My garden is really beginning to fill out, it’s hard to believe that just over two years ago there was nothing here but grass and one wee apple tree. The hardest thing has been cutting away the turf but it’s worth it to get the planting space.
If all goes to plan that fence will be entirely hidden by plants of various sorts. The lupins you can see all came from a £1.50 packet of seeds, I got about 30 plants out of it – or more and ended up giving some away. I’m so glad I grew my own as the garden centres charge about £8 for one plant and they flower within a couple of months of germination. We’ve had strong winds over the last few days though and it has flattened some of the lupins, I must get some metal rods to bend into shape to use as plant supports for next year.
Above you can see that foxgloves have planted themselves around the acer. I’m really not ruthless enough where plants are concerned, I should have weeded them out but they seem so happy there.
The plant above is …. wait for it – edelweiss. I know, it’s not the sort of flower that you would think a song would be written about. Most of it is quite grey looking, but maybe if you are stuck in a long hard alpine winter then it looks wonderful – a harbinger of spring perhaps.
I have quite a lot of houseleeks/sempervivums in various parts of the garden but I asked Jack to drill a hole in this old fondue pot and put some plants in it, they seem to be doing well.
It’s turning out to be a good garden for roses and this one below is one of my favourites. I still haven’t found its plant label so I have no idea what it’s called. Its buds are red then it changes to lots of different colours orange, peach and pink as it matures, ending up a pale yellow. It’s a beauty whatever it is.
I’m taking notes of the things that I’ll have to do in the garden when the autumn comes, such as which plants will need to be moved then because they’re getting congested already. If I don’t take notes I’ll forget!
Wow, it’s really getting full and beautiful! That rose is lovely.
Peggy,
You’ll see quite a difference when you visit.
It all looks extremely attractive – well done!
At the front of the garden in the first photo, there’s a plant with a tall stem and crimson flower-spike – is that a Primula Vialli?
Valerie,
Yes it is Primula Vialli. I bought one for my last garden but it disappeared, this one looks much happier though, I hope I can grow more from seeds.
Lovely! So much growth in just a couple of years! I have to take notes too. But then I forget that I’ve taken them! I love your fondue pot idea.
Sandra,
I have a gardening notebook so I have no excuse, I just have to remember to actually take notes.
I like the red stems on the unknown rose. Very dramatic. The garden looks lovely.
Joan,
Those stems have hundreds of teeny red thorns but luckily they aren’t really jaggy.
I love, love, love that pot of succulents. So gorgeous. And everything else looks beautiful too. Enjoyed the picture of the Edelweiss; I had no idea what it looked like.
tracybham,
Thanks, that edelweiss was a surprise to me, it seems to be doing well though so I hope it spreads.
I realized that I had never bothered to find out what Edelweiss looks like! It is a very modest looking flower as you note, but yes, it must have some more significance in Alpine climes.
Christy,
And at least I know that it should survive our Scottish winter easily.
So pretty, Katrina! It looks like an absolute dream to my desert-dwelling eyes. Everything here is dusty and dead right now.
Anbolyn,
I could be doing with some more sunshine and less rain – but I know I couldn’t cope with your heat and dry climate.
Hi Katrina,
To me, your garden is mind-blowing, truly. How I enjoy inspecting every nook and cranny! Beautiful photos, great angles, showing much. Now my thought is this: You must have great physical strength to manage all of this. Gardening is strenuous physical work–I know this! Thank you for sharing. I do love and appreciate your garden.
J.
Judith,
Hmm, I used to have great physical strength but I’m definitely getting weaker. Gardening is a good way of keeping fit though, and at least I don’t have what we call ‘bingo wings’ in other words floppy upper arm skin – where there should be muscle!
Oh, you just cracked me up! “Bingo wings!” I’ve never heard that phrase before, but I adore it and will adopt it as one of my own. Wait til I spring this on Ken!
J.
Judith,
Sadly – I can’t claim to have thought that one up, it’s in common usage here! I hope Ken enjoys it.
Your garden looks fantastic! I love the foxglove with the acer the colors accent nicely. Love your sempervivums too! What variety is that red one? I might have to see if I can find here and plant it on my chicken coop roof. It would look quite nice up there I think 🙂
Stefanie,
Thanks. I’ll have to check my plant labels but I think it’s sempervivum tectorum (roof houseleek) it would be ideal for your coop roof.
Thanks! Hopefully it will be hardy in Minnesota!
Stefanie,
It’s worthwhile giving it a go. I can’t make up my mind what would be colder, roots in the ground or roots in a roof! At least if the roots survive they might regrow in the spring.