Another week of mixed weather, a bit of everything in fact, including thunder and lightning and the flowers keep coming, no matter what. I have managed a bit of gardening most days, but the weeds are still winning at the moment, I have to be very careful how I take my photographs! Time now for Six or so on Saturday.
Roses are now starting to flower, they are all looking good with lots of buds to come. This one is Charlotte from the David Austin stable, a lovely rose with a beautiful perfume.
Another David Austin rose, The Countryman, this also has a lovely perfume.
The Emglish iris or Iris latifolia which is in the driveway border.
The flowers are a lovely blue with nice markings.
This is the sunset from Wednesday night, I missed the last 5 minutes of the Chelsea Flower Show to take this from an upstairs window!
It is also now rhododendron time, this is R. Yakushimanum, the flowers start out as pink buds and then open up white/pale pink.
It is only a little bush so shouldn’t get too big, flowers are lovely and big though.
Other rhododendrons flowering at the moment include this frilly one, no name I’m afraid.
I think this is R. Sapho, quite a tall one, planted behind the previous one.
It’s also peony time! This is the first one of mine to open, P Festiva Maxima. All my peonies were chosen for their perfume, this one is lovely, but then, they all are!
Not quite there yet so I’ll give you an update on my orchid. On Wednesday night when going into the kitchen at 9pm to make a drink of hot chocolate, I looked out of the back door and right beside the orchid was a great big rabbit having a nice chew of something! I dashed out as quickly as I could and chased it away, thank goodness it hadn’t been tempted to eat my orchid !
It seems we will have to wait another week to see the orchid flower, as long as the rabbit doesn’t make a return visit and decide that orchids are just what is missing from its menu! I check on it first thing as soon as I get up each morning now, so far, so good. I have woken to lovely sunshine this morning so will be out weeeding as soon as I’ve posted this and had my breakfast. Wishing everyone lovely gardening time this long weekend, hope the weather is good for us all and do join us with Jim at Garden Ruminations to see gardens from around the world.
Lovely photos Pauline and not a weed in sight! R.Yakushimanum has a wonderful mix of colours. Glad the rabbit didn’t get to the Orchid so I look forward to seeing the flower in your next post Pauline.
Thanks Denise, it takes a bit of time to make sure there are no weeds in the photos! The orchid is still safe, I haven’t seen the rabbit since, maybe I have frightened it permanently! The flower is taking a long time to open, I think we need warmer weather, it has gone back to being cold again.
Such lovely pictures, it’s hard to choose a favourite this week. You’d only have missed the question and answer session at the end of the Chelsea programme so it was worth it for that sunset!
Thank you Helen, I agree it was worth missing 5 minutes of Chelsea to catch the sunset, they don’t last long do they.
The sunset was worth missing the last five minutes from Chelsea. All you photos are delightful but I love the white peony. Glad the rabbit spared your orchid . I’m always amused by the constant encouragement to attract wildlife into the garden. Like you , I spend much time trying to defend it from visiting rabbits, voles etc who regard our garden as a fast food bar !
Add deer to the list for me Mary, they come and prune my roses for me! The white peony has a wonderful perfume, kit really is delightful.
The sky with its clouds and colours is such a great thing to be able to observe, you certainly captured a lovely sunset there.
I have a small side window in my sitting room Noelle and all of a sudden I could see a red sky filling it so had to rush upstairs and photograph it, I decided it was more important than the last 5 minutes of Chelsea!
Bunnies in the garden is the stuff of nightmares. They’ve been a problem on my allotment though they’ve all vanished this year (Myxy maybe).
This rabbit seems to be very choosy about what it is eating in my meadow Jim. the pignut, cuckoo flower and self heal have all been left alone as well as the precious orchid, thank goodness.I also have deer that like to come and prune my roses for me!
2 David Austin roses, very pretty! ‘Charlotte’ looks like the one I highlighted this week. I really like the unknown rhododendron….
More roses are opening each day Fred, all looking good and smelling gorgeous! Also all the rhododendrons are flowering now so should have another couple next weekend, I like the frilly one too.
Such beautiful roses, love the peony too. Glad you chased the bunny away, hopefully it won’t be back. LOvely sunset.xxx
So far my orchid is safe Dina, thank goodness, getting better every day!
Beautiful irises and wow to that sunset. I wondered what Jim was talking about today regarding your orchid and then realised I’d missed this post. Apologies!
Don’t worry Graeme, I struggle sometimes to keep up with other peoples posts.The sunset was fantastic but wished it lasted longer, over far too soon.
It is interesting to see the progress of your orchid – they pop up periodically in my Mum’s garden in the west of Scotland, much to her excitement, not that she can see them these days without being prompted by a visitor. I don’t know the two roses you have shown today – I love all those petals on the Countryman!
The orchid is getting better and better each day, so lovely to see the flowers opening after a long build up! The Countryman is a lovely rose with a perfume to match.