The wet weather we've had the last few months meant that I've spent less time in the garden this year. It's been an interesting, if unsuccessful, experiment in low maintenance. As a result the garden is rather full of weeds, the hedges are overgrown and some of the roses have been defoliated by blackspot.
So for the last two weeks I have been gardening non stop in an attempt to regain control. The box hedges and topiary pieces (a sort of pointed pudding shape) have been trimmed. The lawn edges have been weeded and cut too. It feels a lot less shabby now.
Some of the yew hedges have been cut too. Since I planted it myself as little spouts I am very very proud that it now actually looks like a proper established hedge. It seems like one of those gardening miracles like seeds germinating or cuttings taking.
The Phlox are looking well at the moment and have benefited from all the rain, although I find Phlox never seem to bulk up or spread at all. In the last two years they have struggled to survive let alone flower.
One plant that does spread, and perhaps is a little too enthusiastic, is Achillea 'Lilac Shades'. It's going over a bit now but has looked lovely for weeks. It's going to need some curtailing over winter though, and I have some other bare patches in the garden where some of it can be relocated.
The Long Border remains at its colourful best. This week an orange flowered Canna has joined in flowering. Cannas don't tend to flower much for me, so it's a welcome sight.
To finish with I've chosen some 'Cobra' green beans. Despite the evidence of this photo they are the normal green colour and not this washed out shade. Attempts to enhance the colour in this photo only resulted in me having to rewrite this whole post from scratch.
Despite deleting my hard work, Blogger then decided to add a few extra photos that I hadn't chosen. I've left this one of the view from our bedroom window as I thought you might enjoy it. The cattle have a whole 10 acre field to enjoy but sometimes they like to congregate in this little corner and give us an impromptu weather forecast.
That's all for this week. Thank you for stopping by. and don't forget all the Six on Saturday posts can be found on Garden Ruminations where Jim collates all our garden ramblings.
My yews are also trimmed and here too the Achilleas are invasive; the seed heads must be removed before it's too late.!
ReplyDeleteDo you trim all the hedges and topiary with shears or with a hedge trimmer?
Thanks for the reminder to deadhead the Achillea. I'll get on to it! I use a hedge trimmer for the hedges but shears for the topiary puddings.
DeleteYour hedges are looking lovely and neat. How long did the Yew take to form that nice substantial hedge? I hear it grows more quickly than gardening books suggest. It took my Phlox plants a while to get going and start spreading - they've certainly enjoyed the wet summer.
ReplyDeleteThe hedge was planted in April 2014, but I have read that they will grow faster with feeding, which mine hasn't had. It does get a decent amount of light and has done better than those which have a more shady spot. Good news about the Pholx - patience is the key.
DeleteAgh! Perhaps you have a ghost in your computer who enjoys gardening or playing tricks? Lovely Canna and the long Border is looking wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think it may be down to my fat fingers! (not that I want to admit that I could be to blame)
DeleteYour hedges are looking very good indeed, we will be starting mine next week! Your long border is still looking wonderful and I really like your Canna, such a super colour.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the hedges. I still have a few to do, but at least they only need doing once a year.
DeleteYour long border is amazing, those Cannas! 🌼💞 Love your cow neighbours. We have sheep neighbours!
ReplyDeleteWe have had sheep for a short while in previous years. I love them.
DeleteThe above comment was me. 🌸🦋
ReplyDeleteThe phlox are beautiful. This has been a timely reminder to me, too, to deadhead the achillea which are too successful in my garden, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. It seems we must keep an eye on these achillea.
DeleteI like the random unplanned photo of the cows, very bucolic where you are. Garden looking very smart after your efforts, must do the same here. The Yew looks super, it’s one of my favourite hedges. Only hedge I planted now needs taking out - Box, victim to the moth.
ReplyDeleteNo box moth here - but probably just a matter of time.😢
DeleteI like the white Phlox, I have a strangely coloured purple one which like yours doesn't seem to want to bulk up, in fact this year it is half the size it was last, though I have seen new shoots appearing. Given I'm not keen on the colour it may be destined for the garden waste bin.
ReplyDeleteI got a few freebie ones which are an odd purple. I've not quite brought myself to chuck them out.
ReplyDeleteMy white Phlox was the same for a couple of years and then it started to clump up well. I used to grow Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ and it was a nightmare. I replaced it with ‘Terracotta’ which is a very weak grower (so far anyway). All your hard work has paid off and your garden is looking great.
ReplyDeleteI have 'Terracotta' and it behaves beautifully. I will be keeping a close eye on the pink ones now.
DeleteThat last comment was from Ann, the quilting gardener.
ReplyDeleteLook at all those lovely beans! Do you have any favorite varieties, flavor-wise? I made the amateurish mistake of planting my bush beans in the shadow of corn this year, so might get a handful if I'm lucky. Next year, they are getting their own dedicated bed.
ReplyDeleteThese are Cobra and they still seem good even when they get rather large.
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