The terribly wet British summer has continued and caused the 2nd and 3rd days of the Great Yorkshire show to be cancelled.I will blog my first day highlights.The weather is wreaking havoc this year with outdoor events like show jumping,or music festivals.One plant in the garden that has grown magnificently is the Buddleja Black Knight.It is now maybe ten feet tall and draped in purple flower buds that smell lovely.I'm hoping for some sunshine so the Butterflies can find their way to the plant.
It was cut back to within a foot of the ground but has grown like mad.The garden birds love alighting on it to wait for a good time to eat the sunflower hearts.The small purple flowers are beginning to open slowly.they have a rich earthy smell.
Another plant that has loved the heavy rains is Cats Hostas.There are flower buds growing out of every pot in white and purple colours.The waxy leaves direct the water down the stems into the base.We just top dress the pot with fresh compost every year and new growth bursts upwards.There has been a lot of slug damage on the smaller pots that are closer to the ground.I want to buy lots of copper tape to go along the rims of the pots to prevent mollusk damage.
The Black Bamboo is growing really well.New shoots have grown about four feet high with no stick to keep them upright.I am going to paint my canes black so they blend with the Bamboos bark colour.They need re potting in their bigger pots.The foliage makes a lovely noise as the wind rustles through it.I love the shiny black stems of the mature canes.
In the greenhouse the Grapes have started to form.Little small green globes beneath the serrated vine leaves.The vine has grown all the way up the trellis and is now running along the greenhouse roof.The greenhouse needs replacing so it will have to be pulled down off that or trimmed back down.I hope that these Grapes ripen in this dreadfully wet summer.
The Sweetcorn Lightning growing in a grow bag in front of the compost bin.The plants have grown magnificently in the wet conditions.I hope that my mini block of four plants will cross pollinate each other.I'm hoping for a few corn cobs at least!
The Asiatic Lily's in the back garden have begun to bloom.Crimson red, and the odd Orange coloured one so far.These have survived an early attack of Lily Beetles earlier in the year.I have so many Lily's that i think they got indigestion!
The Violet coloured Geranium has regrown a second batch of flowers.The rain seems to have encouraged this plant back into new growth.It was flopping outwards from the centre,but has now grown new fresh foliage from the centre of the plant topped off with these lovely flowers.
The Roses have suffered a lot with the heavy rain.Black spot is rife,and several of the Rose bushes have dropped all their leaves.Gertrude Jekyll here is a fighter and has a few more Rose buds formed.
The Apples on the Mallus Braeburn continue to swell and grow in size.There are now a record 12 Apples on the tree.The new fruit Trees are growing well in the ground and a pot.The Pear and Bramley Trees look good.The Cherry Tree has finally lost all the black aphids and ants.I do not know if the rain drove them off or if they have finished a breeding season?I will use tape at the bottom of the Tree next spring to stop the ants defending the Aphids and rolling the leaves up.I will place all my Ladybirds on the Cherry Tree.
The White Lupins contrast beautifully to the luscious green foliage below them.I think I would like more of these.White and green is very calming..
The other plants that benefited from the rain are our Sweet Peas.They have shot up the swirling silver poles.the poor Petunias underneath have been ripped to shreds by raindrops.they are too delicate for summer storms.I hope to have a bumper year of Cut flowers to decorate the house and conservatory.
The last photo shows the Coriander flowering.I grew this from Seed,and have enjoyed just eating leaves off the plant.The flavour is delicious,and much beloved in Asian and South Asian cooking.I hope that we get a few sunny days so I can get to the neglected allotment,and spend time in the garden.
We are having a new Paved area laid down on half the grass to site a table and chairs,and maybe a two seated swing seat.The washing line needs moving too.There will still be some grass for the bees and insects..
The garden continues to grow and bloom despite the difficult conditions.We need to cherish what has survived hazardous conditions.
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