BERRIES, BEANS AND BOUQUETS

 A couple of weeks ago I said something along the lines of 'I try to include something from the Potager each week'. I confess that this was more of an aim than a statement of fact.  The fruit and vegetables rarely make it into a Six on Saturday for the simple reason that I love the flowers more.  

But this week the fruit in particular has elbowed its way to the front of the queue and so we find ourselves at number one.

1. Berries

Once they have gobbled up all the strawberries the squirrels like to move onto the gooseberries.  A new fruit cage has partly put a stop to this, and so some were left for us.  These were swiftly turned into a gooseberry crumble.


I managed to pick a small punnet of Glen Clova raspberries.  These were delicious with some yoghurt and muesli.



A Summer Pudding is on the menu for this weekend.






2. Veg!

Yet more kitchen garden produce makes it to the number two spot.  (Don't worry we'll be back to flowers very soon).


Some notable successes to report after a really poor showing last year.  Manuring the ground over winter seems to have sorted out the problem with blossom end rot in the courgettes.  I paid attention to pinching out the tips of the broad beans so much less black fly.  And finally, I planted the green beans well away from the former so the blackfly didn't skip on to them as well.

3. Bouquets

I wanted a third B to go with Berries and Beans in my title and came up with Bouquets, or 'flowers in a jug' if you want to be pedantic accurate.

I've only just discovered the joys of Sweet Pea growing, and I may become a convert.  I need to find a good seed supplier though. My mixed Spencer Peas seem to be distinctly unmixed so far.




4. Rosa 'Scepter'd Isle'

This rose is earning a place in my affections for it's wonderful scent.  I think it smells of parma violet sweets.  David Austin roses describes it as having a strong Myrrh perfume, but I'm afraid I don't know what Myrrh smells like.  

It won't quite oust Rosa 'Jude the Obscure' as the best perfume (tropical fruits and sherbert) but it's a close second.





5. Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'


This grows in the Gertrude Jekyll long border.  It's been there for four or five years now and never done very much.  I presume the weather this year has suited it because it's putting on a fine show, looking as pink and fluffy as candyfloss on a stick.



6. Achillea


Achillea is useful for the contrast its flat flower heads provide among all the rounded shapes (like roses) and spires (like Verbascum).  At least that's what it says in the garden design books.

This 'Lilac Shades' was grown from seed.  Some are cerise, some are white but all are quite pretty.


Achillea 'Terracotta' starts out more brick orange and fades to ochre.


Achillea patarmica 'White Pearl' was grown from seed.  This one has a different shape to the other achilleas.  It has very sweet little pom pom flowers but is as tough as old boots.


I'm saving my favourite one till last.  This is achillea Credo.  Such a delicate pale yellow flower.




That's all from my garden this week.  Thanks as always to the Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.

Comments

  1. A delightful bounty of berries and veg. I love Achillea but for some reason struggle to grow them, they always end up sparse and straggly, although the wild one in the lawn does well. I'm going to have to seek out some flowering Scepter'd Isle and Jude the Obscure after reading your descriptions of their fragrances - much more helpful that those provided in catalogues (I have no idea what myrrh smells of either).

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    1. Definitely try to find a ‘Jude the Obscure’ to smell. It’s amazing.

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  2. I love the Lilac Shades yarrow. I was quite successful this year growing yarrow from seed, and I may look for Lilac Shades to grow. I would praise the flowers in the jug, and I do, but for my eye being caught by the platter behind it! What a beauty! I collect blue and white plates and platters. And, as I see a corner of another peeking out on the right, I'd say you do too?

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    1. I’m a big fan. The blue and white China is Spode’s ‘Blue Italian’ but I also have a less expensive set of Willow Pattern for everyday. I love finding little shards of blue and white pottery in the garden. It’s a Victorian house so they turn up quite often.

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  3. I love those photos of the berries. I think the Raspberries look the most appetising.

    The Filipendula looks super - great big fluffy flowers!

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    1. They tasted good too. Must be all the rain we had earlier this year.

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  4. This year I’ve started a new variety of gooseberries : red ones. I will see if they taste differently. Yours look yummy ! (Great appetizing pictures )

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    1. I have a red variety too but they are not quite ready. They are sweeter and can be eaten without cooking.

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  5. Summer pudding from your own produce, what a wonderful thing. We enjoy using garden berries to make a coulis and pour onto sponge cake, perfect for tea time. A lovely selection of Achilleas, and nice dark shades in the sweet pea jug against some pretty ceramics (love the frog).

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    1. The frog is a pepper pot, now retired from service as the cork plug in his base disintegrated.

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  6. What a wonderful selection of berries!

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  7. I can recommend Matthewman's Sweet Peas for seeds. Lots of lovely varieties that come in little paper packets. My gooseberries are coming along but I grow those red skinned ones that need to ripen a little longer. Enjoy all those lovely berries!

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    1. Thanks very much for the seed recommendation.

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