Saturday 6 June 2020

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.





13 comments:

  1. What a great display of sempervivums! I love the glazed pans, they really set the plants off. Poor old pseudowintera, I have grown it in a quite shady position and it has done well. I am sure it will recover with a little TLC. The grasses are lovely, your seating area looks great. Enjoy your week, and stay safe and well. x

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    1. Thanks Gill. The glazed pots are recycled bonsai pans picked up here and there. I may have to move the pseudowintera, but I have very little shade in the garden.

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  2. I like that Valarian. It's a new one to me. Your seating area looks very chic. I like my sempervivums but they seem to grow in fits and starts, yours look very healthy. Nice Six-on-Saturday.

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    1. Thanks Granny. Valerain grows in the wild. A lovely herb to have. Sorry I mispelt it in my original post.

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  3. Oh what a shame about the scorching Noelle. It has been so hot and the sun so relentless at times. Some of my seedlings have suffered. I like the ballota - such a cooling effect and the spread of love-in-a- Mist under the valerian.

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    1. The love in the mist just came up on its own, self seeded from last year. I ought really to have thinned it or weeded it out, the growth looked so lovely covering the soil all winter.

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  4. The weather has been giving our plants a tough time. It can be rather disheartening, but you have some lovely and interesting plants there. The Ballotta is looking very good.

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    1. Thanks...such a lovely plant but it needs space all around it in the summer.

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  5. You have now started me on a search for false dittany! I have an obsession with finding new herbs, and this one is new to me. I see it's also called Greek horehound, although that search brings up more Greek harehound dogs than herbs! Not a bad looking dog, like a large Manchester terrier or Doberman!

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    1. Obsession is the name other people give for an informed interest followed by a perseverance to put into practice knowledge gained. We would be limp followers without that. Pleased I opened a new avenue for you Lisa. I too love herbs and finding out more about them.

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  6. Okay, is anyone else seeing a sempervivum caterpillar or is it just me?! I love the scent of the white Valerian. Mine hasn't flowered so far (I think it objected to being moved) but I've sown some more.

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    1. Oh you mean the flower spikes look like caterpillars...maybe dinosaur heads? This one was bought from the herb lady at Wells market. I love looking through all her herbs and chatting. I had a pink version in my last garden and just loved the scent there. Hope yours flowers soon.

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  7. Really like the Ballota Pseudodictamnus, which is new to me. And a scented valerian that doesn't flop over - sounds like an upgrade from what I've got at the moment. It's been yet another year for scorched plants in late spring/early summer. Hope you find new spots for yours.

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