A WEEK IN MY GARDEN - 22 AUGUST AND STILL DRY

So the title of this week's post is 'What's not dead yet' - and that's only slightly tongue in cheek.  It's been so dry this year, it seems a bit incomprehensible.  The pots have done well, of course, because they do get a regular soaking.  The hot weather has suited the geraniums and the salvias.  I have quite a few new ones this year.   I already grew Nachtvlinder, the lovely deep purple one, and it's been joined by 'Cherry Lips', 'Delice Aquamarine' and the pale pink 'Naomy Tree'.

Before we head off down the Long Border, here's a quiet corner of the garden for you.  I love the way the Clematis Montana is gradually clothing this arch, but doesn't the grass under the oak tree look parched?  The Rhododendron just in shot to the right was looking very droopy. These are not new plants; they have probably been here since the 1970s.  So it is a shame to see how they have struggled in the last few years.

A few vignettes from the Long Border next.  A Kniphofia first, called 'rooperi', which was bought from Great Dixter.  It's a bit of monster, but we've got the room for it here.

An assortment of yellow dahlias are planted with red Monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet'.  There's Glory of Heemstede, Hamari Gold (which is new this year and has only one flower), and a pom pom dahlia 'Boom Boom Yellow'.  The later spent all Winter in the ground in a vague hope that it might not reappear.  Actually I'm not hating it so much now there's not so many of them.  

I know I've shown you 'Indian Summer' before, but it's just so gorgeous I'm going to include it again. It wins my best Dahlia of 2025 award.

My last selection from the Long Border is Rudbeckia Goldsturm.  Easy peasy to grow (but not in the dry patch under the tree) and very cheerful and long flowering.

The roses are starting their second flush.  Sadly too late for our garden visitors last week.  This first one is 'Burgundy Ice'.  Doesn't it look good?  Wouldn't you want such a stunning rose in your garden?  I wish it looked like this all the time, but it mostly doesn't!  It's heard I've been turfing out underperforming plants and has pulled it's socks up.

This is 'Compassion', who looks and smells beautiful. Whilst I love the shape of the typical David Austin rose, this is very different with it's explosion of reflexed petals.

Up in the Knot Garden, it was time to split some iris.  There are a few more that would benefit from this, so I will gradually work my way around sorting them out over the next month or so.

That's all for this week (or was it last week?).  I've got a wee bit out of kilter. Never mind!  Thank you for reading, and hopefully see you next time.