Historically August has been viewed as a low period for the garden, due in part, I think, to owners of large estates traditionally moving to Scotland for the grouse season, today it is the main holiday season for everyone with school children. (Except for this year). High temperatures such as the ones we experienced early in the month this year can spell the end of some plants, such as my Sweetpeas.
It does not have to be so. There are a wide choice of plants to fill the borders in August, Phlox, Japanese anemone, roses, if you have deadheaded, dahlias, late sown annuals, pot plants such as pelargoniums, asters are just beginning to flower complimenting ornamental grasses for the late summer look.
The video is of Our Garden@19 filmed towards the end of the month and following the heavy rain and winds. Please select full screen and turn on your sound.
What has survived the August weather in your garden?
Despite the awful weather this winter, it has been a busy one here in our garden@19, see: (A Winter Project and a Wildlife-Friendly Experiment.) following on from several autumn projects.
With all the depressing news from around the world, just an hour working in the garden is welcome, ending with a quick photo tour accompanied by a chilly wind.
It is cheering to see that despite everything else, spring is coming in the garden.
On the patio.
The Alpine beds.
Looking colourful with some dogwood prunings inserted…
Arabis procurrens with Euphorbia myrsinites
…Also
Ipheion ‘ Alberto Castillo ‘
Crocus.
Corydalis cheilanthifolia
In the woodland walk.
Brunnera macrophylla
The Blue Border…
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ in the blue border.
Under the arch…
Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii
In the Oriental garden…
Camellia × williamsii ‘Donation’
What is spring bringing to cheer you up in your garden?
T’is the season to be merry, of turkey, tinsel and snow with visits to Santa’s Grotto.
I cannot promise you any of the above, we can though visit Our Garden@19 following a rain shower, looking for some winter cheer and colour. In the Oriental Garden the Witch Hazel is in flower, although it is not looking too cheerful due to its habit of retaining all the old leaves.
The golden bamboo always adds a cheerful glow in the corner.
Two of the Cornus are brightening up the back of this border, reminding me that the fence panels could do with re-staining!
Cornus Alba ‘Westonbirt’ syn C. alba ‘Sibirica’
Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire
In the White and Green garden the Viburnum f ‘candidissimum’ is in flower, this wonderful shrub flowers all through the winter…
…the Mohonia has grown through the trellis to add a splash of yellow to this ‘carefully’ colour co-ordinated garden…
Mahonia Bealii
…the standard holly is an attractive centre piece here.
Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Margenata’ Standard
In the Blue Border the ornamental grasses provide an interesting straw coloured contrast to the Thuja occ. ‘Smaragd’…
…where the Rose ‘Charlotte’ has a rain drop covered bud surviving.
Rose ‘Charlotte’ Std.
The bark of the Prunus is always very attractive this time of year.
Prunus serrula
The winter jasmine and the clematis are providing a splash of yellow, with the clematis climbing through the wisteria.
Jasminum nudiflorumClematis cirrhosa balearica
The skimmia’s are also a welcome sight with ‘Rubella’ very popular with the flower arrangers at Christmas.
Skimmia HermaphroditeSkimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
‘The Holly and The Ivy’, with a cloud pruned conifer by the entrance to the Oriental Garden…
Ilex × meserveae ‘Blue Angel’
… with moss appropriately growing in the crux of an acer tree.
Hydrangea flower heads, in December, make wonderful flower arrangements and photographs.
The title of December Rain is best illustrated with this picture of pine needles with jewel like rain drops, especially the close-up one below.
Reflections on the year!
I hope you have good reflections of 2018. Sadly we had to say goodbye to our faithful companion Murphy.
On a happier note our youngest daughter, Mary is joining her partner James on the 22nd in their first home together. It will all seem a little quiet around here. The Hanley Swan NGS open gardens had another successful year, with totals raised since we started four years ago reaching £8,500. Looking forward to the new year, we have a new garden opening with us along with ‘plans’ for our garden.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year from all of us at Our Garden@19: brimfields.com
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