The front of the house is south-facing which besides providing car parking has proven to be an ideal place to grow irises. The border edging the drive was four feet wide full of irises, which when in full bloom looked wonderful.
I have been finding with my long-standing back injury it is becaming quite a stretch to reach across this 4ft wide bed for maintenance. It was not an easy decision however I decided to reduce it by half and move the Iris into the blue border. This would involve moving some of the Perennials already there to make room and while it was not the ideal weather for doing that it is an ideal time for moving Iris. I chose Cotswold coloured slabs to make a feature of it.
We have been experiencing one of the longest and hottest droughts recorded here in the UK. While Iris are very drought tolerant it has been quite a challenge to move the other perennials to make room for them. This has required watering each planting hole before planting and then watering afterwards also adding a handful of bone meal to encourage root development. Currently, within the Worcestershire area we do not have a hosepipe ban. I do however need to be economical with my watering due to being on a water meter.
The following photographs are of the iris in their new home and you will note from the pictures the brown grass is where there used to be lawn. Next doors huge copper Beach tree has provided some shade for this area of the garden therefore it is not as brown as further through the archway. Where I have planted the Iris does receive sun in the early part of the day, they are an ideal plant for these weather conditions adding both colour and bold foliage later in the season. I have grown Achillea ‘Rubra’, Erigeron and Daucus carota from seed to plant through the Iris. These are all very drought-tolerant and should not shade out the Iris whilst all being loved by the pollinators. I have found that growing them from seed and then planting out whilst they are still small has proven to be more successful in this weather.
The iris in their new home edging the Blue Borders.
This picture shows the difference just through the arch where it is in full sun most of the day.
The butterflies were very active in the garden while I was taking these photographs, especially the cabbage White and the Holly Blue. They move so fast it is difficult to get a good picture.
The succulents are enjoying the heat, they require very little water.
The pots on the patio are thriving thanks to their regular feeding and watering.
I am now looking forward to rain and a colourful iris display next year.
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