A new month, a new week of non stop sunshine, but this morning it is drizzling and it has rained overnight, which I know the plants will love. I have managed a few early morning sessions, gardening before the sun got too high in the sky or making sure that I stayed in the shade where it seemed at least 10 degrees cooler. This then left plenty of time to watch Wimbledon in the afternoon with a clear conscience! Anyway, on to my six for this week.

My first photo is of Zantedecia aethiopica Kiwi Blush which is looking rather lovely at the far side of the conservatory.

Considering that it is a bog plant that likes a lot of moisture, I’m surprised to see it looking so well, as we have had hardly any proper rain for such a long time.

More Hemerocallis are opening up all the time, this one is Pink Damask and has been here for a long time.

My Bramley apples are coming along nicely, looks as though I will have another bumper crop this year.

My second clump of Phormium Yellow Wave is up by the pond area and now flowering with its flower spikes much taller than me.

I stood for quite some time watching the bees helping themselves to lots of the nectar that was on offer, none around though when I took my photo!

This is one of the hydrangeas that my mother brought with her in pots when she came to live with us over 20 yrs ago. They have always been pink. A few years ago this one thought about becoming blue but took a long time to make up its mind, I think it has definitely decided to be blue now!

Clematis Alba luxurians has been here for a long time, last year I decided to plant C. Dark Prince next to it. What a lovely surprise when I found that I’d obviously forgotten that the stamens of C. Alba luxurians were the same purple as C Dark Prince.
That’s it for this week, I don’t think there was much rain overnight, I’ll still have to water my pots this morning and the hydrangeas are looking a bit parched. Do pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations to see more plants and gardens from around the world.
I love watching the bees feed on the phormium, I’ve probably spent too long watching in awe. Lovely Kiwi’s Blush and the apples look just perfect. Rain here too, water butts are being replenished. Enjoy your week.
Love time spent watching the wildlife in the garden Gill when I should really be working! I can see that I will be giving lots of apples away this autumn if they all survive.
My phormiums have never flowered here. I think you have to wait a few years and have the right conditions. Very pretty daylilies, with my favouritethis week : ‘Stafford’.
I think you could be right about the phormium Fred. mine were quite a few years old when they started flowering, they are now about 30 yrs old! Have found a super new nursery dealing in day lilies, Strictly Daylilies, must give it a try as they have some super ones!
How gorgeous is that Zantedecia Kiwi Blush – I love it! You’ve managed to capture that lovely blush perfectly, Pauline. The colour of the Pink Damask Hemerocallis tones in perfectly with the Zantedecia and I’m wondering if they grow close to each other? It’s a lovely Hydrangea – I have a pink too that has almost fully decided it’s really a blue.
I’m rather partial to that Zantedecia Catherine and am amazed at how well it looks considering the drought, my other zantedecias are in the bog garden and are nowhere near as good this year! No, I’m afraid it is nowhere near the Pink Damask daylily, they are about 100ft apart!
I love the Kiwi Blush and the Hydrangea is lovely in blue. My Hydrangea is really struggling with the lack of rain this summer.
I had to give in yesterday and water my hydrangeas as they were all drooping Graeme, then this morning we had some rain, still need more though!
I love the Zantedecia aethiopica Kiwi Blush too. Such a delicate colour. I saw lots of really blue hydrangeas this week in a garden on the Lizard, I want a blue one now!
I have hydrangeas that have always been blue Jude, just don’t understand why some pink ones have decided to change colour after 20 odd years?! I really do prefer the blue ones.
Another fan of “Kiwi Blush” here, it’s absolutely stunning. The two clematis are a really good combination, a happy accident!
The clematis were a happy accident Helen, so pleased when I saw them together, wouldn’t have been the same if I had planted a pink one!
That is a beautiful Calla Lily to start. I’m not sure I’ve seen one that particular shade of creamy pink before; just lovely. The other blooms are impressive, too. And, yay, you have some yummy apples in your future!
Yes Beth, I’m going to have lots of lovely apples in the autumn. I’ve not seen another Zantedecia Kiwi Blush since I bought mine and have now forgotten where I bought it unfortunately, it was so long ago, glad you like it.
There seem to be a lot of bees around this year, I waste a lot of time watching them. My favourite this week is your gorgeous Z. ‘Kiwi Blush’, is it hardy?
Yes Liz, Kiwi Blush is hardy, I planted it in the back by the conservatory about 20 odd years ago, it faces west so sheltered from the east winds but gets afternoon sunshine.
Hi hydrangeas change colour according to the ph of the soil and the mineral content – so you can play around with the colour by additions to the soil – we would always put rusty nails around some of ours or wood ash or lime; or if blue is the goal- coffee grounds or aluminium sulfate. You can even put high ph on one side and low ph on the other and have a large bush with different colours. You garden is beautiful and inspirational thanks as
I am aware that Hydrangeas change colour Grace according to the acidity in the soil, I have never added anything to the soil in my garden to change the soil acidity, the hydrangeas have changed all by themselves 20 odd years after being planted.