Open Gardens 2012

A week has passed since the garden was open as part of the villages Open Gardens event.  We were so lucky with the weather fine and dry all day and the sun shone for the actual open hours! Nearly half as many more visitors than last year and this was reflected in the amount that was raised across all 7 gardens.

The two most asked about plants in my garden were:

Hellebore sternii

Knautia macedonia

The Hellebore loves full sun - one of the few that do - flowers in the winter through to early spring after which I cut back the old stems so the colour of the new ones shine through.. In theory it is the Blackthorn Group but is larger than height listed on the RHS height.

The Knautia starts flowering in spring and keeps going until frosts.

Although many people looked at all the plants, everyone without fail spent a large amount of time looking at and asking about the four birds of prey daughter had brought along. She was talked out by the end of the day!

Now to get some energy to go pick currants.........

Vegetables - what vegetables?

Down to three lettuces, from the 30+ I had planted out a few weeks ago in the main vegetable bed, due to slugs. I must have some very happy well fed slugs as the Runner beans have not recovered from their attack from them, although the dwarf french beans have faired slightly better. Courgette glut will not be a problem this year as have only one plant left and that one is needing some warm weather. The sorry tale continues across all vegetable plants,  flowering annuals elsewhere in the garden - also sulking due to lack of warmth - to wind and rain damage on established plants including the purple vine, and clematis growing through it, that were blown off the supporting wires (tied back up now but looking tatty) and one of my favourite planting groups which includes the Day Lily 'Golden Chimes' which has been flattened.

Day Lilly 'Golden Chimes' flattened across fern and Heuchera

If you are visiting my garden as part of the Open Gardens event in two weeks time don't expect a flourishing vegetable patch or 100% perfect looking plants elsewhere in the garden. Would still welcome you visiting of course!

The weather this week did give us a couple of decent spells of sunshine before reverting to wet stormy weather. Mr B made the most of this (they happened when I was working) and built a more sturdy rose 'arch' to support the Rambling Rector rose and putting in a new gate. A few dry hours yesterday and am waiting for the promised dry weather today so I can go out and get at least supports in place around plants that are close to flattened status.

On the positive side of being in the garden at the moment the scent of the honeysuckles are now adding to the scent of the roses.

I sowed more vegetable seeds in the greenhouse last weekend - all of which are happily germinating - in the hope that we'll have a late summer. I am very thankful for having a greenhouse.

There are other flowering plants that are also doing just fine. The Water Lily is one!

Water Lilly