Spring 2015
middle of June
the artichoke is getting larger and larger
acanthus in bloom
beginning of June
the poppies and foxgloves are blooming, there's a cerinthe and nigella at the bottom of the pic
there's an iris back there under that enormous artichoke foliage
a delphinium with fat buds
the acanthus has some large flower buds, the scabious is sky high
mid-May
what this garden has that mine doesn't is full sun and the difference is clear in the size of the plants and abundance of early flowers and buds
the artichoke is getting even more enormous
there are lots of flowers in bloom on the cerinthe and buds on the foxglove
the acanthus is amazing, huge and 3 large buds
close-up of those large buds
the poppy also has a number of large buds
the ornamental artichoke is enormous, it gets so much sun there
looking over from my garden, I rescued the giant tea cup and the acanthus which are now in next door's garden
on the right you can see the green alkanet is going mad, on the left one of the red poppies
I don't think this pic does them justice but there are masses of cerinthe flowers - I've never seen so many in one place
the bees are loving the borage - blue flowers on the right
Autumn 2014
there are spider webs everywhere at this time of year! (thanks for Saeme Kim for this photo)
2 ladybirds on this sunflower
These dahlias are just coming into their own now. Those fat buds are so luscious and abundant.
this smaller one at the front has a fat bud in the middle
the scabious are still going strong and the rosemary behind them
looks like some stachys in that pot
Summer 2014
tall artichoke with a flower in bloom and more flower heads on the way which started from a tiny plant at the garden centre
white foxglove, matching nicely with the red and white dahlia
another poppy with attractive seed heads
ladybird on one of the big leaves of the artichoke
midsummer and still lots of colour
Aquilegia, from the pound shop, you never know where you can find nice plants. Monty Don on GW was talking recently about getting a plant from a petrol station.
poppy
lupin, grown from seed, great if the slugs don't get them
another pic of those dahlias
a beautiful intensely coloured-dahlia, green alkanet still going strong to the left and gazania, iris and anemone to the right
Spring 2014
End of May/beginning of June and the garden is bursting with colour. There's a red snapdragon in the background, 2 lupins and the rose in front.
the first poppy in bloom
2 more irises and foxgloves and an ornamental artichoke in the background.
And even more irises on the way. They love the sun in my neighbour's front garden. There are still green alkanet flowers in bloom amongst them and nigella ready to bloom in the background.
a few days later and the iris are in bloom, the bees are still loving the green alkanet, there's one in the pic below on the far left
beautiful dark-red ranunculus
Middle of May and the Iris is in bloom
scabious seedlings but will confirm when they are in bloom
mid-April and the cerinthe is still going strong, all those beautiful purple flowers
blue flowers all over the green alkanet, forget-me-nots at the front
foxgloves (on the left), ornamental artichoke (on the right)
Poppy
Hot Pants tulips
more poppies
an alpine dianthus
a row of rosemary at the back, then a hardy geranium and at the front some bluebells
beginning of April
some beautiful tulips and a lupin (to the right)
early-blooming honesty (lunaria) providing some bright colour, aquilegias in the background
more tulips and rosemary at the back, bergenia to the right
First day of spring, March 20th, and this rockery tulip has burst into bloom. Only a few days ago it was still in bud.
This shows various new plants. The aquilegias have just gone in and are looking a little droopy. Hopefully when they get established they will perk up. (Martha is in the background digging a hole for the snapdragon).
This small acanthus plant also needs to get established and start perking up.
March 15th
It's March and the garden is really coming to life. The fall planted daffodils are in full bloom along with some of the other bulbs, including crocus and tulips. The bergenia are in bloom (on the left).
The green alkanet, foxgloves, ornamental artichoke and aquilegia have all gotten established. The cerinthe is still in bloom and attracting passersby to stop and comment.
end of November
Pruning the trees, left and right (next photo below), allows more light to this area of the garden for these newly transplanted iris foetidissima.
After a few weeks, the bergenia are looking a lot better and getting established.
mid-November
The borage, left and below, have perked right up and are blooming, even in this cold weather.
I donated my big self-seeded cerinthe to the garden transformation and couldn't believe to see it's in bloom! in this cold weather.
Beginning of November
Some aquilegia were transplanted in. They are looking a bit sad but I'm hoping they will eventually perk up. There's also an agastache anisata (bottom left) of the first pic which self-seeded and was easy to dig up.
This is looking a little sad after being buffeted by recent winds. I think it will eventually recover, perhaps not until next spring.
On the left below is a green alkanet, in the middle are foxgloves and on the right a cardoon (in the artichoke family). And lots of bulbs were planted.
This border along the fence is looking great since Martha weeded the annual mercury. All those seeds won't be blowing in.
End of October, transformation of a neighbour's garden continues. It's looking amazing after Martha's hard work. Just transplanted on the left are some bergenia and by the fence are some borage, also some foxgloves. They will get established in coming weeks before it gets too cold. Not sure what the large plant is in the foreground, will find out. There's a hardy geranium on the left and a rose in the centre, both worth keeping. Also a nightshade. I don't know if that's considered a weed. Will have to find out.
In August my neighbour Martha did a fabulous job clearing the weed garden. This is the garden after it was first cleared and before all the rubbish was removed. She found a few plants worth keeping: a few roses, virginia creeper and a plant I don't know which I will research (found out it was a nightshade, not sure what variety) and of course, the large hydrangea there on the left.
Back in July the weeds were even taller.
Below is the garden back in June before it was transformed when it was solidly filled with weeds.
The garden was tediously weeded of all the annual mercury. Sadly, the neighbouring garden (on the left, below) has masses of it being allowed to bloom and no doubt those weed seeds will find their way into the garden.