Six on Saturday - 8 August 2026

We had a few days 'up north' on a coaching holiday, visiting places here and there with a few gardens as well.  Some people bring back souvenirs, or as Mr S overheard someone say of the gift shops: 'food or landfill'. I can't resist plants at least if they don't survive it would be 'compost' rather than landfill, except for the pots which I reuse or recycle. One of the fabulous gardens we visited was that of Arley Hall.  I came back with a couple of plants. 

1. From Arley Hall nursery this Helenium 'Short and Sassy' was such a souvenir.  I felt that as it did not need staking, and would give me some late summer into autumn colour, it would be just right for the garden.  It is still in its pot but already being enjoyed by visiting bees. 

Helenium 'Short and Sassy'

At RHS Bridgewater which we visited earlier in the week, they had a trial of Heleniums, and my favourite there was Helenium Waltraut, but that needed staking even though it wasn't that tall.

2. The second plant, which I completely fell for, is this Viola: it was love at first sight!

Viola Heartthrob

This morning when I moved it to the shady wall, I could see a lovely shimmer of light reflected off the surface of the leaves. 

3. Another favourite of bees is the Alstromeria 'Indian Summer'.

4. In my search for new compost I visited the closest nursery, which is a small one, and looked over some of their small pots of plants: I had been thinking of growing Stachys 'Silver Carpet' for some time as the Wool Carder Bee would use the hairs to line its nest.  I might be even lucky to see and hear the Shrill Carder Bee, which I understand is around in Somerset.

Stachys 'Silver Carpet' 

The reason I made a spurt to plant out new plants, is that today I am to visit The Taunton Flower Show.  It is the first time for me, and as I shall be walking up to town on my own to catch the coach, not too much can be bought!

5. All around the area where I planted the Stachys are other plants which are a real draw for the bees such as this delightful pink Origanum 'Bristol Cross'. 

Origanum Bristol Cross with bee

6. Many insects visit the Eryngium Silver Ghost which self seed themselves and I was delighted that the Jersey Tiger Moth managed to shoulder the bees out of its way.

Jersey Tiger Moth on Eryngium 'Silver Ghost'

As usual I am joining with other blogging gardeners over at Jim's to share six things from our garden.  For several weeks now I have been starting the post with parched moanings: it is still bone dry, and apart from having a few slight spots over an hour or so, the the thunder, lightning or rain predicted simply by passed us.  There were some lovely clouds and a short break of constant blue skies and piercing sun. Even a little light covering of cirrus clouds and a few contrails help to temper the effects of the sun. 

Flowers at the start of August - In a Vase on Monday

Today is another very hot day, and we haven't had rain for weeks and weeks.  The range of flowers is minimal as plants dry to a crips, but I have been watering a few, and others seem to have been quite resilient.  I am joining with Cathy who came to start this weekly Monday get together on her blog, a fair number of years ago.

This week's arrangement is in the Caithness vase and by its side is the little crystal watering can which I have used many times before.  It signifies that watering is needed to keep the flowers alive. The little trio of seed head rounds are from seeds I purloined during my holiday from a plant with very red stems which I believe are from Lunaria annua 'Chedglow'.  

I wanted to feature the Amni majus, which I have grown for the first time. I have been watching the Amni at every stage loving it from its green frothy foliage stage right up to flowering. It came to me as small plants sent over from Ben, Maggie's son: both are keen gardeners.

The cosmos were a mixed bag of seed, and there are several forms including this sea shell form.  

The achillea Lilac Beauty is somewhat bleached, but still goes nicely with the other colours.  The regular IAVOM gang know that I like seed heads, and looking rather elegant are the seed heads of Betonica officinalis 'Alba', and Teucrium hiranicum. In the background but not easily seen is a leaf from  Japanese aralia 'Tsumugi-shibori' or Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

When I went to take back a couple of library books I came across 'Hortobiography' by Carol Klein. I was a little ambivalent about Carol Klein, and having read her book, mainly during our holiday away last week, I am now off the fence and will be looking out for other books, and perhaps searching for some of the TV programs she presented. I wouldn't have bought the book, but as it was one I could borrow from our local library, I am pleased to have read it. I also took some notes.  We are so lucky to still have free to borrow libraries, unless you reserve a book from a different library, for which there is a small fee.

 There is much about her life here, and interesting from a socio historic point of view. 

A small Somerset Garden - Six on Saturday - 25 July 2026

Each Saturday we have a little get together over at Jim's and share (perhaps) six things about our gardens.  At the start of the week I was despondent in the face of the heat and drought which continues here in Somerset. However, looking round the garden, since I have found six things, why should I be?  Are we going to give in?  We need perhaps to change the way we garden, or the plants we have, for is it not about being outside, tending to our gardens, even if we have to do so in the cooler parts of the day, and if necessary keeping the thoughts of the next seasons' potential in mind?

Six things from the garden this week: 

1. Currently one of my favourtie Origanums in flower is the delightful little Origanum 'Buckland'. Since last year when I last mentioned this Origanum it has made good progress in the gravel garden. 

Origanum Buckland

This was one of the plants I was concerned about when we had all that rain earlier in the year.  And now the 'drought' has a  hold, I am delighted to find that certainly in this well drained area, it is one of the plants that has proved itself.  Currently I can't find any available on lists, so I am going to try to propagate it just so that I can make sure of its continuity in the garden.

It has soft velvety textured leaves and from the bracts the small tubular flowers attract numerous small bees and very small wasps even in this hot dry spell.

 

Origanum  'Buckland' close up

2. When my friend Maggie moved into her new home, there was a tall white phlox which drew the admiration of several of her gardening friends.  When she was remodelling the planting, several of us were lucky to get a portion.  This year it grew taller than last year, but it too has proved itself quite resilient to the dry weather.  It hasn't wilted yet and is quite erect, so another keeper and indeed it will be split to offer a couple of plants for next year.  The Hummingbird Hawkmoth has been visiting each morning pausing and uncurling its long tongue to sup from individual little flowers.

3. Over a month since I last showed Origanum 'Emma Stanley', her bracts continue to elongate and form a colourful point in the gravel garden. 

Origanum 'Emma Stanley'

Back in 2021 I wrote an article about the Origanums in the garden for the Somerset Federation of Gardening Clubs, but that did not include Origanum 'Buckland'.  Since then I lost Origanum 'Kent Beauty' and a couple of ones not mentioned in that article.  Since Origanums have been such a success this year, I shall be on the look out for more to add to the collection.

4. Last week I showed the poor dried out Astilbe and in the course of a few days I was feeling that the empty spot had to be filled, so the Pelargonium 'Salmon Angel' was released from its pot for a stay of a few months. 

 

Pelargonium 'Salmon Angel' in the pot

Again these flowers, and what a great number, are attractive the insects. Originally bought from the lovely Derry Watkins of Special Plants, it is easy to take cuttings, or I should say the cuttings take easily, so many will be taken to overwinter, as I think I shall have to consider moving over to these more dry and hot weather tolerant plants, for spot planting.

5. I had to visit Asda in Taunton a few weeks back, to collect my new glasses, and they happened to have a few multipack plants.  I succumbed and clumps of the blue Ageratums and some mixed phlox.  Some went into the garden and some in pots.  A little bit of colour for sure.  I used to consider Ageratums something old people grew, what a prejudice about plants!!  Maybe that is very true, now I am .... I am enjoying them. Another prejudice I have had is about 'ultra processed plants', but in moderation I am allowing myself a little treat!

Mixed planting

6.  Over to the otherside of the garden the Bay tree is heading for the skies again, with the Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' climbing though its foliage.

Earlier in the week, I had been wondering whether I ought to select more purely foliage plants to weather the summer, but this week, just looking at the large number of varied butterflies, moths, bees etc coming to the flowers, what I shall be thinking of is actually making sure there is the greatest number of dry and heat tolerant plants that have numerous flowers.  I might not necessary go out of my way to buy them, but make sure to select the right plants already in the garden, increase them and place them to where some of the other annuals have surprisingly given in such as the nasturtiums.  That is not to say I shall try again with the nasturtiums as I just love their bright cheerful colours, and they are so easy from seed, easily saved each year.
 

In the garden mid July 2026 - Six on Saturday

 Another week of sun, heat and no rain and with the temperatures remain high even overnight, the garden is certainly showing signs of stress.  However we are still gardeners and trying to enjoy the open space which is our privilege to garden.  To read a little more on gardens and other gardeners head over to 'Jim's Garden Ruminations' where we congregate each week to share these weekly 'garden cuttings'.

1. Some of the roses are having a second flush, with the sun and heat they are not lasting, but it is lovely still to enjoy them.  Munstead wood is trying very hard:

Rose Munstead Wood second flush

Early one morning just as the sun was rising I went out to deadhead the Munstead Wood rose before it shed its many petals, and what did I see but this green insect.  The light here is different to the picture above as it was not long after 5 a.m. when I went out. I didn't get a good enough look to see whether it is a cricket or a grasshopper. I posted this on the Entomology group on Facebook and it has been suggested that it is Leptophyes punctatissima (f) Speckled Bush Cricket.

Whilst deadheading I was collecting the petals which I shall dry and add to a bowl for the house.

2. It is even worth taking pictures as within days the plants start to flounder. The combination of Helianthemum Golden Queen this time with the Lemon Thyme behind it has been one of my favourite deck chair views. 

This coming week I shall be snipping back all the spent flower stems on the Helianthemum, which tend to fall parallel to the ground with the newer growth on top.  This Helianthemum is just marvellous. I try to leave the flowers on for all long as possible as we have so many different bees, moths, butterflies etc in dire need of a little respite too.

3. Also in the gravel garden is this delicate little yellow Allium flavum. I originally planted a little pot in 2021, but this gradually dwindled, and these two flowers are from a little group of self sown ones. As this little allium with its blue grey leaves are perfect in this spot, I shall be sure to allow the seedheads to mature fully, then prepare a little area not far away to receive the seed, then just cover with a thin layer of finer stones, and let nature take its course.

Allium flavum

4. I've not watered the front garden at all, and it is looking decidedly 'Mediterranean' but not as bad as my friend's garden in Spain, where even her garden cacti are in very poor shape.  Amazingly this Kniphofia name 'unknown' is doing remarkably well.  We have heavy clay here and it seems to be doing well despite that, and when I plant I do try to incorporate a little grit.  The mother clump is yet to flower, but I have just read that they need dividing every three years or so, so when this has finished and we have some rain, making the soil workable, I shall be dividing the older clump and probably this one too, relocating a few around the garden. I'll cut a flower or two with some leaves, put them in a jar, and place that around the garden to see what they will go next to well, then put in a cane to remind me where to plant the divisions.

Kniphofia

5. I mentioned Pelargonium 'New Century White' only a month ago, mainly to show its cuttings.  This is the original plug plant from last year.  Repotted and trimmed it has at least fifteen flower spikes open!

Pelargonium 'New Century White'

6. Whilst we are with white flowers, I continue to be intrigued by the different flower forms coming up on the Cosmos.

White Cosmos

Sometimes not growing a pure strain of seed brings more interest and variety for a small garden. another good plus for Cosmos is that the slugs and snails leave them alone.

For my six I have tried to keep positive but the picture below of Astilbe Chinensis Pumila taken from my post in 2014

shows that the conditions in my new garden and with the hotter drier summers, it is a plant that will not thrive, having been reduced to this dry mass not flowering each summer for the last three years. An example of wrong plant, wrong place, wrong climate! 

Guided Tour round Park Wood

It was early June when Mr S and I went on a guided walk of the Park Woods which I recently became acquainted with. The day started off dreary with heavy rain and so it didn’t look good for our planned afternoon visit to Park Wood. The weather forecasters said it was going to be a dry afternoon and so it turned out to be. Barbra Lakin (Biodiversity and Landscape Officer for Somerset County Council) was our guide. Straightaway she told us how trees are surveyed into categories, ‘Notable’, ‘Ancient’ and ‘Veteran’ and what features a particular specimen needs to have in order to qualify for one of these labels.

All of these trees are precious, supporting as they do so many other species in their canopies and the structures themselves. In my opinion, the current ideas regarding planting hundreds of saplings in order to mitigate the loss of these habitats loss through urban development falls a long way short of the reality. Only recently in Wells during August an old hedge had been removed by housing developers, old hedges and trees and all the wildlife just cannot be replaced!

Of course, a mature wood comprises not only trees but lots of other flora. Open glades created by the removal of diseased Ash trees and other timber harvesting are now filled with species welcoming the new light. Barbra pointed out several including Herb Paris which is apparently an indicator species of Ancient Woodland, showing that the area was wooded long before the current planting took place.

Herb Paris

Sunny glades also provide shelter from the strong wind that we have been experiencing recently, and I spotted demoiselles, four spotted chasers, red admirals and painted ladies amongst others taking advantage of them. Isn’t it wonderful to see so many painted ladies this year, after virtually none last year.

At the very start of the walk along the field edge we were introduced to different thistles of which Carduus acanthoides, The Welted Thistle, 

but I wonder whether this is Carduus crispus as it has strong spines and the flower stalks are spiny to the top. 

There were a number of interesting sedges which were coming into flower, but I did not take notes of these.

At one point where the paths diverge there was a tall umbellifer pulling up towards the light which we were all warned not to touch: Hemlock water dropwort

Hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) 

Common marsh bedstraw was growing through the brambles..

Unlike the garden escapee the Yellow archangel growing in the woods does not have the leaf variagation.

Yellow archangel

The field rose here bathed in green light filtering through the leaf canopy.

Rosa Arvensis -Field Rose

It had masses of stamens and longer than I had expected. There are quite a few of these wild roses which have white petals growing on woodland and their edges around Wells.