A bit late today, but we’ve been away for the week and my goodness, a lot has shot up in our absence. Too tired to investigate the garden when we arrived home shortly after 7pm yesterday, (Note for anyone heading down to West Cornwall, the roadworks are still ongoing on the A30 and a bit of a nightmare) I was eager to have a look around this morning.
Last year was the first time that I sowed biennial seeds. I haven’t had an awful lot of luck sowing annuals, but thought I’d give these a go as they do not need to be kept inside. I sowed foxgloves of various colours, wallflowers, sweet rocket (white) and honesty. I sowed mine around this time last year and planted them in the garden around the autumn equinox. I have been very impressed at how well they have done, so much so that I will have another attempt this month with some of the seed I have left.
The raised herb bed will have to have a good clear out once everything has finished flowering. I will try and sort out new herbs in the autumn as all my thymes have died. I may have to rethink where I plant thyme as this bed is probably too rich for them.
My garden has turned into very much an English Cottage Garden, which was not my intention, but having learned what likes to grow here and more importantly, what thrives here, along with the haphazard self-seeding this is what I have got!
Jim of Garden Ruminations is our host now and as a former nurseryman has a lot more than the SOS happening over on his blog so well worth following. As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to his site 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 
It certianly looks like an English Cottage Garden and non the worse for that. Your note about the A30 is timeless. It would have been relevant when I lived there more than 40 years ago!
It’s usually not too bad except during school holidays, and when they decide to widen it. This time they are creating a dual carriageway between Carland Cross and Chiverton, which was 60mph. Now it’s 30 or 40mph. Should have been finished by spring, now looks like autumn so it will be crazy during the summer!
The bane of roadworks hasn’t changed and nor has the missed timelines it seems.
Typically British. The state of our roads is appalling, so many potholes everywhere, and deep, nasty ones too.
What a lovely selection Jude, and great photos, as always. I have just said to Chloris that I must try Patty’s Plum again – she is such a lovely colour but has not grown for me. You have reminded me about sowing biennials – must make a post-garden- opening to-do list!! Aren’t nigella lovely – so tactile! They have begun self-seeding here, albeit usually in quite random places!
I find it interesting where plants decide to grow. Obviously they know the right place better than me.
well of course they do!!
However I am also sure they are only doing as well as they are because of you x
Haha.. because I am too lazy to pull out all the self seeders, even when they get in the way 😅
well you are very much on trend!
Haha, yes, I suppose they do – and that must be why I have given up trying with some things, like echinacea
I can’t grow echinacea, rudbeckia or heleniums. They never survive the winter so if I really want them I have to accept they are short lived.
So not just me?! Saying that, a helenium acquired last year is still alive, but that’s a first! Annual rudbeckia are reliable and easy to grow for me, but ‘Prairie Sun’ doesn’t reappear although it is nominally a perennial
I did manage to keep helenium moorheim beauty alive for 3 years, but instead of being larger it became smaller each year. No sign of it this year.
Hey ho, we can but try, and keep trying up to a certain point when we finally decided it’s not worth it! 😉
Quite! I daren’t think about how much I have spent on plants that are no more.
I am sure there are other far less worthy things to spend your money on though – and think of the pleasure the plants give you, even if only for a limited time
I look at the garden every day but there is only gradual change, I like going away for a few days and coming home to all the new growth and activity in the garden.
I’m surprised that you have such a beautiful garden as you travel so much. How’s Kim’s back BTW?
We try not to go away during the Summer and if we do only for a few nights.
Kim’s back has recovered now, thank you.
Your garden really is doing well! I have a soft spot for Love in a Mist, as my mother always had it in the garden when we were children 🙂
I think it is one of those plants that once you grow some you are never without!
Goodness Jude, your garden is exploding with colour now. It’s looking great! I love your mix of Sweet Rocket with the poppies and geraniums. My Geranium Magnificum has flowered and gone. I’ll have to cut it back this week, and Anne Thomson has grown huge and collapsed in the middle. Wrong season or not, it’s being lifted & divided! The scattered seeds have worked well for you, it was a good idea to use the empty bed in that way – now wish I’d managed to do that with a little free area of mine. Great results too with the foxgloves! 😊
Lifting geraniums isn’t easy when they are large clumps. I had to move my Rozanne as it was taking over an entire 1m x 1m bed. Now it’s free to sprawl alongside the other geraniums.
We lifted G. Anne Thomson today, divided & replanted it. The divisions look wrecked! 😳
I’m sure with a bit of rain she’ll soon perk up!
Your borders are fabulous! I love the effect of all the self seeding, they make a lovely tapestry of texture and colour! Your bees must be very happy.
It’s exciting to see what comes up and where. I have Verbena bonariensis growing up in my gravel paths which makes walking on them a challenge 😂
Isn’t that pink Nigella pretty! Your garden looks lovely Jude. That poppy really is a nice one. I have a lot of red ones, but would love some more pink ones, so will make a note of that name. Love the corn cockle too.
I’ve only recently managed to grow annuals successfully through direct sowing, so it’s a joy to see the nigella. I will look for more flowers that can be autumn sown.
Before I even read at the end that you mention your garden is now typically an English Cottage Garden, I thought that already at the beginning of your post. It’s beautiful, so colourful and truly pleasing to the eye.
There are a few quirks to the English Garden style, but it is definitely naturalistic and a bit random! I’m glad you like it Corna.
I love the pop and variety of colors in your garden. English Cottage, if it is, is a delight.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the pose.