Through the Garden Gate--June 2022

We've had a lot of dry weather recently and very little rain. What rain we've had hasn't always been enough to really soak the ground.  But the flowers are blooming and as the late Spring ones have gone over the early summer ones have taken their place.  Now the garden is looking good with blue Veronica, Nepeta, Scabious, Astrantia, Campanula, Roses, Clematis and many more. And the patio tubs are full of colour too.

I have been cutting back the early flowers now they have gone over--I might be lucky and have a second flowering from some of them later in the summer.  Cutting back has left a few gaps in the borders.  I am filling these with some hardy annuals which I have grown from seed--Cosmos, Zinnia, Ammi Majus and Larkspur are some of them. I grow most of the hardy annuals in a cutting bed at the allotment, but any spare plants, I bring home to plant in the garden where there is space.

Since we moved here five years ago I have been trying to get a few Foxgloves growing. All the little seedlings which they produce are potted up and then when they are big enough, planted around the garden.  I couldn't resist buying another one recently which is a lovely cream colour, as well as another Astilbe. Both of these plants grow well in the bottom border which is partial shade and can get quite damp. Another plant which also grows well in this shady bed is Persicaria. It has lovely pink bottle brush type flowers and is much admired by visitors, but it is inclined to take over and spread along the bed. So I've been digging some of this up and this has made space for the Foxgloves and Astilbe.

We have a lovely white Valerian on one side of the archway which is often visited at this time of year by a Humming Bird Hawk Moth.  They are fascinating creatures, but I haven't been able to catch this one on camera yet as it darts about very quickly.  Only Holly the cat will pose for a photo!

With a lot of the big garden jobs now done we've been able to sit and relax and enjoy the garden more. Although it can be difficult to sit for long as I always seem to spot something that needs doing.

I am linking this blog to Sarah's blog at 'Down by the Sea' for her monthly 'Through the Garden Gate'  post.