A COOL START

 Temperatures are expected to get into the 30s again today but this morning I’ve been for a walk around the garden and it felt lovely and fresh and cool with a little mist in the air. I hope the plants have also benefited from this respite from the heat. 

This is a view of the shady end of the rose garden looking towards the oak tree and the rhododendron borders it’s looking a bit autumnal  

The persicaria is flowering. It’s a bit of a thug and wood happily make a move to take over the whole border but I keep a close eye on it and make sure it behaves itself. 

I bought it from a NGS garden as ‘son of firetail’. They certainly had plenty of it for sake. 

The roses have started to repeat flower. This is Margaret Merril just opening and looking much more like Champagne Moment. 

Now back to reality with a bit of a bump. Those rhododendrons under the oak tree are suffering. I would guess they have been there since the 1970s at least and could be older. They don’t like this weather and haven’t looked properly  happy for the last four summers. 

It’s all a bit depressing. So I’ll move swiftly on because you are here to look at lovely things I think. 

How about some fields on this cool morning? 

I haven’t included this year’s planting in the terrace pots in by Six on Saturday yet, and I should record them for my benefit if not for yours. They were supposed to be all white, obviously, but equally obviously the lobelia weren’t. They’ve grown well though. Swell gel seems to be the key here as these shallow stone vases dry out quickly. 

I’m finishing with a view of the Long Border which is at its flowering height although everything is rather less verdant because of the lack of water. Still it makes a colourful display. 

And finally a close up of a dahlia I’ve grown for the first time this year - Indian Summer. 

That’s all from me for this week. Thanks as always to the Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday. I’m off to spend the day in the shade. Enjoy your weekend.