A quick one from me today as I think I have fallen to the dreaded Covid after returning from a short trip to Devon. Headache, runny nose, sore throat and a painful cough means sitting in front of a screen is not advisable. I shall be returning to my sick bed any minute now.
However, it is Saturday and time for another six from the garden which I have to say is looking glorious. The weather on our return was beautiful and although I am not fit enough to carry out the emptying of spring bulbs and planting of summer flowers, I did mange a few photos. This morning we had heavy rain and it’s now cloudy and breezy.
The early flowering clematis is over now with Nelly Moser (above) taking her usual position climbing up among the Crinodendron hookerianum and the Goat Willow trees. I only cut this clematis back by a few buds last year and some of it got damaged in the winter storms, so most of the flowering is high up. I might cut it back more dramatically after it has finished flowering. The Chilean lantern tree, which was smothered in flowers last year, has hardly any this. It was badly scorched by the same winter storms, but is looking much better now. Again, a good prune is required to get it back into shape.
At the same time this Clematis montana (which I think is ‘Marjorie’) is making a comeback. Most of it fell over to the other side of the fence in winter storms three or four years ago, so the cattle get the benefit of the flowers. This year there are some on my side.
Alliums are, of course, the mainstay of filling the gap between the last of the spring bulbs and the start of the flowering perennials. Mine were planted several years ago, but some still return, Christophii is spreading well and loved by the bees. ‘Purple Sensation’ not so much, but looks rather good against the lime-green of the Euphorbia oblongata. I bought 15 bulbs last autumn and planted them in a large container, only two have flowered. They will go into a bed in the autumn and take their chances.
I am trying to grow Gertie as a climber up my fence, so far she has responded well with more flowers each year. It’s a shame I planted her at the back of the garden though as she has the most delightful lemony scent.
This year the lupins (another good seasonal filler) are not flowering as well as they did last year, but I can only be grateful that they flower at all as the snails love them! As do the bees.
I didn’t deliberately not mow my tiny lawn in May, but it was only mown twice. I decided last year to try and encourage it to be more of a wild lawn, which it already was in some ways as daisies and dandelions are rife. There is also some self-heal and some red clover. I have tried to eliminate most of the dandelions as they spread mercilessly throughout the garden and so far I haven’t introduced anything else. Though I do seem to have creeping buttercups. Hardly unusual as they grow elsewhere around the garden.
The header is of one of my visiting blackbirds which serenades me whilst out in the garden. I love my little garden birds and I hope that soon the fledglings will be popping in for a feed.
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.
See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
I hope you get better soon and there are no lingering effects.
Me too! I hate feeling ill. 🤒
What unusual petals on your Majorie clematis. The Lupin is looking good too, mine never survived the hungry S&S in springtime. Look after yourself. Mrs Propagator had similar symptoms, in particular that awful, sore throat, but is better now.
Thanks GG. The throat and the cough which hurts the throat is the worst symptom. Today I feel so tired 😴
Sorry to hear that Covid seems to have got you 😦 I hope you feel better soon!
Thanks Sarah, whatever it is it’s gruesome. I hate any kind of head cold / flu especially in summer!
I hope you will make a fast recovery, Jude. No summer here today, 11C and rain. At least I managed to get the grass cut yesterday.
Best wishes, Pete. x
It’s miserable Pete, whatever it is. Cloudy here but not cold, but I won’t be doing any gardening.
Your garden is looking fine, but I’m very sorry you’re feeling ill. I hope you soon feel better.
Thanks Susan. On the mend and it’s not covid. Just a horrible head cold.
That’s good news (on the mend + not covid).
Garden looks stunning but yikes on the potential Covid. Was it Covid in the end or just a cold?
Tests were negative, so just a heavy cold with a bad cough! Not pleasant.
ugh, how horrid for you. Glad though not Covid. Hope you are now on mend xx
I was hoping it was covid and then we would be a bit more immune! Getting better, but still coughing…
that’s a very good point!! Not so good on the coughing 😦 sending a few more get well wishes and hugs
Thanks Becky. Saw your Ellie on the TV this week on Escape to the Country. I hadn’t realised her business had taken off so well. Another excuse for you to move to the west country when the time is right.
She was good on it wasn’t she – she’s had so many orders since that show. Hopefully a few will continue to order.
and yes definitely thinking west country. Be so good to be close to her.
She was brilliant, such a natural in front of the camera. And made me remember the inspiration for your kind squares. ❤️
😀
Oh gosh Jude! I do hope you are feeling better soon! Lovey Clematis as usual, and I like your wild lawn! I have been admiring everyone’s Lupins, and yours are looking lovely! I still have not sourced any seed locally, but I do want to try and grow some.
My lupins are being munched at the moment, all the recent rain has brought out the molluscs in force 🐌🐌🐌
Until now we have not had many molluscs around, but sine the unusually wet summer they are out in full force! I lost all my Petunia seedlings to them,and the loofah vine was smothered by them.
Urgh. They are such destructive critters.
They are!
I hope you are on the mend?
Much better thank you, though still coughing.
That’s good to hear! Coughs are pretty hard to shake off though.
So much beauty in your garden, Jude! Clematis ‘Marjorie’ is lovely and something a bit different. (I tried growing it a few years ago, but it didn’t survive. Probably had it’s roots much too hot & dry. Now I’m tempted to try again….) Hope you feel much better soon – glad it’s not Covid!
Marjorie really needs to be chopped down, but it is such a tangled mess it’s too much for me to do, plus the birds probably nest in it on the other side of the fence!
Good thing it flowers so beautifully! And I’ll bet the birds are happy! 🙂
Hope you are nearly recovered, Jude, and have no lingering after effects 🤞 Your clematis are lovely – what an asset they are to our gardens! Your alliuns certainly are later than mine as the hollandicum are all over – but I have Miami which is only just opening, and christophii too
There are so many alliums. Never heard of Miami. My Christophii are still flowering well and appear to have multiplied.
Miami is one that Peter Nyseen stocks and it seems to appear later than hollandicum, which is good. Do you have schubertii too?
I may have had a schubertii, but it didn’t return. Originally I planted a mixed selection of alliums.
Not sure if my schubertii returned either, but I did order more last year – will count and see how many there are in total! I need to look at flowering times too, I think, before I order any more, to get a longer flowering period.