Writing about six things from the garden at the end of July 2024 - SOS

It is not 'save our souls' but Six on Saturday, which is a short name for six plants or other things from the garden which anyone may care to write about, and then link together in the comments section of Jim's  'Garden Ruminations' weekly blog.  

My garden is definitely towards the stage of cleaning and maintenance this week. I've been saving up spent water after hand washing etc, to scrub down the large concrete slabs in the shady alley which tend to get covered later in the year in a slippery film of algae.  Some may use chemicals or power machines, but I am fairly content with my methods. Does that count as the first, I would say not especially as I do not have before and after photos...let me start with a nice thing:

1. Alstromeria Indian Summer just keeps on giving, and there has been plenty of stems to arrange in the house and also to include in posies to give away.

2.  The not so nice thing is that I have started to demolish the Plum 'Mirabelle de Nancy' that I planted just a few years ago.  Mine is a small garden, and I have decided that if something is constantly fighting bugs and looking miserable for a good part of the year, and does not please, in this instance yielding very little fruit which is then eaten by the many squirrels then it is for the chop. The last harvest was 2021 with about seven or eight miniature plums!  For now I have just cut off  the sticky blackened top growth and the rest will be demolished as I have the energy to do so. I shall have to consider what I plant in its place.  

3.  I bought this plant when I went to visit Beth Chatto's garden in 2021, and for some reason had been calling it Turkey tanglefoot! I was checking The Chatto website and realised that I was so wrong and yes you can have a good laugh.  It is Phyla nodiflora, Turkey tangle frogfruit, a creeping vervain.  It is starting to stretch our  taking over part of the gravel garden.

Turkey tangle frogfruit

4. Another plant much favoured by Beth Chatto is the Ballota now known as Pseudodictamnus. I have a couple of clumps growing in the front garden, which this week I am starting to trim back. This is a picture from 2023 at about the same time of year.

Last year my gardening club met at Maggie and Anthony Langdon's home for a garden visit and summer tea, and I noticed they had a different form of Pseudodictamnus.  I asked the name and at the time I was simply given the name Pseudodictamnus from Beth Chatto.  I had begged some cuttings and thankfully they took even just pushed into a spare bit of soil,  Today I was cutting back the front garden plant and felt sure they were not the same. I placed a stem from each on the garden table, took pictures and then went on the hunt....

Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus and P. acetabulosus side by side

On the right is the Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus and on the left is P. acetabulosus which I acquired as cuttings last year.  I've noticed that Beth Chatto also has a finer or smaller form, and I have an inkling that I shall be yearning after that one!

5.  The first of the beetroot were picked this week, cooked, eaten and enjoyed!

6. Origanum 'Emma Stanley' survived the wet winter and there are two plants, which I am toying with propagating again by taking some fresh cuttings from the small growths once they have grown a little. I think cutting off the flowering stems will encourage the new growth.  The plants are not as strong as I would like them to be, maybe they had a struggle with the wet.  

Origanum 'Emma Stanley'

I already have two chrysanthemums that are in flower but I'm saving them for another week.....

In a Vase on Monday - July's garden blooms

 In a Vase on Monday comes round so quickly, but it does make me realise that the garden is ever changing, and this is the opportunity to go out and gather plants from the garden for a virtual get together with 'flower friends' hosted perfectly by Cathy, and as with such gatherings there is always some pleasant chatter.

A snip here and a snip there of some of the plants in flower in the garden are here gathered to form a July bouquet.  The Vase I chose is a heavy bottomed rectangular affair, and as I rarely buy brand new vases I certainly remembered being very surprised to see it for sale at a country type fair in Cirencester where some polo matches were also taking place.  

Sweet pea Mrs Bernard Jones was the starting point and a few other July flowering plants caught my eye and  seemed perfect for the effect I was after. The tall purple decorative oregano and some stems from an unnamed heuchera to give some added height as well as a see through  effect, some hydrangea to give weight and  some 'in bud' Autumn Joy sedum just because it is the right sort of green.  Finally as I was walking back to arrange them I almost stepped on the Chamaemelum nobile ‘Flore Pleno’.  I love its scent and its pretty double white flowers gives a little contrast to otherwise pink tone.

A little while ago Anna asked about the Purple Rose in the Home Florist Timeless Collection.  I don't know whether it is because I moved it during the winter, but somehow it does not flower quite at the same time as the other three cream and pinks in this collection.  The blooms of Home Florist Timeless Purple are really large with many petals and scent the room.  I do like the good strong stems which hold the heavy blooms very nicely.

Day out in Clevedon

 We barely scratched the surface during the few hours we spent in Clevedon, and we are sure to return.  Ostensibly it was simply a day out to be together away from the usual routines of the day.  Everything at home or even involving ourselves in our activities, pastimes, volunteering and clubs seems to take time, but not necessarily time together.  Exploring and having adventures personal to just Mr S and I together is on our agenda and we are aiming to take a day out most weeks, and simply because Clevedon is not far from here, and it a place we have not been before, we decided that this week we would have a day out there.

What little planning we did was on my part trying to find somewhere from lunch and any major place of interest Mr S planned the journey etc.  Since we were visiting on one of the few days in the week that it was open I thought an afternoon visit to Clevedon Manor would be worth our while.

We had a little walk along the  shoreline, here I don't use the word coast line as I consider Clevedon still to be on the southern estuary section of The Bristol Channel.  We parked not far from the Pier and walked along the promenade.  Unfortunately it was rather too hot to do anything much more than saunter, especially as I had rather 'glammed' up and worn my new shoes hence the ensuing blisters.  For lunch we aimed for the Italian Restaurant I had read about on Hill Road.  Here thankfully it was cooler and the little glass of cool Vino Frizzante was very welcome.  We steered towards the set menu of two courses, and couldn't  be happier with our choices. The only things we would have differently next time, would be that I would order extra vegetables and Mr S would ask for less tomato and cheese topping on his excellent and tasty pizza.  His chocolate brownie was divine as was my ice creams. The music was muted but really lovely, just right to chat over but feel that you were in Italy.  The service was excellent.

After lunch we headed for Clevedon Court with very little preparation or study beforehand.  It is well worth the visit and in addition to the House and its history found much of interest to us both.  

Up the stairs there was a lovely selection of drawings of bridges along the Great Western Railway, and other modes of transport such as steam coaches,  and also I was intrigued by history of Sir Edmond Elton 8th Baronet, as self taught potter and his development of Elton Ware Pottery. 

I am intrigued by the development of the Pottery and how Liberty of London marketed this.  Luckily a search of our local library revealed that they can indeed get me a copy, which is now pending its transfer. 

Anything different in the garden this July - Six on Saturday

 Is there anything different this July?  Yes and no, things have grown bigger than last year, or even just over the last few weeks.  Perennials such as the hardy geraniums and looking summer tired and have started to be chopped down, or maybe even grubbed out for a reorganisation, as I think the garden could do with the benefit of a few annuals next year. Favouring a few more annuals  may have been a consequence of reading one the posts this week which like mine is linked into Jim's post. There I enjoy reading about fellow SOSers exploits in the garden. 

1. For sure I love certain plants which grow to the maturity or at least get too large for the space I have.   A case in point are the Aeoniums.  My beautiful large Aeonium velour has made numerous plants, as has the Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’.  When some gusts of wind caught one plant and sent it to the ground breaking off a few stems I knew it was time to 'rejuvenate' the plants. These are just the ones I am keeping for myself, others were made and have already moved on!

2. My roses are 'in the doldrums', but Rose Grace is having a good second flush.  There is one little Patio Rose 'Shine On', that was absolutely covered in black spot and it was easier to cut the blooms, clear all the leaves and give the plant a good pruning.  I hope it recovers.  I haven't been spraying against mildews and blackspots this year, and I am really wondering whether I want a garden than needs regular spraying?  I'll just move over towards plants and varieties that are fairly resilient.  In the meantime the  snipped flowers on Shine On have made up a little kitchen widow sill arrangement.

 3. A view from the study window towards the 'shady border' shows that the Hydrangea has benefited from the earlier rains, but also needed a bucket or two of water over the last few very hot days.

Sadly the non gardening neighbours had a couple of cowboys come and 'trim' a long border with handsome shrubs and trees, and they literally took a chain saw across the lot : gone are the laburnum, mimosa, shrubs etc which are now just stumps around a metre high. 

4. A few perennials furnish the 'understory'  with a little colour that carries on in between the flushes  of roses.

Fuchsia Tom West or I thought it was, here very prostrate but Jim who is a 'Fuchsia' buff will hopefully put me right,  Edging alongside is a white flowered sedum 'Frosty Morn' that doesn't mind the hot weather at all.  Behind the lot and waiting for trim is the pretty dark centred pink strawberry like flower of the Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott'.

5. As delicate as one can get. I was really delighted to come across this in the undergrowth.  As this is where I often find slowworms I guess that it must be from one what recently discarded its skin. 

6. It has certainly been a good year for Fuchsias in the garden.  This again is a plant that has over the years since it has been in the grown by the seating circle grown a little too large.  Cuttings are going to be taken, and when they have taken, and the plant has finished flowering, I shall need to get out there and clear it away. 

Fuchsia Delta's Sarah

That's it for this week...until next time: Happy Gardening.

The most Open Crumb of Sourdoughs

 From Bread Every Day and  having refreshed my rye sourdough starter the night before, I followed the timings given in the recipe and starting at 3:30 p.m., pulled two fabulous loaves out of the oven at around 9:00 am the following day.  There is an online tutorial by Jack, and if you search he has the recipe on line but this one is for one loaf only.

Usually I amend recipes to fit the size of bannetons I have and since I only had one oval banneton of the right size, I was totally amazed that when I walked into my local independent hardware stone, there was the twin of mine at a very reasonable price...and no I did not get the small hand sprayer for the water, so must go back for that soon. 

This is the first time I have made a totally no knead sourdough, as I usually do a ten minute knead as well as the stretches following the hours of rest.

These are the loaves as they came out of the fridge on day 2, ready for baking.  After about 10 hours uncovered in the fridge they had developed a good outer skin, and were easy to turn out and score.

                                    

These days I drape some muslin across the banneton rather than risk them sticking and with a new one this is even more likely.  I quickly found a spare piece of muslin from my cheesemaking kit, the whiter one. I do reuse baking parchment several times as it is not recyclable. 

Sourdough turned out and ready to be slashed

There was plenty of oven lift, 

and what is called a good ear on both the loaves.

Here with the open crumb one can see the effect of a no knead bread with large holes evenly dispersed.  The whole wheat rye gives a light brown colour and a great taste. On the whole I prefer the type of dough which has smaller holes and will incorporate a few minutes proper kneading when I next try this same recipe.  

I do enjoy trying different techniques and also improvising.  Although I already have a large round Welsh Baking stone or griddle which I can put in the oven for pizza or a large round sourdough, I don't really want to buy another one or two oblong baking stones.  Instead I put in two of my very heavy and strong Silverwood baking sheets, the first of which I acquired over twenty years ago.  I add these to the shelves when I am preheating the oven.  Turn the dough onto a piece of parchment, slip it onto another upturned but cold tray, then slide the loaves and baking parchment onto the preheated trays.  It does the job for me and I don't need a peel as the cold tray acts as one.  

When I looked at the picture with the muslins, I had a slight niggle or rather an embarrassment that they were rather untidy with frayed edges on both the new and the old one which had been washed a number of times.  I remembered my friend Kay who patiently over several years brought out some needle skills in me, and using Youtube found a good one demonstrating how to sew a rolled edge. Resting up, I found the repetitive action and concentration needed rather therapeutic.  I found that I wanted to make the muslins as square as possible and found drawing through one of the threads left me with good cutting guide line.  Here are the cloths now newly washed but unironed.  

Rolled edged banneton cloth linings.

 

During Tennis Week: In a Vase on Monday

 Just how the subconscious works is a mystery to me.  On 'Doctor's orders' to save my voice, what very little whispery words remain, I have been relaxing and watching Wimbledon this past week.  For me to just relax is a tall order.  I promise I have watched a few matches, have spoken very little, but have also been reading...and baking...and gardening.  All those are relaxing activities for me.

Was it some deep seated subconscious thought that made me choose the green, purple and white colours of Wimbledon?  All I can say that it may just be coincidence that two plants growing near to each other shouted out to be included.

The self seeded Verbena bonariensis is growing  as  high as I would be able to reach with my racket, and I didn't have to run far to reach the drops of  Fuchsia Upright Delta's Sarah. Isn't this a successful mixed double team?

Another big coincidence is that I am reading Andre Agassi's Autobiography 'Open'.  

It was chosen several months earlier, and bought along with the three other titles.  I really thought what a strange choice at the time, as we have only read novels and had yet to branch to biographies. However we have two very keen tennis players amongst our midst, and choosing the autobiography of a tennis player was no surprise.  I was captured from the very start, and it has given me an insight into the regimes that professional tennis players go through, and it has certainly increased my enjoyment of Wimbledon this year. 

Wimbledon may be on for two weeks only, but IAVOM is a weekly affair, and Referee Cathy tosses the coin and starts us off.  However there is nothing adversarial, there are no winners, comments are generous and kind and there is no trophy.  The training starts early with gardens tendered, watered and cultivated to yield the blooms and foliage, and vases sought high and low, or just from the back of cupboard    

 

Sweet Peas for In a Vase on Monday

Each week Cathy is the leader in Monday's Vase group.  Sometimes I join in, it has been a bit spasmodic on my part.  For the moment I am having problems: my voice has been compromised and I have been 'ordered' to rest it, which for those who know me is a big challenge!!! My fingers are fine, Mr S even joked that I would have to text him rather than talk....

Here are the first of the Sweet peas.  There are just these few stems to cut and I have not even thought of what to add to an arrangement to go with them.  Here my large terracotta soldier gives an idea of scale and height. I hadn't grown sweet peas for years and it was due to receiving a lovely packet of seeds of 'Mrs Bernard Jones' from my friend Mandy this Christmas that I came about to sow some again. I've just found growers of Sweet peas in Somerset and fully intend to learn more about growing them for next year: Somerset Sweet Peas.

The idea of the other prop of two large teacups came to me as I was reading Gill's post yesterday with associations of friends and breakfast customs.  At weekends starting off with 'Eggy Peggy' breakfast on Saturdays, we have these special cups and saucers.  They are very special to me as they came from a special friend at a difficult time. They only come out at weekends, and special days such as Bank Holidays and birthdays. 

They were a house warming present from my friend Judith (RIP), when we moved into our last house.  They were delivered on the very day we had the delivery of all our goods and chattels, in the box were these two cups and saucers, a teapot and cosy that she had knitted, and some very special tea, with a card saying just in case you haven't yet unpacked the essentials. Judith and I were gardening friends as well as knitting friends and much else.  With the banner 'How does your garden grow...and stylised sweet peas they are just the perfect prop, don't you think?