Autumn deliveries.

I always think of Autumn as the start of the gardening year, it is one of the busiest times of year.

A painful back and hip is the last thing a gardener needs just now!

I had started planting some of the 'many' tulip bulbs purchased and then the order of bare root roses were delivered.

They have been stored, still in their packaging, in the summer house for a few days whilst the gardener and the weather improves.

Today was that day!

There are two standard roses...

...and four shrub roses.

When I originally planted the garden in 2004 there were two standard roses in the front garden which I moved to join two new ones in the main border, now christened The Blue Border.
Sadly they didn't perform too well, they were quite old roses and were eventually removed.
I have always thought the bed lacked the symmetry ( very designer speak ) that having four standard roses provided in the border, not to mention colour.
I decided this summer to plant again, two more standard roses joining, R. Worcestershire, a weeping standard and R. Bonica Std.

The new standard roses are Wisley 2008...

...and Charlotte.

The shrub roses are R. William and Catherine, a white rose that does not grow too tall.  They are destined for the White and Green garden, to compliment the climbing rose, 'Iceberg', which is trained along the dividing fence in this garden.

They are not very much to look at when planted...

The standard roses do provide a little more structure just now.

The three following pictures are from the David Austin website.

R.Wisley 2008. Std

R. Charlotte.Std

R. William and Catherine.

We hope our new additions will look this good next year.
Now to finish the tulip planting!

What's new in your garden this autumn?

'Mad dogs and Englishmen'. Garden Tour.

Hello, my name is Murphy, you may of read about me in 'The Team'.

I haven't taken you on a garden tour since March.

My Mistress, Mary...

... the love of my life is on holiday in Spain, apparently at midday the temperature reaches 40c
and only 'Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'.
The Head Gardener and Head of Catering (whom I am particularly fond of) have been left to look after me.
I thought I would help the HG with this garden tour.
We will start in the south facing front garden, where the 'CATS' sunbathe...

...enjoying the sunshine is an Aeonium...

....and Galtonia Viridiflora.

On the patio Hosta 'The Prince of Wales' is looking very Regal...

The HG is pleased with this new Allium that is growing in an old tin bath, which he first mentioned Here

A. Red Mohican.

Coreopsis 'Sterntaler' along with Geranium 'Rozanne' provide a cheerful welcome in pots on the patio either side of the dining room doors ( One of my favourite rooms)

Red currants are trained on the fence by the herb garden...

...continuing the Red theme is Lily 'Landini'...

...and Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff'...

It is not just Labradors that come in yellow or black,

Alcea rosea 'Nigra', Hollyhock to you and I.

Moving from the patio we pass the new Hot Bed planted with mainly Dahlias.. 

D. After Eight.

D.David Howard.

D. 'Karma Choc'

Pom Pom.

D. coccinea var.Palmeri.

 ...and Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza'..

...and Tagetes patula 'Cinnabar' the seed of which HG purchased from Great Dixter.

This self seeded poppy, the HG thinks is wonderful...

along with the Ladybird poppy.

Please follow me this way past....

...the White & Green garden with Lychnis Alba, Erygium Giganteum...

...and Astrantia Major visited by a Meadow Brown butterfly.

Through the arch to the main central borders...

..flowering at the rear is Thalictrum flavum subsp.glaucum alongside Campanula lactiflora 'Prichard's Variety' (Try saying that after too many Bonio's)

An unknown Phlox from Great Aunt's garden...

A quick turn around the Never Ending Woodland Walk ( HG delusions of grandeur)...

...pass the Veronicastrum Fascination...

...and Lysimachia ciliate 'Firecracker'.

HG allows me to sleep in his potting shed while he is 'working'.

I hope you have enjoyed this garden tour, I am off to see if there is any cat food left in the kitchen!

''SHE'S BACK"!

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The Butterfly and The Bumblebee...

...Oh how happy they seem to be.

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly landing on a Eryngium Giganteum in the sunny front garden...

...is then joined by a bumble bee ...

...I think it is a Buff Tailed...

...both busily feeding on the nectar in the sunshine.

Take off........Eryngium Giganteum is one of my favourite self seeding garden plants...

...it is a biennial, the seed leaves bearing no resemblance to the mature ones.

This is a first year leaf beginning to take shape...

...then in the second year it transforms into green...

...and then silvery blue Erygium Gigantium...

...commonly called 'Miss Willmotts Ghost' after the famous Edwardian Gardener who so loved the plant she use to scatter seeds when visiting other gardens.
To read more about Miss Willmott please visit Chloris Here

I think it is a plant who's life cycle is similar to the butterfly, the different stages of growth give no indication of the beauty to come.

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.