What a hot week it has been, I’m afraid far too hot for me, hopefully from today onwards it will be much cooler, which will be better for me and my plants. This hasn’t stopped my plants from flowering though, a veritable tsunami of flowers, opening almost all at the same time. I could have done my Six this week just about roses, three times over, how I will just pick a few, I don’t know, but will have a go.
Clematis.
An unknown rose but the clematis is C.Durandii, an herbacious clematis which doesn’t climb but scrambles up through its neighbours.
Clematis Rouge Cardinal which is climbing the arbour in the back garden. I think this has been misnamed as the colour is definitely not the colour of cardinal’s robes or the bird in America. I admit though, the the flower on the right has been bleached by the very strong sun that we have had, but the one to the left, in the shade is a dark purple, not red.
Hemerocallis
This is always my first Hemerocallis to flower, the rest come in July. I think this one is H. Stella d’Orro, it makes a lovely splash of colour on the rockery.
Sambucus Black Lace.
Up at the top of the garden is Sambucus Black Lace, which I keep to a sensible height by pruning a third of the old branches out each year just after flowering otherwise it would be so huge. The flowers are very pretty and smell beautiful.
Roses.
Rosa Geoff Hamilton is a really good doer, it flowers for such a long time and has a lovely perfume. This is in the middle border by the dead oak.
Rosa Graham Thomas is such a good rose, this spends its winters under water now and still comes back beautifully each spring in the border by the field.
Another rose in the border by the field is Rosa The Countryman, this is smaller, with loads of petals and a lovely perfume. I will keep the rest of my rose photos for another week.
Peonies.
As well as roses, it is also time to enjoy the herbacious peonies. This has a gentle perfume, looks gorgeous with its huge flowers, the central one is over 8 inches in diameter and is P. Jan van Leeuwen. Fleeting but so worth the wait!
Just opening up is P. Bowl of Beauty, love them all they are just so gorgeous!
Those are my offering for this week, the garden is full of flowers and colour and the bees and butterflies are very much in evidence. Rain is promised for every day next week so at least the watering might not be necessary for a while, but the deadheading will still need doing, especially with the roses and peonies. Thanks to Jim for hosting, do pay him a visit to see plants from around the world.
The roses and peonies are gorgeous ! … I also grow the ‘Geoff Hamilton’ rose, and you’re right, it’s a wonderful rose (even if it only produces a few flowers per plant and they’re small: what about yours?). The warmth seems to suit all the spring flowers, but I’m eagerly awaiting the rain…
Thank you Fred, I find Geoff Hamilton has lots of flowers of a decent size, maybe all our winter rain has something to do with it! Yes, I’m hoping for rain tomorrow with a lot more forecast for Monday, the garden needs it.
I didn’t resist showing just rose for my SoS, Pauline! It is good to see some of yours, and the one with Clematis durandii especially – these herbaceous clematis are great for adding colour to a border over a long period, aren’t they?