I was recently asked what my gardening style was by fellow blogger, book reviewer and garden enthusiast Rosie Amber who’s kindly featuring my garden on her blog this coming Sunday. I think that ‘romantic cottage garden’ sums it up best, and what month can be more romantic that June, billowing with roses and cottage garden favourites? Here are a few pics to share with you for Six on Saturday, the garden blogging get-together hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations.
I took you on a little tour of my front path last week, and promised to show you the roses as they get into the swing of things. Here are a few: an unknown but beautifully scented reddish-pink rose, and two David Austin roses: Rosa ‘Heritage’ with soft pink blooms that seem a bit too heavy, and ‘The Pilgrim’ in soft yellow, that one’s always a winner.
The cottage garden vibe continues in the old veg bed, where the Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) seem to be doing even better in year 2 of blooming, contrary to conventional wisdom.
On the other shadier side of the garden is one of those plants that I find so mysterious and fascinating, the highly poisonous Aconite (Aconitum napellus). It grows in its eerie way under the shade of the Cotinus.
Just along from the Aconite, I am happy with this little grouping in blue, white and bright green: Pyracantha tumbling out of the pot, shuttlecock ferns at its feet, blue Geranium ‘Rozanne’ just coming into flower and the Japanese forest grass, the one everyone struggles to spell, Hakonechloa macra (let’s go with Hak Mac) on the edge. This one is ‘All Gold’ and is filling out nicely – they do take their time so you have to be patient.
While the garden is truly glorious, the allotment is also beginning to provide tasty treats, including these strawberries which taste wonderfully of….strawberries! This is by no means a guarantee when you buy them in the shops. I’ve had a lot of success growing them through the weed-suppressant membrane this year, it has kept the weeds at bay and the slugs too, it seems.
Back at home, but still on the subject of yummy things to eat, I grow romaine lettuces in crates right by the kitchen door, where they get just the right mix of sun and shade, and I can keep a really close eye on them. I also added ‘Paris Market’ carrots to this crate.
There we go, a brief roundup this week as I’m also working on my Green Gardening Newsletter, going out on Sunday (subscribe here if you’re interested in environmental news and gardening) , and revising for RHS exams – my final two!
Growing veg in crates is a good idea, I’ve been growing lettuce in pots. Although they all came ready at once! Lesson learnt, fewer spread out in planting times is needed!
I always have good intentions re sowing little and often but rarely do it!
Lovely aconite! My strawberries are suffering from the lack of rain and the garden can’t wait for a downpour today…
I watered these strawberries once – I think the membrane helps keep them fresher.
Your garden looks realy romantic, I love the Aconitum and the strawberries look delicious. Lots of succes with your last exams !
Thanks!
Those Dianthus barbatus look stunning.
Thanks, they seem to have spread about since last year, can’t complain!
Lots to enjoy in your garden. I love your romantic style. I grow salads by the back door too. I couldn’t find a crate this year so I used a lined laundrey basket which makes people do a double take when they see it.
Exquisite garden! 😘🌸💞 I can just smell those sweet peas from here! Lovely strawberries.
Thank you, it is wonderful to have strawberries – each one is truly savoured.
Lovely garden, I particularly like the arrangement with the pyracantha.
Thank you!
Pyracantha is much under-rated in my opinion. Beautiful blossom now followed by lovely berries which the birds enjoy
You have a lovely garden, and I bet those roses and Sweet Williams smell divine. I planted some as pot toppers with tulips several years ago and they flower every year! I really need to empty the pots, but I would hate to lose the Sweet Williams.
Thank you – and yes, it seems sweet Williams don’t have to be treated as biennials as the books and my RHS course notes say! Do yours flower just as well every year then? And did you notice that they spread vegetatively so they essentially regenerate? Perhaps in pots less so but I noticed this in the ground.
You garden is looking fresh and very green, so you either water or have had a few showers. Reading through your reply to comments, I was interested to learn that one can keep Sweet Williams from one season to the next if in the ground.
I always think soft fruit is one of the best value things to grow in the garden, strawberries and raspberries will grow wild but cost a small fortune at the supermarket.
Yes I totally agree with you. They cost a fortune and sometimes are completely tasteless shop-bought. V much looking forward to the redcurrant harvest soon 🙂
Finally catching up but I seemed to have missed Rosie’s post. Your lettuces look wonderful as does the garden. It’s a perfect time, even if we are struggling with (without) the rain.