Six from my Garden - 12/07/2025

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:

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.

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.

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.

Toona sinensis 'Flamingo' starter plants

It grows to be a big tree, but I shall hopefully keep it within check.