DELPHINIUMS AND STUFF

This is the first time my Cornus Kousa Chinensis has flowered. She is a lovely tree and as mentioned in my last post seems to do better in a more shady spot than I have chosen, so suffers from the heat and needs to be watered regularly in our current hot dry weather. Her bracts didn't get pink tinges on the edges as I had expected not sure why not. Yes I know not the best photo but it does give an idea of what a lovely tree she is.

Delphiniums in the front border by the wall, not the most expected place to grow them but as I had some going spare and no where else to put them I decided to try them here. They have been lovely and very much admired by passers by.

Years ago when I had an allotment the guy who had the plot next to me was a Delphinium grower, he was well known for his plants and won lots of prizes for showing them. Can you imagine the joy of working next to half an allotment full of Delphiniums. Dreaming Spires I think was the name of one and that always comes to mind when I see Delphiniums. Bill Hancock was his name, I think and I remember him telling me that they were easier to grow in groups because they liked grit around them to keep the slugs off. He was quite right Delphiniums dotted in a mixed border rarely survive a second season if a first even, but grown in a group they are much easier to look after and look wonderful together.

A riot of colour or some such thing.

I am rather proud of my Hostas they look spectacular in large pots and they were grown from seed so even more satisfying. My one weakness is using slug pellets but the slugs and snails do win in the end. I have some in large galvanised buckets and wash bowls and they seem to be less prone to slug attack, unless I stupidly have them so close to other plants so that the slugs and snails slide across from the neighbouring plants. I think I have too many plants. Can you have too many?

I adore lilies but the Regale Lily is my favourite, you just can't beat that perfume. I grow them in pots so they can be placed near the house when they are at their best and the perfume wafts indoors, gorgeous.

My Delphinium bed in the back garden hasn't quite come into full bloom in this photo and now I have missed their best and the wind took a few stems down which we are enjoying indoors.

This is where I spend a lot of my time, I love taking cuttings and have been busy these last few days doing cuttings of Rambling roses and clematis, not that I have any room for more but my daughter may like some for her garden.

Yes a bit untidy in this photo, it was tidied a little more for the Galloping Gardener's visit but I confess it is back to it's untidy state again now. I really am running out of space wherever you look.