Garden update: August

At the beginning of  August we had some visitors and I was given two wonderful new plants.

I now believe this is Ceratostigma Plumbaginoids.

Now I have identified it, I need to find it a home in the garden.  It needs a fairly sheltered spot that is moist but we’ll drained and in full sun.  I think I may have a place. . .

The other plant was a lovely yellow dahlia with contrasting dark leaves. I think I will keep this in its pot for now and beg a home for it in a friend’s greenhouse for the winter.

Around the middle of the month we heard rumours that we might be in for some strong winds. I thought it might be an idea to tie in some of the plants again.

The perennial sweet pea had grown a lot in a month.

I took the opportunity to cut all the flowers while I was on a stepladder tying in its unruly stems.

And the result a rather bare, but much tidier plant, fully prepared for all nature could throw at it.

Just as well I did, as look at our garden the night after the storm.

The rest of the borders looked as if Autumn had come early too.

Most of the garden survived surprisingly well and many things are still flowering.

Sweet pea,white and mauve

These are a lovely white sweet pea called Norman Wisdom. They are described by  Mr Fothergills as ‘One of the best whites available’. I would have to agree, except some of the plants were not white at all – they were   lilac! I think a neighbour had the same batch of seeds too as I noticed the same  colour combination against her fence. It could look quite pretty, but it does clash rather badly with my nasturtium.

The rockery still has some colour.

I have been really pleased with my dwarf Perovskia and am determined to add a couple more plants this Autumn. It looks lovely with the Erigeron.

The blue gentian is just coming out now.

The long border  is still looking ok but the heleniums and verbena are looking a bit tipsy; I must make a better job of staking them next year.

The star of the border this month is the rosa with its wonderful hips that are changing from orange to red.

There are other signs of Autumn too in the garden. .

The cherry is showing signs of red and many plants have produced seeds.

Gazania seed head

Foxglove seeds

But summer is not yet over – I saw not one but three butterflies the other day and they were all different; a Red Admiral, a Peacock and a Tortoishell. You will have to take my word for it, though, as this is the only photo I managed to get!

The garden has lasted surprisingly well considering that it got going so early this year. And there are still the asters to come out. . .

Next Garden Update: Garden Blogger’s Foliage Day: The Foggy Foggy Dew