- Dahlia - I think this one is 'Night Silence' but I'm not sure as it's in a pot with no label.
- Panicum capillare 'Sparkling Fountain' which was sown from saved seed back in March. I've grown this grass for a few years now and love the way it sparkles in the sunlight. It self seeds but never in places where it's easy to extricate and replant so I sow it yearly.
- Rudbeckia hirta 'Enchanted Flame' - for the first time in a good few years I had no joy with growing rudbeckia 'Sahara' from seed. I was upset as it's a flower mix that is good for late summer/early autumn flowering with colours of various shades. After some pondering I remembered reading about the rudbeckia hirta 'Enchanted' series over at Catherine's 'Notes From My Garden' blog. More pondering and although these plants are half- hardy perennials a special 3 for the price of 2 offer from an online source tempted me. I must admit that I'm not keen on the muddy looking colour that these particular flowers had in bud but I do like the final fully opened version. I will still sow 'Sahara' again next year whatever joy I have with overwintering these plants.
Monday, 22 September 2025
IAVOM ~ Harvest Home
Monday, 15 September 2025
IAVOM ~ 'September In The Rain'
A borrowed vase from me this week. Having returned at the weekend from a holiday in the depths of rural Herefordshire, there have been a few jobs to catch up on including taking various cuttings as well as picking tomatoes, pears and apples from the garden. The pears are now ripening on a sunny windowsill (ie as and when the present weather pattern improves) whilst the first apples to be harvested have been peeled and stewed. With one batch in the freezer the second batch was on the jobs to do list this morning. As the day has unfolded it has turned increasingly windy and the odd shower has fallen. The green waste bin is empty and due for collection tomorrow but I have decided not to venture out with my secateurs this time. I will no doubt feel guilty tomorrow.
My vase was in the 'Ladies' at Stocktonbury Gardens which I've wanted to visit for years. Despite the fact that all the gardens we visited had suffered from the long, hot and dry summer there was still much to hold our interest especially the garden's history. If you're in the area it's certainly well worth a visit. I'm not sure exactly what's in the vase but can identify the white flowered aster diveraticus, an eryngium and what I think is a sanguisorba. It's a garden that I would love to visit again especially in spring when their huge apple orchard is in blossom. This is just a small glimpse of it below on a September day:
There were plants for sale in the plants sales area but I'm not sure where I could plant one so resisted. The little dragon perched on the roof was rather fetching too but not for sale.
Thanks as always to Cathy who blogs over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who gets us together every week for a floral party. Do visit her if you haven't already!
Monday, 1 September 2025
IAVOM ~ 'September Morn'
What better way to start a new month than with a vase of flowers. Yes September has arrived - my favourite month of the year after May. In my vase today are :
- Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer - this is a hardy perennial which likes the sun but also moist soil. It usually does well in its allocated spot but has languished this long dry summer so along with the astrantias has received the odd drink from the watering can.
- Aster 'Little Carlow' - another hardy perennial and one of my favourites with clouds of small lavender blue small flowers.
- Some foliage from the climber 'Humulus Lupulus aureum' or golden hop. I've never seen this plant grow so much as it has done this year - it has turned into a veritable monster. It's looking most attractive now with all the dangly hops.