A WEEK IN MY GARDEN 23 MAY - CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW AND THE LONG BORDER

I know this post is very late, but I will explain why.   Mr B is signed up to the blog email as it gives him a chance to find out what is going on in the garden (yes - really!)  Anyway, when reading the last one he said 'It says here you can pay to get the post direct to your inbox'.  And I thought - that's very cheeky of them to ask people to pay to read my blog.   

But then I was mortified that perhaps you, dear reader, would think I was asking you to part with your cash.  Let me be quite clear that I am not.  It put me off publishing another post.

But my dear friends were wondering where was this week's Hortus? (Well Dad was anyway) so I'm back and I hope you are able to ignore any requests for money from the email people.

After that lengthy pre-amble, lets get down to (gardening) business.  First up, a day at the Chelsea Flower show.  I went on the Thursday, which is a public day, and found it not too busy.  As in it was busy, but not horrendously so.  My favourite of the show gardens was Jo Thompson's for The Glasshouse project.  

Who can resist an apricot foxglove?

Her planting often includes roses, which I love and her choice of colour palette is beautiful.    The roses included Tuscany Superb, Charles de Mills and Wild Rover, and there was Deutzia 'Strawberry Fields', astrantia and domes of copper Beech.

The Glasshouse at the rear of her garden was gorgeous with rippled glass and bronze doors.

The crazy paving had little weeds growing in between, so nothing looked like it had been planted just days before.

Of course I did see Monty, although the large crowds around his 'Dog Garden' meant I didn't linger long.  I did linger quite a while at this stand however, with the iris bred by Sir Cedric Morris.  Botanical paintings of the iris had been commissioned, and these were displayed alongside stems of the Iris themselves.  As I love painting iris myself I was entranced. 

Being, as you know, a big fan of roses, I had a good look at the exhibits put on by the major rose growers.  One of the big launches at the show was a new rose from David Austin, called 'The King's Rose'.  Very reminiscent of Rosa Mundi, it is a repeat flowerer, unlike the older variety which flowers only once.  It seems to have had a bit of a mixed reaction, some people not being keen on stripes or that it didn't look like a typical David Austin Rose.  Me? - I liked it.  Many others must have done too as it appears to be sold out for now.

But a gardeners life is not all sitting on the Agriframes stand drinking champagne, it consists mainly of mud and watering cans (although we have had some much needed rain).  So what's been going on this week at home?  I've been working on the Long Border as the tender plants can be planted out.  46 Dahlias in shades from deep burgundy to pale yellow have gone in.

Dahlias awaiting planting

Although it's designed to look  its best in late Summer, the border is filling up nicely.  

There are fluffy Thalictrums and sweet peas beginning to climb.

The deeper blue of Salvia pratensis seeds itself into gaps.

The Silver leaved version of Iris Pallida 'Variegata' hugs the edge of the border.

Blowsy red poppies and white clematis join the blue of the iris in a patriotic scene.

Iris pallida 'Variegata' (not the argenta one) is flowering in front of Euphorbia Wulfenii.

Kniphofia are one of those plants that are recommended for late Summer gardens, but not all varieties are late as I have learned to my cost.  This is Kniphofia 'Traffic Lights'  - red at the top, green at the bottom, as if you couldn't guess.

I think that's enough for this week, because I really should get on with writing you another one.  The roses are coming out and I think they deserve a post of their own.  Thank you for reading and I hope you will stop by again soon.