Six on Saturday - 6 June 2020

As I link in with this weekly post brought together by The Propagator, I'll be off to 'visit' other gardeners and see what they are writing about this week.

(1) Pseudowintera colorata Red Leopard sadly had suffered a severe scorching. I ought to have noticed and thought earlier. Until Thursday when we started to have more cloud, it was covered in white fleece to screen away a little sun, which is slightly ironic since the fleece is used to keep seedling warm in early spring. It was a little like bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted.  I am wondering whether to move the shrub and also what to plant in its place. In the meantime, I'll prune off all the burnt bits off later on today.

I have some cultivation notes for Pseudowintera which read: " May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens". In this case I ought to add "may also suffer scorching in high temperatures, harsh sunshine with clear skies".


(2) Another small patch which has suffered with the hot weather and dry soil,  is one where the pretty multicoloured Ajuga reptans Burgandy glow had grown congested and mildewey. Growing advice does suggest they need attention every couple of years or so it was time for a change.  I have patches of this rather nice ajuga elsewhere, so I decided to dig it up, and improve the soil a little with grit and compost. In its place went Geranium sanguinem alba , which I picked up on our cycle ride out to Tadham Nurseries last Saturday.

(3) Ballota Pseudodictamnus is already throwing out its felted silver flower spikes and overshadowing some small specials around it.  Either it is going to be moved, or it will have to be the small specials.  Should it get moved which is very likely,  its summer shadow area would be ideal for growing spring flowering bulbs.  

(4) As I work or sit in the garden I catch the lovely scent of Valerian.  The tall stems of small white flowers stay quite erect without the need for staking, and sway nicely in the breeze.

(5) Last year I treated myself to a couple of clay pots for my Japanese grass: Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'.  I was a little worried placing them in a position where there is quite a bit of sun.  However they seem to be coping nicely.  Maybe that is because I have been given them frequent soaks.  I went out to take a picture very early this morning, and it was cold: a huge difference compared to this time last week.

(6)  Much of the work this week in the garden has been sweeping up debris falling from the large evergreen oak.  It does have a shedding of leaves each summer, but this is the worst it has been.   A couple of days of slight rain may have refreshed a few leaves around the garden, but the tubs and pots still need attention.  Fledglings of various types of birds have been visiting the garden, and bathing, much to our amusement.  Sempervivums are starting to throw forth their flowering spikes...and thus the round of anticipation and planning of new pans of mixed sempervivums will soon be on the horizon again.