BACK TO THE FUN

Back to the fun stuff. I had a fortnight at Dad's without a computer but still some gardening to do. Unfortunately on returning to my garden I was overwhelmed by the amount of work needing doing. With many hours work and much help from Mike I feel a bit more on top of things.

The grape vine on the back of the house always does well and produces lots of tasty grapes unfortunately a bit small for eating but the birds enjoy and it is fun to sit and watch them do acrobats trying to get at the grapes.

Thanks to Rob of Our French Garden your post encouraged me to get back out there with my camera.

This is a fairly new clematis to me Ernest Markham.

Cardoons are wonderfully statuesque plants and it surprises me why so many people grow exotic plants that rarely survive our winters unless camouflaged with ugly sacking when I think this is just as fascinating.

Hermosa still flowering away.

Rosemoor such a dainty pink/white flower

I had meant to grow more clematis cuttings again but so many things to do and not enough time. I did pop some Macropetala ones in and they are shooting so fingers crossed. They are great grown in pots for a few years before they get too big.

These plastic mushroom boxes from Sainsburys have been invaluable to me for seed trays and for making cloches. Because the cuttings of clematis can't take up the moisture to support the leaves it is necessary to spray the leaves with fine mist until the shoots have formed and the roots are grown. Clever daughter for taking the time to do this whilst I was away.

Looking up the garden into the sun sorry not the best photo but it shows how this clematis Vit Blue Belles has grown so high in the tree.

It grew vigorously for many years and never had any flowers. About three years ago I decided if it didn't flower I'd dig it out and lo it flowered that year and each year since. I wonder now whether it had flowered before but so high in the tree I had missed it.

This was a bit that had flopped down so was easier to photograph.

Nelly Moser is having her second flush and keeping her colours well probably shaded more than in the spring by the trees.

Hydrangea are one of the easiest shrubs to grow from cuttings. Whilst they are small plants I keep them in pots and once they start to flower move them from the nursery to around the house so that the flowers can be enjoyed. I am particularly pleased this is doing so well it was a cutting from Christina a dear neighbour before she died at 91.

I decided to grow Morning Glory again and thought I'd try these ones, they are sweet flowers but need to be near where you walk to see and enjoy them.

These are lovely popping up here and can be enjoyed in and outdoors.

I love Passion flowers but the plants do grow a bit too vigorously for the number of flowers. This years heavy snow damaged much of this and so it had a heavy pruning and is more manageable now. It is nice to enjoy these flowers by the back door.

Now those of you from hotter climes won't understand that what may be grown like a weed to you is considered with much excitement by me. I have grown Oleander In the back porch for many years and love the beautiful flowers and lovely almond perfume. It takes so well from cuttings but be warned it is very poisonous to people and pets. In fact anything with almond scent is often found to be poisonous I read somewhere.