovely for a shady border or as a colourful container plant.
(3) Heuchera ‘Coralberry’ Indian Summer Series – Really pretty semi ruffled pink foliage with darker veining ideal for mixing with other colours in the border or excellent in containers. White flowers in spring /summer. I have probably planted this too close to the cowslip, but I will move the cowslip once it has stopped flowering.
(4) Heucherella ‘ Golden Zebra’ – A really striking combination of feathery bright golden foliage with rich ruby red central markings. Lush foliage on a tight crown make this an excellent container or ground cover plant. Spires of creamy white flowers are continually borne in spring and summer.
(5) Heuchera ‘Ginger Ale’ – Effervescent flowers in shades of ginger yellow and light pink erupt on tall stems over Gorgeous Soft gingery coloured, silver veiled foliage. Foliage changes all season, looking lovely in part shady borders or as a great container plant.
(6) Heuchera ‘Red Lightening’ – Large golden leaves with fantastic red veining running through them – becoming stronger in cooler weather. Large spikes of white flowers in summer. Makes a great show in shady spot or lovely in containers for all year colour. (Slightly irritated by the name as it should surely be Lightning!)
Although I went for shade loving and container varieties, because of where I want to plant them, the names themselves make me drool! There are so many different colours of the foliage that the flowers are simply a bonus.
PS The seventh plant I bought is Geranium Rozanne. Now safely installed in the bee and butterfly bed and featuring as the header photo.
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’ where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world.
And although gardens, garden centres and nurseries are open now remember to stay alert out there!
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
How gorgeous.
Hope you are feeling less meh today, and that you are able to plan a few mini adventures. Driving to Somerset on Thursday and seeing Mum did wonders for me, and then Thursday we have a garden meet up with my eldest stepdaughter. She is now 6mths pregnant so can’t wait to see her.
Ooh, but isn’t that two bubbles? Or are you keeping your distance? Hard to do as you will want to hug her 🤗
we will be keeping our distance as both two person households! Going to be really hard though
I am desperate to go and visit my daughter, but it has to be overnight as too far in one day. I’m hoping that in July overnight stays will be allowed, though I have to be careful as she child minds and mixes with several households and I have the OH to consider when I get back as he isn’t going anywhere! We have another baby due in August too! (Well not us literally of course, that would be silly… )
It’s so tough . . . maybe you could go now as noone in Surrey is going to know you are not from a one person household, and who is actually going to challenge you anyway when you get there.
Is there anyone way you can self isolate on your return? Anyone near with an empty house you could stay in perhaps?!!
Very true, we have space to stay separate to an extent, but shopping might be a problem on return.
Do any of the supermarkets deliver to your area? The slots are coming up now we are finding with Iceland, Sainsbury and Waitrose. Only the latter are we down as priority customer because of MrB, the others can book. Might be worth trying to get a slot for the day after you come back xxxx
I shall look into that. We’ll see how things go.
Fingers crossed things improve which enables you to implement a cunning plan xxx
I’m think of going Thursday and coming back Sunday that way I don’t mix with her other families. And I know she keeps the home thoroughly clean.
So glad you are going xx
Not decided when. Maybe in a week or two.
Just enough to know it is on the horizon must feel good xx
PS congratulations on becoming a grandmother again!
Lovely collection. I’m trying some cuttings this year to increase my stock of various berry types. Seem to be taking alright so far. They get a bit too woody in the pots after a few years so want to try and plan ahead for fresh ones.
I have found that when they get woody it is best to divide them and then replant deeper. Seems to work.
Yes, doing that too, but this in theory will be quicker and potentially create more.
I haven’t tried cuttings.
i love them all, but am resigned to not being able to grow them successfully. i have a few left but most get munched from underneath by the evil weevils.
Ah, I hope they don’t find their way to my garden, it’s bad enough with the S&S and earwigs. I also have a lot of woodlice but I don’t think they cause damage to plants.
No woodlice are good guys.
They’re such pretty plants. I have a few but it’s very tempting to add to them. They haven’t enjoyed the dry weather and watering can be a problem. Red Lightening is certainly dramatic.
I have a lot of damp and shady areas so they are well suited to my garden.
What a lovely selection of colours! I’m envious indeed. My small collection live in pots as they just do not like the clay soil here.
I sort of felt sorry for the little seedlings that got eaten. 😅 I’m glad they were tasty though.
And the rest have had room to grow!
Who needs flowers when there are plants with such amazing foliage!
They look even better now!