Hello and welcome to this weeks SIx on Saturday.
I am glad to say after a couple of weeks disruption to the blog it now returns fully this week. Work has been pretty full on since my return to the daily grind 4 weeks ago and adjusting back to normality has been tiring and time consuming. Oh for the days of the government paying 80% of my wages for what was basically extended gardening leave. However you don’t have to be an economist to realise that that model could not last. Sigh…..
The ironic thing is that my garden has never looked so good and I have spent very little time in the garden enjoying it apart from the of excursion to dead head the roses and remove a few leaves with black spot.
Here is my six.
1. Main Border
As I mentioned my garden has never looked so good. Partly because of the warm and sunny spring and partly because of the amount of time I spent in the garden due to furlough, although I have hardly toothed the main border. Highlights of this border include the Erygium Big Blue and the Lavender at the front of the Border. Is it me or has it been a good year for Lavender? Other highlights include a heavy vein of Aliums, Day Lillies, a huge climb of Astrantia, a Hydrangea and a David Austen rose called Burma Tottering about Gently which has gone mad.
2. Verbascum Snow Maiden
I have grown this plant from seed. I have a few dotted around the garden but this one is a behemoth. It must be about 10-11ft high and it has taken a lot of staking. I am still apprehensive that it will blow down if it gets windy but all seems to be calm in the garden at the moment after a windy start to July.
3. Pennisetum Karley Rose
One of my favourite summer plants. This grass not only looks good it acts as a weather vane as well . I can see from my kitchen window and when it is windy I can tell what directing the wind is and how windy it is. Not the best photo but taking pictures of grasses can be difficult.
4. Lilium Hotel California
I bought 3 varieties of Lily’s this year from Harts Nursery and this is the first one to flower. As you can see it is a bit of a dazzler and is adding some bling to my pot collection. I plant all my Lilly’s in pots as if I plant the fancy Asiatic ones direct into the garden they seem to disappear.
5. Dianthus Doris
Hidden amongst the border in the first photo is this Dianthus. As it is not getting a lot of sun due to all the undergrowth and this bit of the garden not getting long periods of continuous sun the flowers stalks are a little bit elongated and straggly. This is a probably a candidate to be moved in the autumn.
6. Rose Iceberg and Countessa du Bouchard
Taken a couple of weeks ago so just had to add this picture. Unfortunately it does not look like his now as some of the leaves had succumbed to black spot and turned yellow.
That’s my six on Saturday. Thanks for reading. I am off this weekend and I am going to spend a couple of leisurely days on On the garden.
If you want to write a SOS blog it is not that difficult. As always to find out how six on Saturday works please follow the following link The Propagator. The don of Six on Saturday.
Until next week goodbye.
Sedums, Dahlias and Hayfever 
Looking good! That lily is a corker, and I love the pennisetum. Glad that you have settled back into things, it seems to be all about adaption at the moment. Enjoy your week 🙂
LikeLike
Agree with Off the edge gardening about the lily – spectacular!
LikeLike
Fortunately, I noticed a few sempervivums in the bottom left hand corner of the first picture or I would have been moaning……again. Lovely flowerbed and amazing Verbascum. Beautiful selection of plants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also really like pennisetums. Elegant and colorful ! Mine are pink like yours( maybe darker)
Very beautiful main border 👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the main border pic and struck by how well the Eryngiums stand out, blues often don’t stand out well in the company of reds and yellows. The Verbascum is indeed a behemoth, maybe wants to be a sunflower.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim I couldn’t be happier with the Erygium and it goes with the lavender well. I think the Verbascum may be a Triffid.
LikeLike
Tricky to pick a favourite with so many goodies. I remember seeing a Karley Rose grass at the Taunton Flower Show and nearly got one. Love the photo of the main border.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks as I said Karley Rose is one of my favourite plants at this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super lilies, and the verbascum doing very well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. The verbascum is a beast!
LikeLike
Your main border is a thing of beauty and envy. I imagine sitting and just staring at it, looking closely and noting changes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Actually it’s surprising how things do change, subtly but things do change. At the moment the day lilies are looking a bit straggly.
LikeLike
Your main border is truly lovely. Nice combination of shapes and colours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful main border. I love the composition and colour. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I would love to say I planned the layout bit I didn’t. I guess I hit lucky.
LikeLike
I’m glad you’re back as a blogger. I loved ‘visiting’ your beautiful garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks I am glad I am back as well! Work has been hectic. It’s nice to spend some time in the garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Verbascum is something that surprises me in gardens. I do not expect anyone to plant it intentionally. After seeing it in another garden, I was surprised to see that there are actually garden varieties such as yours.
‘Hotel California’ is an odd name for a lily. The song is about a prison in Vacaville.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s interesting Tony. I agree it’s a very strange name for a Lily.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to the Hotel California! What a great Lily but for some reason this week little Doris is my favourite. I hope you find her a great new home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’ll make sure I find a place for her. Hope all is well.
LikeLike
A great Six and I love the main border. I’ve grown ‘Karley Rose’ for many years and haven’t seen many others. It’s such a good plant isn’t it? I’m enjoying other people’s Lilies for a couple of years as I’m so fed up with the red beetle infestations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Touchwood no sign of the dreaded red beetle up here.
LikeLike
Glad things are returning to normal now that you are back at work. The front border is really beautiful, with its mix of colours and plants. Really lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the kind comments
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful border – I particularly like the eryngium, fabulous colour. A great lily too..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The Erygium truly is a star.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wowww you’ve got a wonderful garden. Congratulations 😊
LikeLike