Another week of sunshine and rain, sometimes a lot more rain than sunshine! However I feel I must stop moaning about the rain as I have noticed that all my surviving rhododendrons are literally covered with luscious, fat, juicy flower buds, all ready for next spring! Next spring should be a bumper year for flowers on the rhododendron bushes as long as we don’t get a drought and then they would abort them all. Usually I am having to fling buckets of water onto my rhododendrons to try and save the buds, but no need to this year, thanks to all our rain over the past six weeks or so.
My six are as follows……..
no 1
So, I will start off with showing the lovely buds on the rhododendron in the back corner of the garden. The bush is covered with lovely fat buds which hold so much promise for next spring.
No 2
Looking lovely in the border by the field at the moment, is Lilium speciosum rubrum, she had flopped somewhat in all the rain, so needed propping up to be seen properly.
No 3
We can’t deny that summer is rushing by when conkers are developing on the horse chestnut trees in the garden.
No 4
Hydrangea paniculata Kyushu is shining out of a dark corner in the back garden, lovely flowers.
No 5
Epimedium Amber Queen is having a second flowering in the border by the woodland archway.
No 6
Also in the border by the woodland archway is one of the Anemone japonicas, bought such a long time ago, the name has vanished! It makes a nice splash of pink though.
We have had lots of rain overnight and I think we are in for a very wet day today, thank goodness I took my photos yesterday while the weather was behaving itself! My Canadian visitors have now gone but they did find the lily that they sent me a few years ago and were pleased to see that it was still flowering.
Thanks to Jim once again at Garden Ruminations for organising us all, if you want to see gardens from around the world, then do pay him a visit.
A great selection as always. Bit alarming to see the conkers though – summer is certainly rushing by!
Yes, Graeme, conkers equal autumn in my book, I’m not ready for it yet, I feel we haven’t had a proper summer yet!
Lovely and varied selection. I’ve done a lot of complaining about the weather this summer too, but you’re right, it will benefit some plants. Your rhododendron looks so healthy – I haven’t paid much attention to mine recently, I’ll have to go and see how the buds (if any!) are progressing. Gorgeous anemone!
I lost 3 rhododendrons last summer Catherine, so was very pleased to see such a lot of large flower buds on my surviving shrubs, it should be a good year next year! Hope you find plenty of buds on yours.
Oh, if we could control the rain, Pauline. We haven’t had as much rain as you in the last month and it missed us recently. The past two days were cloudy and full of promise for showers that never came. Glad your rhododendrons will be amazing next year. I like your hydrangea. Such a delicate one.
You keep sending the rain over to us Susie, so kind of you! The hydrangea is a variety that needs cutting back quite hard and flowers on wood produced this year, you are right , it does look delicate compared to the others, but is quite hardy thank goodness.
Conkers and epimediums are an usual juxtaposition, The season does seem to be rushing on. All the rain is saving us a lot of hard work but it would be nice to have a break from it. Lovely plump bud on your rhododendron.
They are an unusual combination aren’t they Liz, I don’t think the Epimedium has tried autumn flowering before, if it has, then I’ve not noticed it. It is nice not to have to lug heavy watering cans around the garden, and leave it all to nature for a change.
Amazing lily and Hydrangea, they like your rain. 🙂🌸
Thanks Sarah, I think the lily could do with less rain, but the hydrangea is very happy!
Good to see the rhododendron doing so well! I lost two this spring but now that it’s been wetter one which o thought was a goner still has a little spark of life to it, so we will see.
Yes, I’m not happy about how quickly this summer has flown by. We have been having some cool night recently and it’s not what the tropical want, so my fingers are crossed for a few more hot spells!
I lost three last summer Frank but still have five that are looking good and one that might make it or might not! I think more warm weather is on the way for the second half of August, I hope so, we deserve it!
Love that hydrangea, it is so delicate.
It looks far more delicate than the big mopheads doesn’t it Noelle, just as tough though.
Must go and check on buds on my rhododendrons Pauline, as we haven’t had it as wet as you! I am surprised you could spot these epimedium flowers as foliage usually hides them if they haven’t been trimmed – or this late in the season too, I guess.
The epimedium flowers are standing quite proud of the foliage Cathy, but I’ve not known them flower twice before.
Conkers already??? Lovely, especially the white hydrangea.xxx
Yes Conkers Dina and lots of them, there are lots of berries getting their autumn colour too, it’s just around the corner!x