Summer rolls on

Posted on 25th July 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Hot weather was great for some

The hot weather in July was a mixed blessing. It was lovely to have day after day of endless sunshine. All that Vitamin D is good for us as long as we continue to smother ourselves in suncream. But it was too hot to sleep at night. My plants and I were both wilting.

Some flowers do well in a heatwave but most would prefer something a little cooler and damper.

Plan garden changes now

If global warming means we should expect more hot weather we should start planning changes to our gardens now.

Plants which thrive in hot weather include hemerocallis, phlox and verbascum. I have some wonderfully hemerocallis. I particularly like Chicago Royal Robe which is a delicious maroon. Frans Hals is also striking with its apricot yellow and mahogany red markings.

Phlox are much less showy. Try Clouds of Perfume with its powder blue flowers. Or go for the highly scented White Perfume.

Try verbascum for height

If you want some height in your garden try a verbascum. Helen Johnson with its beautiful rusty peach flowers is a firm favourite of mine.

Other sun lovers include eryngium and echinacea.

Grasses like sun

If we continue to have long hot summers I will plant more grasses. Imperata Cylindrica Rubra is a must. It is the only grass with truly red leaves. Stipas are also good. Gigantea is a giant feather grass with grey green leaves.

Planted on its own it is a stunning addition to any garden. If you want a grass which shimmers and gleams plant Stipa Tenuissima. It looks like dozens of ponytails swaying in the breeze.

Endless watering

The hot weather has meant a lot of watering. I am very careful not to waste water. I have water butts and use drip systems. But my thirsty plants still drink gallons.

Courgette glut

The hot weather has produced mixed results on my vegetable patch. The onions have started to bolt. I have pulled them out. They are still good to eat but won’t store very well. After a slow start I now have a glut of courgettes. I have made chutney, courgette cake and given loads away. I still have a mountain of them. A friend has suggested making courgette jam. I’m not convinced but will give it a go.

Wimbledon misses a trick

I was very lucky to win tickets for Wimbledon in the public ballot this year. The tennis was magnificent. The flowers were stunning. The organisers have missed a trick though. If the tournament was a month earlier, they could have used lupins. Blacksmith and Cashmere Cream would have fitted in perfectly with the colour scheme perfectly.

Gardening tips – Water, water and then water again but don’t waste any. Start planning next year’s garden displays. Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms. Encourage seed pods on annuals you want to grow from scratch next year. #rain #hemerocallis #phlox #verbascum #eryngium #echinacea #grasses #stipas #flowers #lupins

NGS and other garden openings

Posted on 27th June 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Tis the season of open gardens

What a fabulous success the Jubilee weekend was. There were village lunches, fetes and concerts. Beacons as far as one could see. But, the highlight was the open gardens.

Around us dozens opened their gates to the public. Many for the first time. It was wonderful to be able to see these hidden gems.

Simply stunning

Some were simply stunning. Beautifully manicured with no sign of a weed or mildew. Others had aphids, slugs and black spot. It didn’t matter. This was a chance to peek over the garden walls and delight in the flowers and vegetables that were on display.

Fabulous lupins

It was wonderful to see so many lupins. One garden had ranks of Persian Slipper, Rachel de Thame and Blossom. The pastel shades of blue and pink really complemented each other. In a tiny cottage garden I spotted a magnificent red display consisting of Beefeater, Red Rum and Towering Inferno.

Elsewhere I saw Terracotta, Salmon Star and Masterpiece. It was great to see so many gorgeous lupins on my visits.

Other gems

Other gems in the open gardens included geraniums, astrantia and geums.

Tallest ever echiums

There were also the tallest echiums I have ever seen. They must have been well over three metres high. Their blue and pink spires were absolutely covered in bees. Truly magnificent.

As well as the flowers I enjoyed looking at people’s vegetable plots. I was reassured to see that my spinach was not the only one to have bolted.

Enjoying the warm days

It has been lovely to have some warm days. I do like sitting outside. First thing in the morning I take my tea out to a peaceful corner of the garden. I sit there watching the blue tits harvesting greenfly from my roses. Feeding their broods is a never-ending job. It might not be efficient as using chemicals but it is much better for all concerned.

I love the smell of early morning. The sweet perfume of lonicera wakens my senses. I have Simonet and Tellmanniana both of which are delightful.

Mid-morning coffee

If I get a chance I’ll have a coffee under the pergola mid-morning. It is currently draped in clematis flowers. The light-purple of Amethyst Beauty complements the deep pink of Barbara Harrington.

In the evening I might have a cheeky glass of wine in the sun.

Lovely country wedding

Last weekend I helped a bride decorate the church with flowers. She had grown them all herself. There were enormous creamy-white ammi. Beautiful cornflowers provided splashes of blue and purple colour. Glorious sweet peas gave a heavenly scent. The only things missing were lupins. But then I would say that!

Gardening tips

Feed tubs and hanging baskets regularly. Stake tall plants to prevent wind and rain damage. Plant out annuals and summer bedding. Start sowing seeds for next year’s flowers.

#gardens #flowers #warm #lupins #geranium #clematis #lonicera #echium #astrantia #geums

Platinum Jubilee flowers

Posted on 24th May 202221st October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Celebrate the Jubilee with flowers

At the beginning of June the nation will be celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. I can think of no better way of celebrating than with flowers.

We’re celebrating the Jubilee here with an Open Day at the nursery on Friday, June 10th. Come and see us between 10am and 3.30pm. The lupins will be in full bloom and there will be lots of plants for you to buy.

Flower festivals

Up and down the country there will be flower festivals to mark the Jubilee. There’s one near here and I have the porch to decorate.

Good colour scheme

I’m quite lucky with the colour scheme. We have been told we can use any colours associated with the Queen for inspiration, I could go with silver and purple to complement the Platinum Jubilee bunting I have bought. Or, red, white and blue would reflect the national flag. If I don’t fancy those I could choose any of Her Majesty’s gorgeous colourful outfits for inspiration.

I think I will aim for a little bit of everything.

Lupins are the best

The best flowers for the festival are definitely lupins. For purple I can choose between Blacksmith, King Canute and Shirley Anne. Silver is more difficult but I could always pop a Cashmere Cream in the mix.

Red, white and blue is easy. Red Rum and Tequila Flame for the reds. Snow Queen and Polar Princess for the whites. And Persian Slipper for the blues.

I liked the bright yellow outfit the Queen was wearing for her trip on the Elizabeth Line. Desert Sun is the perfect match.

Need other flowers too

However tempting I can’t just use lupins. I will be turning to Geranium Orion for purple. Deschampsia caespitosa Golden Dew for silver.

Phlox divaricata Chattahoochee has bright blue flowers with a red centre. Imperata cylindrica Rubra will provide more red and give some structure to my display. There will be blue from the salvias, especially Cacaliifolia and Black and Blue.

Hopefully with all these at my disposal I will be able to make a suitable arrangement.

Thank you for the rain

The recent rain has been welcome. Everything was getting very thirsty. The rain has encouraged many plants to bloom including geums.

Geum Poco is a riot of golden yellow flowers.

Gardening tips – Cut back the foliage of flowering bulbs if it has completely died down. Plant summer bedding, including astrantia for colourful displays through to autumn. Keep tender seedlings and young plants watered. Keep an eye out for #colour #lupins #flowers #plants ##dierama #phlox #geum #salvias #geraniums

Summer Rain

Posted on 24th August 202121st October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

August washout

Well, August hasn’t been a roaring success. It has been distinctly cold. We’ve had endless drizzle punctuated with dramatic downpours. On the plus side watering has been a lot quicker than usual. Maybe we’ll be blessed with an Indian summer.

Church flowers

It was my turn to provide the altar flowers in church at the beginning of August. The week before my arrangement was due my garden was full of blooms. There were dahlias, roses, astilbes and verbena. It was a riot of colour. Then the rain came. It poured and poured.

The dahlias drooped. Rose petals turned brown. Everything was sodden. But I was determined to find something to display. And, I did.

Herbs to the rescue

Herbs came to my rescue. Beautiful tall mint stems with delicate purple flowers. Fragrant marjoram and thyme with maroon petals. It was an unconventional arrangement but it smelt wonderful. Infact, I was so impressed with the mint I have been picking fresh sprigs to have in a vase inside ever since.

Astrantia major ‘Florence‘ excellent cut flower

Spring bulb planting

My cyclamen is in flower. It makes a beautiful purple carpet under the trees. It is also a reminder to start planting bulbs for next spring.

I think I will try some Erythroniums next year. Such beauties are found at Greencombe gardens in Somerset should you be passing

New lupins

I’m also planting new lupins to replace some which the slugs have been over fond of. I was very pleased with our newcomer for this year, Melody. It had beautiful claret and blue blooms and a lovely peppery scent. Blacksmith has rich, deep purple spikes. Rachel de Thame is a delicate pink and cream whilst Terracotta is a light orange. They are all lovely.

Pots and baskets have put on a good display

My pots and baskets have put on a good display. The pelargoniums were gorgeous. I have two pink varieties, Clovelly and Appleblossom which have been particularly splendid.

Harvesting vegetables

The vegetable garden continues to provide a good harvest. I never know from one year to the next what will do well and what will wither and die despite my best efforts. This year’s beans and beetroot have been magnificent. But few of my carrots germinated. My red onions are monsters but the white ones are tiny. Vegetable growing truly is one of life’s mysteries.

Gardening tips – Start planning for next year. Dead head flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Divide perennials for even more colour next year.

#dahlias #summer #wet #autumn #plants #lupins #blooms #astilbe #verbena #colour #cyclamen

Little things

Posted on 28th July 202127th October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

The garden gives so much pleasure

I am getting so much pleasure from my garden. The early sunrises and my advancing years mean I am often up before everyone else in the house. But I don’t mind being on my own.

I like to sit outside with a cup of coffee. The air is cool. There is dew on the grass. And the birds ignore me. I have the place to myself to listen, watch and enjoy. It is my time.

So many birds

This morning a young thrush was looking for breakfast. A pair of robins were arguing. And mummy and daddy blackbird were frantically sourcing worms for their brood in the clematis.

Up high the sky was full of swifts, swallows and house martins. The swifts shriek as they fly overhead. Just like noisy teenagers.

None of the birds paid me any attention and that’s how it should be.

Heavenly scents

I love the scent of the garden in the early morning. Everything is so fresh. The honeysuckle has a wonderful perfume. It is full of bees and looks very pretty too.

Magnificent dahlias

The dahlias have been magnificent for weeks. If I keep deadheading them, they should last until the first frosts. I am very lazy and leave the corms in the ground every year. Almost all of them survive. I just need to keep an eye out for slugs and snails. If I do lose some, I have the perfect excuse to buy new ones next year.

Lupin displays

The lupins have given a marvellous display but they have come to an end now. I particularly liked the claret and china blue flowers of Melody. It has a wonderful mossy, peppery scent. It contrasted well with the purple and orange flecked Masterpiece. Red Rum is also very colourful.

Plan for autumn

Now is the time to think about what will look good in your garden going into autumn. Agapanthus are always a good bet. Big blue has large blue and white flowers.

Thunderstorms bring welcome rain

We’ve finally had some thunderstorms which have brought welcome rain. They’ve also encouraged the clover in the lawn to flourish. I really ought to get out on the mower, but the bees love the white and purple heads, so I’ll leave it a few more days.

Marvellous summer

Despite the disruptions of covid it has been a marvellous summer. Lots of sunshine and just enough rain to keep everything in top condition.

Returning to normal

It is good to be singing and playing in the orchestra again. Although with social distancing the conductor is a long way away and difficult to hear. At least that’s my excuse! I hope all the hospitality venues and small businesses are able to recoup some of their losses of the last 18 months. It has been a very difficult time for everyone. Let’s hope we are over the worst now.

Gardening tips – Start planning next year’s garden displays. Keep pots watered. Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms. Encourage seed pots on annuals you want to grow from scratch next year.#dahlias #summer #lupins #honeysuckle #clematis #agapanthus #bees #scent #rain