The schools here in Scotland are now on summer vacation. Niece and Nephew sitting is now underway. As activities are usually weather dependent, this week we have been paddling down in the river and around local ponds feeding the ducks, in fact anything that involves water has been their favourite things to do this last fortnight. The local children seem to have formed a sort of rota system amongst themselves - a different garden everyday. Parents, grandparents and others like myself all taking turns at supplying a means to keep them cool and entertained. Pools, hoses, waterguns and water balloons being the most popular.
It's not only been the children that have been in much need of water - the plants in the garden are feeling the strain. In a normal year, growing conditions in my garden would be best described as moist and well drained with odd patch of not so well drained, therefore the plants I grow could hardly be described as 'Drought Tolerant' - this is however the situation my garden is in right now and I just have to keep on top of watering, like it or not!
Having said all that - there is plenty going on, please join me and other gardeners around the world on this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a meme kindly hosted by Carol over at May Dream Gardens on the 15th of every month.
The Roses are now well on their way. The Wedgewood Rose climbs it's way over my seated arch, Rosa Warm Welcome grows against the shed and Rambling Felicite Perpetue grows on wires against the back fence.
Shrubs in flower right now include
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| x Halimiocistus sahucii |
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| Deutzia x hybrida Strawberry Fields |
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| Philadelphus Belle Etoile |
There are cool blues
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| Erigeron, Scabious, Clematis, Lupin, Campanula, Phlox, Aconitum, Salvia and Delphiniums in all shades of blue |
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| Dianthus, Sidalcea, Trifolium, Sanguisorba, Astrantia, Geranium, Phlox, Dicentra, Primula, Lilies, Cirsuim and Geranium |
Crisp whites and yellows
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| Primula, Dutch Iris, Peony, Leucanthemum, Centaurea, Dicentra, Heucherella, Trifollium, Aconitum, Primula and Astilbe |
Heucheras have started flowering too - the best of the bunch are not looking to bad in the heat.  |
| Heuchera Jade Gloss, Plum Pudding and Black Beauty Heucherella Alabama Sunrise, Heucher Crimson Curls and Binoche |
The Primula making it's blog debut this month is Primula florindae (Red Form). It's common name is Giant Tibetan Cowslip. It requires a moist (or bog garden) sunny spot. Growing most Primula requires that the soil is kept reasonably moist. They soon show signs of wilting if they are left to dry out. This plant not only looks great it has the addition of a cinnamon scent! It smells delicious!!
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| Primula florindae Giant Tibetan Cowslip |
Finally.....
Do you ever take a stroll around the garden and get the 'I'm very pleased with how that's turned out' feeling? I have to admit that I don't get that very often and if I do it's been more accidental planting rather than a meticulously planned combination.
Let me share with you all one of those moments. Accidental it may be but I do like it! The Euphorbia was destined for the compost bin a few weeks ago and the Alstromeria and Scabious are only there because they almost drowned in flooding last year and I had nowhere else to put them!
I would like to thank you all for joining me this month and hope you are all having a wonderful summer.
The last picture I would like to share with you all is not one of blooms in my garden but a snap shot of our evening stroll around Blackford Pond here in Edinburgh.
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| Swan, Cygnets, Ducks and Gulls Blackford Pond, Edinburgh. July 2013 |
