Having gone from one extreme to the other, from temperatures in the teens with rain every day, to temperatures soaring up to 30 C and even 31 C this week, I have been melting away because I’m just not used to it. My plants aren’t used to such high temperatures either but they are coping much better than I am. Thank goodness this weekend will be cooler along with some very welcome rain!
My six for this week are as follows
no 1 Crocosmia Paul’s Best Yellow
I hopefully planted this in the driveway border, hoping it would flower the same time as the dark blue agapantgus, but they hardly ever coincide, this year is no different, the Agapanthus are still in tight bud, maybe by next Saturday!
No 2 Inula helenium
Given to me when we were on holiday in Kent, the lady in the farmhouse where we stayed was very generous with her plants.
It must be at least 7ft or even 8ft tall, it will have to flop a bit before I can photograph the inside of the flower!
No 3 Clematis Perle d’Azur
Clematis Perle d’Azur is climbing up Rosa Mme Alfred Carrierre on the pergola.
No 4 Trachelospermum asiaticum
Another climber on the pergola and the perfume is so wonderful.
The perfume stops you in your tracks, then you have a chance to examine the pretty flowers like little propellers.
No 5 Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle courtesy of the birds, another plant with a gorgeous perfume.This is climbing up an obelisk with Clematis Etoille Violette and has escaped up the Myrtle tree behind, they make a nice combination.
Another honeysuckle courtesy of the birds, this time in the back garden. This one is much paler, it opens more yellow and soon turns to white, the same lovely perfume though.
No 6 Acanthus mollis.
Acanthus mollis is up by the pond and is spreading far too much, somebody will have to take action soon!
It forms a nice contrast though to Crocosmia Lucifer on the other side of the entrance to the pond area, not that you can see the entrance at the moment, everything has grown so much with all our rain!
These are my six for this week. We had some very much needed rain overnight, but thank goodness not the thunder and lightning that was forecast and it is a lot cooler now, so my plants and I can recover. I have just been for an early morning wander and the strong winds overnight have toppled a few plants, lots of tidying to do. The worst is my Miscanthus malepartus which has totally collapsed, just don’t know how I’m going to get it upright again, will be at least a 2 if not 3 person job. The lawn is covered with leaves and small branches, it looks like autumn out there!
Thanks to Jon The Propagator as usual for hosting this, do pay him a visit to see lots of other plants.
I am glad you have had some rain Pauline, along with your cooler temperatures – we had a much cooler evening and night and I am hopeful of some rain later. Like you, I am aware that a thunderstorm might inflict some damage, but perhaps it will be worth it… 😉 Your crocosmia looks gorgeous and makes such an impact – perhaps I should try again here… Is this a good year for your trachelospermum? Mine has certainly never flowered as well
It is a wonderful year for the Trachelospermum Cathy, I have never known so many flowers before! C. Lucifer can be seen from most parts of the garden and the bright red draws the eye and grabs all the attention, no shrinking violet!
I notice Paul’s Best Yellow featured on Jim’s (Garden Ruminations) Six this morning too – it makes me want it all the more!
The Trachelospermum looks on fine form – I’m sure it’s been enjoying the warm weather of the past week, even if us gardeners have suffered for it!
I can recommend Paul’s Best Yellow Andrew, I just wish it increased more quickly though! The Trachelospermum has really enjoyed the sunshine, I hope it likes the rain we are having today.
Lovely photos of some lovely plants! I especially like the trachelospermum, and I don’t think I’m alone. Hope you get the rain you want, it hasn’t come to much yet here.
Thanks Gill, the Trachelospermum seems to be a favourite this time, I love it too! We had heavy rain all night and very gentle rain all morning, the sun has come out now so I might get some gardening done with a bit of luck.
I went for a white Trachelospermum a few years ago but I often regret not going for the pale yellow variety. Like Andrew I fear I may have to get Paul’s Best Yellow. Seeing it in two SoSs on the same day has to be a sign.
I thought I had bought the white variety many years ago Graeme, and was disappointed at first when it turned out to be yellow/cream, I have since decided that I now prefer it and look forward to it every year.Yes, definitely a sign for Paul’s Best Yellow, it seems popular today!
Lovely honeysuckle.
Thanks Barbara, I’m fond of them too. I think the white one might be a seedling of a yellow one in my woodland which is the other side of the hedge, the perfume follows me round the garden.
Good to hear you’ve had rain, we’re desperate for some. This heat has me and my poor gardens wilting. So many lovely plants, loving that yellow crocosmia and honeysuckle.xxx
I think you’re due for some rain soon Dina, hope you get it.Thank goodness it is now cooler here, I couldn’t have stood the heat for much longer, we’re just not used to it are we. The honeysuckle was a nice surprise a few years ago and has now spread quite a bit over some of my shrubs in the back garden, perfuming the air arond it, I do like a plant with a perfume!x