Looking back over last month’s EOM view, there has been a subtle change in the way the garden looks, it is a much softer light which makes everything appear more mellow with hints of yellow to be seen everywhere, summer is slipping away. I have taken my usual wander round the garden but there don’t seem to be any highlights this month. I will have to go searching for some for you, I just hope I can find some!
The Bee and butterfly border is still flowering, but only just. At the back of the border, wild Evening Primrose is allowed to seed around. The seeds are left on because I know that come winter, the goldfinches will descend in droves to eat the seed. The Eupatorium is still bringing in the butterflies, as well as all the Tortoiseshells, we now have at least a dozen Red Admirals.
I’m thinking maybe that next year I should give half the plant the Chelsea Chop and then it should flower for longer and keep all the butterflies happy for longer too.
Look who the undergardener found yesterday on the mature ivy by the front entrance, yes, the Jersey Tiger Moth. He said it flew past, so close to him showing the bright red underwing and then almost vanished once it landed. From the photo it looks very obvious but standing back from the plant, it was amazingly well camouflaged.
Also flowering still in the front border is this yellow Kniphofia. This has been flowering for a long time now, two spikes at a time, I think this is the 4th lot of flower spikes.
In previous years I have cut the Pyracantha back, which has meant that we lose some of the flowers and therefore berries. I decided to leave it this year and see what a wonderful crop of berries we have. I think in future I will have to cut the top one year and the sides, the following year. This way, hopefully, we should have flowers for the bees and berries for the birds.
On the corner of the kitchen wall is a self seeded fennel and the Cotoneaster horizontalis although mine is climbing vertically. I mentioned on my last post that I hoped the blackbirds would leave the berries so that it had food for when it was colder, no such luck, yesterday I saw it there gorging itself!
Roses are flowering again, with all the rain that we’ve had lately, it has brought them on. They stopped flowering in the heat of July and the first part of August, but have enjoyed all the rain in the last couple of weeks.
The side border by the field is a bit of a disappointment. It was planted up last year with lots of late flowering plants, hoping that this border would be at its best at this time of year. None of the Echinacea that I planted lasted through the winter, nowhere to be seen. Asters that were put in at the same time have hardly grown, they are still very small. What I have decided though is that I have far too many Hemerocallis in one spot, the foliage is all too much the same, so something will have to be done!
Rudbeckia Herbstonne was planted last autumn, it is a fraction of the size it should be. I think I will move it to the Bee and Butterfly border where it will have more room and better soil. Hopefully the bees and butterflies will like it just as much as the Eupatorium.
At the top of the side border Rosa Dark Lady is still putting out lots more flowers. Rudbeckia is still flowering along with Aster frickartii Monch but Crocosmia Solfaterre is just finishing flowering now.
Opposite the border by the field is the bed round the dead oak. Miscanthus sinensis is now flowering with its purple inflorescens. There is more Evening Primrose for bees and moths to enjoy and the tiny yellow flowers belong to Hypericum prolificum.
Round the other side of the dead oak is a Myrtus communis with its thousands of little white flowers, in front is Miscanthus sinensis variegata.
Looking towards the back garden with Iceberg rose in the front, then Rudbeckia and a pink Hydrangea in the distance.
Round the back now into the woodland. Plants were looking very stressed while we had our drought, so we had to resort to a few buckets of water here and there. The huge trees were taking every drop of moisture, but now with the rain, everything is looking a lot happier.
Any little pink or white flowers that can be seen are Cyclamen hederifolium. The ants are doing their work of spreading the seeds really well, I now have them popping up everywhere!
Who knows, if they spread enough I might end up with as many Cyclamen as I have have snowdrops!
There are still some plants sitting in pots, I really must bestir myself and get them planted!
Oh dear, the Sparrowhawk has been busy again. Most of the woodpigeon’s body was here one day but gone the next, I wonder what took it away, probably a fox.
I think I forgot to prune Fuchsia magellanica alba back in the spring, it has grown so much this year and the flowers all look like little icicles hanging there.
Fuchsia Delta Sarah and Erigeron make good bedfellows with their colours almost the same. The undergardener keeps wanting to pull the Erigeron out, but I must save it for elsewhere.
The view from the top of the steps by the back door, we have almost finished our wander.
We are now at the back door once more, having completed our wander round the garden. There has been a gentle change in the garden since last month, there is lots of planting still to do, so I must get on with that, along with ordering all my bulbs. Also lots of cutting back is needed, so I can see myself being kept busy over the next few weeks, weather permitting. There are no real highlights this time, except maybe for the Cyclamen hederifolium which have multiplied wonderfully, but that is thanks to the ants! Also I have realised that in future I must do a lot more watering if I want the garden to look happy. If we have another drought next year and if each border is watered once a week, that should make a difference shouldn’t it? Having said that, we will probably now have more floods!
Thanks must go to Helen at The Patient Gardener for hosting this month end meme each month, do pay here a visit to see what other gardeners have been up to during the last month.
You are so lucky to have all those butterflies. I managed three in one day – I was delighted as they were all different. Your cyclamen are wonderful too. I don’t seem able to grow these though I keep trying as they are so lovely.
I love the little Cyclamen Annette, especially when the ants move the seed around! I wonder why yours don’t want to grow for you, do you have them in the shade and fairly dry which they like?
I’m glad that some butterflies have found you, three different varieties is good, maybe they don’t like to be so far north.
Hi Pauline,
I really, really must remember to get some Eupatorium, it must be a god-send at this time of year now the Buddlejas are practically finished. I need something late blooming like that to keep the flutters happy. They do also usually like the Asters, but they aren’t yet blooming so I think Eupatorium is a winner.
Also must try Cyclamen at this time of year too, very welcome colour – currently only have coum in winter/spring.
How is your Garrya, Pauline? Mine has loads of tassels already. Compared to the measley two blooms it managed last year, this year is a million times improved. I hope yours is due for a good winter too.
I’m disappointed that this August has been so poor. I’ve not only become detached from the garden, but also feel it’s all sort of died already as we had a couple of days which were very much like November. So like you; I feel there’s nothing really of great interest at the moment and would have to hunt for especially nice views or well performing plants.
In fact, the only thing that’s really making me happy are the pots near the back door!
Hi Liz, my Garrya has lots of tassels too, it should be a good year for it after no flowers at all last year!
I feel the same as you about the garden, the drought earlier in the summer didn’t do it any favours at all, I should have watered to keep everything flowering, but that goes against the grain somewhat.
Cyclamen are so good at this time of year, producing their fresh little flowers when everything else is looking a bit tired.
I have been going on a bit about the Eupatorium in the front garden, but have been so pleased with all the butterflies that it has attracted. We certainly haven’t had the number of varieties that we normally do, but they have made up for it with so many of a fewer varieties.
I gave up with Echinacea a few years back – they never survive a second year here. I put it down to the slugs in spring time on the new growth.
Your garden does have a very autumnal look about it this month Pauline – and I’m glad you’ve had a bit of rain to revive it.
Wonderful butterflies and a nice surprise for your OH with the Jersey Tiger Moth. Good too that he posed to have his picture taken.
I’m glad Angie that I’m not the only one who has not had success with Echinacea, I’ll definitely grow from seed next year and see if I have any more success that way.
I’m also glad you think the same as me about the garden having an autumnal look, it does seem rather early for it to be like that.
The Jersey Tiger Moth was amazingly camouflaged once we stepped away, I suppose the stripes looked like shadows.
Wow Pauline, so many butterflies on that Eupatorium! I admire your pink Hydrangea.
Yes Susie, we have been lucky with our butterflies, I always find an excuse to go out to see how many have arrived each day.
Oh my your gardens are stunning even in the woodland…and what a surprise to find all those feathers…I do love the late summer blooms especially those that come back like the roses.
Thanks Donna, glad you like it. The sparrowhawk comes zooming round the house and surprises the birds near the feeder, a couple of weeks ago we saw it flying just a couple of feet above the ground to catch a blackbird.
The late roses always seem so very special and now the weather is cooler, they are lasting longer.
After you described your garden as ‘mellow’ I wondered if I could use that word to describe my garden instead of ‘shabby’, but no, definitely shabby rather than mellow – although I have to say that my C hederifolium are currently real stars too, even though they didn’t get a mention 😉 Your eupatorium is lovely – perhaps the dwarf one I planted last year will pick up now there is more light getting to it….. Thanks for sharing your mellowness!
I disagree Cathy, no, your garden isn’t shabby, our gardens are both winding down after a long hot summer! The cyclamen are really lovely at the moment and really brighten up the woodland as they are the only flowers there at the moment.
I hope your Eupatorium is successful next year at bringing in the butterflies.
I always enjoy a wander around your garden; the entire garden is a highlight to me! The Myrtus communis is spectacular, your pink roses are so romantic, and you know I adore your woodland. I love the time of year when colors begin to mellow, and the light is soft. Wonderful!
I too Deb, like the soft mellow light in the garden at the moment, but it has come far too soon, usually it is October before it looks like this! I think ignorance was bliss when I planted the Myrtle, they are supposed to like dry, well drained soil, but the Myrtle hasn’t read the gardening books, thank goodness!
Wow, you have big wonderful borders! The Fuchsia ist wonderful, such a big plant.
Sigrun
Hi Sigrun, When we moved here almost 25 yrs ago, the garden was all grass, but bit by bit I carved the grass away and made flower beds, they are far more interesting! The hardy fuchsias are all flowering madly at the moment, this is a good time of year for them, but usually I remember to cut them down to the ground in February/March.
I grew Echinacea this year from seed. They germinated well but as soon as I planted them out the slugs had the lot, despite Slug Gone mulch. I was very tempted to purchase a Eupatorium yesterday, but it was only a small one and the last one went the same way as the Echinacea. Your cyclamen and Erigeron are certainly highlights, but the whole garden is still looking good Pauline.
Thanks Jessica, you’re very kind! I never knew that Echinacea would be such a problem to grow, how do these people do it who have their gardens full of them on TV and in the gardening magazines? I will keep trying for a bit longer!
I have read that lots of the more recent echinacea introductions are very short lived, which is maddening. And “White Swan” takes forever to establish and is then a martyr to slug damage. Humph.
Yes, I think Janet, that I will grow the species from seed and leave the other newer varieties alone. I was hoping to do the same with White Swan, but after what you have said, maybe not!
There is still lots to enjoy in your garden Pauline; we gardeners are very hard on ourselves and our gardens too. I think there will be fewer cyclamen here this year, with all the rain that we’ve had there is foliage growing on the banks where they usually grow, most years the other plants have died due to drought conditions, it is so interesting to see the differences which the rain has made and not all as positive as I would have expected.
Yes, I know Christina, all we see are the faults whereas others see the flowers! Usually our gardens are still looking very lush at this time of year with all the rain that we usually have through the summer, this year it was the opposite and I think many plants have shut down early. We try to plant the right plant in the right place, but then the weather goes and misbehaves and throws a spanner in the works! I will be prepared to water more if this happens again.
I think grasses are wonderful at this time of the year, I love your Miscanthus. The Myrtle looks wonderful too. There are still plenty of late summer flowers to enjoy. I like the mellow look of your garden.
I have tried lots of Echinaceas and the new hybrids never last but the clump of Echinacea purpurea gets bigger every year and seeds around too. So does the white one: ‘ White Swan’, I think.
Thanks Chloris for restoring my faith in Echinaceas, I will certainly try again! There are lots of flowers dotted around, but I had hoped that the border by the field would be my late summer border, I must try harder,lets hope it will be better for next year!
The cyclamens are a real picture Pauline! I rarely see them here… wrong soil perhaps? They don’t like my dry garden so I shall have to look at yours again instead!
But Cathy, they like dry shade with a bit of leaf mould, mine are under shrubs, hedges and trees where the soil is quite dry. They get better in the woodland each year as the seed is spread by the ants. It takes a few years until the seedlings grow big enough to flower, so I will have to be patient while waiting for my drift!
I very much like that the fuchsias have escaped their springtime trimming. I bet it looks just as nice from the inside looking out too.
By the looks of things autumn is anxious to get started there. The dropped chestnut leaved aren’t helping matter either.
I’m so much more of a spring person rather than fall. I’m dreading the next few weeks…
It was just a couple that escaped me Frank and it has grown into quite a sizeable bush. It does look nice from inside but the window there is my studio where I do any art work or woodcarving. It does have another window, but the light has certainly been reduced!
I think spring is a far more exciting time in the garden, but autumn has its own beauty. It’s just the sweeping of all the leaves that I dread!
What luck to have such a beautiful flush of roses so near the end of the season. Tim and I went for a long drive in the country yesterday for a bit of fun and the Eutrochium was everywhere, along with Helianthus strumosus and Solidago altissima. Yours will certainly mix well with the Rudbeckia.
Roses quite often continue into November Marian, or even December here, it depends on when we get out first frosts.
You have such beautiful flowers in your countryside, most of which we have adopted into our gardens!
Simply put, I adore your garden.
Thank you so much Jayne, I’m so glad you like it.
I am very jealous of your cyclamens. Mine are out too but there are so few of them. We do not have the ideal climate for them. They survive but do not prosper.
For the end of August, your garden still look quite good.
Is it the heat of your summers that the Cyclamen don’t like Alain, I wouldn’t have thought that your winters would bother them, safely tucked up under a duvet of snow!
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with Echinacea. It is certainly one of my top favourite plants and luckily, they have performed well for me so far. I think the simple pink hybrids and species Echinacea purpurea are bit tougher than these new colorful hybrids. Yellow ‘Leilani’ and orange ‘Tangerine Dream’ & ‘Tiki Torch’ have perfomed well too though. Surely our climates are very different but our is much harsher. However, maybe wet winters are ones to blame for?
I’ll but some pics of my echinaceas to my blog. They deserve it! 😉
Thank you Tistou, I will certainly try again, with the species this time I think. Our wet winters could be to blame, and it certainly was wet last winter!
Thank you for leaving a comment, I will now have a look at your Echinaceas!
I was bit late with my post, but now it’s up! 🙂
Thanks Tistou, I will come over and read it now!
I wonder what it is about that innocent little erigeron that has our menfolk so intent on pulling it out. Your eupatorium is a real butterfly magnet Pauline and sometimes it is these more subtle plants that are just a much highlights as the in your face show stoppers. Your garden looks beautiful as always.
We have 2 concrete planters cemented on top of the wall of the balcony and I have never been successful with whatever plants I have put there. When we go away on holiday they can’t be watered by a neighbour so any plants are dead when we get back. I think Erigeron might be just the plant I’m looking for, I think they can exist on almost nothing.
All the butterflies on the Eupatorium are getting better and better as the days go by. I can see it first thing in the morning from the landing window, it is the first plant I go to look at each day.
You say no highlights but I see a garden with great structure and plenty of interest still, cyclamen aside. I want to plant a eupatorium but have been struggling to work out where. Reading your post it suddenly came together, which is weird but very useful, so thank you! My myrtle gets little chance to flower as I keep having to cut it back to stop it obscuring the view of the sea, poor thing. Yours looks lovely.
Thank you so much Janet, I suppose because the structure is there all the time, I just don’t notice it any more!
I’m so pleased at how the cyclamen are multiplying, I have others which are dotted round the garden, but they are lost among all the planting, maybe I’ll move them to the woodland too, to make a little drift.
My Myrtle gets its lower branches removed so that we can see the interesting cinnamon coloured bark and also so that we can weed underneath it. The flowers at the moment are such a magnet for the bees, the whole tree is buzzing!
Your cyclamen are so sweet! I love their delicate flowers at this time of year and their gorgeous foliage is such a nice thing to see all winter. Your garden looks beautiful even with the drought. I also haven’t planted Echinacea for some time as it never lives for me. How frustrating that they’ve planted it in a long bed composed of rocks and sand at the school where I work and it flourishes and reseeds all over the place.
I love Cyclamen Peter, especially the tiny hardy ones that we have in the garden. They are the only flower in the woodland at the moment and seed is being spread by the ants so new plants are popping up all over the place, certainly in places where I have never planted them. Maybe I ought to sow a few of the seeds to try and make even more plants, but it will be at least 3 years before they flower.
I agree, Echinacea seem to be very frustrating plants, I see them growing in other gardens and in magazines, but no joy here. I will try the species and see if I have more luck with those.