Summer Tour (Part One).

Blogging has been a little sparse lately what with the open gardens in June, neither of us enjoying the best of health this summer followed by a holiday to help recharge the batteries.

Summer has now arrived at Our Garden@19, I have taken the camera around to record what is flowering, there is enough for two posts, this is part one.

The first to greet us as we go out through the dinning room doors is the Geranium 'Rozanne' growing in pots, it flowers non stop as it is sterile...

...the Dahlias in the raised beds edging the patio are now responding to the warm weather, this is my favourite, David Howard...

...along side is this lovely red Pom Pom D. Tam Tam...

...also D. 'Twynings After Eight', with its delicate pink veining...

...and the red 'Bishop of Llandaff.

Through the arch into the Blue Border is an unknown apricot dahlia with Lychnis coronia, surrounded by Persicaria 'Firetail' and right at the back Veronicastrum 'Fascination'.

Veronicastrum 'Fascination'.

The Viola cornuta 'Alba' is a wonderful value plant, grown from seed over ten years ago, it flowers non stop from June through to autumn, only requiring shearing off before winter...

...also in the white garden is Astrantia major, much loved by pollenating insects.

The colourful shrub Lycesteria formosa 'Golden Lanterns'...

...is accompanied by, Clematis 'Mme Julia Correvon', one of several Clematis now flowering...

...C. 'Perle d'Azur'...

...climbing high into the Prunus serrula is the Japanese Clematis fusca, with its furry small bell like flowers...

...in the white garden, new this year, C. 'Mrs George Jackman' is announcing her arrival...

...as is C. ? from next door's garden, (they don't know its name), it obviously has no respect for the colour theme!

I hope you have enjoyed this first part of Our Garden@19 summer garden tour, what is representing summer in your garden?

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.

Between the rain!

"The day is cold, and dark, and dreary; 
It rains,and the wind is never weary; 
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall, 
But at every gust the dead leaves fall, 
And the day is dark and dreary."

By  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Today was dry 'hurrah' here in Worcestershire, I ventured out into the garden, with the camera, to see what, if anything was providing us with some winter colour.The Euphorbia's appear to be enjoying this winter, 

we have Blackbird...

...a young E. wulfenii...

...and E. Glacier Blue providing some colourful foliage.

Against this fence, we have from left to right,

Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire, Cornus Alba 'Westonbirt' syn C. alba 'Siberia' and Ilex x Altaclerensis  Golden King...

...even though it has the name 'King' is is a berry producing female...

...also providing some berry colour is, Iris foetidissima 'Citrina'...

In a corner of the Oriental Garden colour is provided by the

Phyllostachys Spectablis and

Hamamelis Moll  Pallida (Witch Hazel)...

Hamamelis.

On the other side of the path:

Corylus avellana 'Contorta' is producing a few catkins...

 In the main borders...

Mahonia Bealii is providing some early pollen for the bees...

 ...with

Clematis cirrhosis balearics scrambling over it...

 ...the ornamental grasses are surprisingly still standing, there are three

Calamagrostis x a. ' Karl Foerster ' at the front with a Miscanthus sinensis behind...

Two welcome winter visitors recently photographed while feeding in the garden...
A Long Tailed Tit...

...and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker.

What is cheering you up in your garden today?

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'We're almost there'...

A quick tour before open day to see what is catching the eye:

The self seeded Foxglove has just opened in front of the Siberian wallflower and Allium 'Purple Sensation'...

...along with the Anchusa azurea...

...cooling things down on the patio is the Polygonatum x Hybridum Striatum...

...along side the Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata'...

...and a delicately marked water Iris ( may be 'ensata' Japanese Iris)...

...the white Wisteria creating a welcome entrance to the restyled Oriental Garden...

...now with the Trinity Stones repositioned and a gravel river running from the water spout to a whirlpool...

...in the White and Green garden...

...Allium 'Mount Everest'...

...the white Hesperis matronalis...

...and the white Aquilegia are obeying the rules.

By the arch the Viburum opulus (guilder rose)...

...with the Clematis 'Nelly Moser' peeping out from underneath.

Through the arch purple Hesperis matronalis... 

...an unusual 'nature' created Aquilegia...

...and a cheeky Welsh Poppy, Meconopsis cambrica seeded amongst the Lysimachia ciliate 'Firecracker'

In the 'Woodland Walk' Geranium sylvaticum 'Album' is lighting up this shady area...

...along with Iris 'Holden Clough'...

...and Clematis mont. 'Broughton Star'.

The Box has had its summer trim...

...and so have I.
It took a lot longer to trim the Box!

Scones and cakes are being baked, cream & jam is ordered, plenty of tea & coffee in stock.
All we need now is good weather.

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.