With the drought and wall to wall sunshine for several days, the garden is really taking a battering with things such as rose petals becoming desiccated within a day of opening. I remember 1976 and I think this is harsher, but perhaps it is because I am further south than I was then. It is really getting hard to find six plants that have not capitulated or that I can't bear to show. There are others who live perhaps under more benign or with a much higher water table, they of course will be showing a more interesting array of plants and like me will be linking their posts to Jim's for these ruminations called Six on Saturday.
1. The Eryngiums seem to be showing their best colour this week with Eryngium Silver Ghost turning a good silver after looking somewhat greener a few weeks ago:
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| Eryngium Silver Ghost |
Here in the bright sunshine it isn't dramatic as it is late evening, and with the hot nights, we have been sitting out late when the silver leaved plants show up nicely.
2. Over on the side of the seating circle the steely blue of Eryngium Planum Tetra Petra, is the best it has been for some time.
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| Eryngium Planum Tetra Petra |
3. All sorts of bumblebees and flying insects and butterflies have been flying in the garden and availing themselves of nectar and pollen.
4. Last week I mentioned the surprise and joy of finding a little frog. Yesterday morning early when I went to remove some pots from a large deep tray where they had been taking up water overnight, I was even more surprised to find this toad. This time I had my phone to hand. This is the first time I have seen a toad in this garden.
5. This low growing creeping plant has also been a godsend for the pollinators and makes a nice addition to the edge of the gravel garden.
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| Phyla nodiflora commonly called Turkey tangle frogfruit |
6. When one sees an unusual plant it registers somewhere deep down. I admired this plant in a new acquaintance's garden several years ago when she had not long taken over from a person I happened to know from dancing. Again a couple of years later, whilst on holiday in Wales this plant situated in a Japanese garden once more drew my attention. This is the picture I took then in The Botanic Gardens of Wales.
I since got to know Kate and we visited each other's gardens a number of times. She remembered my mentioning this plant, and just before she uprooted and moved away, with her car full of last minute packing, she turned up with a few small pieces. It was touch and go but I am delighted to say that given a larger pot and quality compost, the sun and a little watering seems to have brought them to the point where I dare describe them as small flourishing Toona sinensis 'Flamingo' plants. The other name for these is Chinese Mahogany.
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| Toona sinensis 'Flamingo' starter plants |
It grows to be a big tree, but I shall hopefully keep it within check.
More synchronicity here, I nearly featured a photo almost exactly like your No. 3 in my six this week, bee included. Also, I am trying to write a piece for Plant Heritage and have mentioned the pyla, which I hadn't thought about for years! So exciting about the toona. Keep cool, Sis!
ReplyDeleteDo you grow Phyla? If you would like any pictures, let me know. I am more worried for the garden than myself.
DeleteYes this summer is brutal with the dry and heat. Love the toad and what a great plant gift form a friend.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering whether you would be able to spare some seed later this year from that Paper Moon Scabious? Fred suggested I asked you. Of course any thing that I may have seeds from later this year are yours for the asking.
DeleteThe second eryngium is a vibrant blue and is my favourite. I just bought and planted one 2 months ago, and it's now in the ground in my back garden near the beehives. I'll be able to enjoy the gorgeous pink colour and new leaves next spring, and since it's a fast-grower and upright tree, it will look great in that corner of the garden. You should plant yours in the ground (if you have the space...)
ReplyDeleteI'll be saving seed this year, and later when ready, from SOS you can say which you would like Fred. Amazing that we are both interested in the same tree, do show yours another week, it must be quite a lot larger than my little ones.
DeleteSorry to hear you're having a drought. We had one back in 2012 here in the Upper Midwest U.S., and I think it was my most challenging gardening year ever. We're hot this summer, but with plenty of rain...so the biggest problem is the mosquito infestation. Your Eryngiums look beautiful. Fun to find a toad friend. :)
ReplyDeleteYes Beth, if we had a little rain that would be great, and luckily we don't have the mosquitoes. The toad has been a real bonus, I blew it a kiss, and would rather have a toad or frog than a prince.
DeleteYour eryngiums are gorgeous, Noelle, and presumably enjoying the weather. I currently just have one, but I was just thinking yesterday as I staked its almost solitary stem that I could do with more as they make a dramatically blue splash (well, not the silver ones of course)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. I shall definitely be collecting seed of both later this year from the eryngiums, then putting up on a later SOS that they are available. Jim had some seed and said the Tetra Petra comes into flower very quickly, so well worth growing. The Silver one needs to be sown in situ by the way.
DeleteThe Eryngium Planum Tetra Petra looks great and that's very exciting regarding the toad. We saw a young one in the garden a few years ago but not seen one since, although a solitary frog has returned to the pond. Last year we had a stealth drought, this year a full on scorcher of a drought. It's a bit disheartening.
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