My little front garden, which is in much need of inspiration, planning and plants. The front garden differs enormously from the side and back gardens. It has very well drained soil, full of stones and gravel. This tends to be the place where I stick struggling plants or impulse buys.
As a testament to just how well drained the soil is - these Gladioli have survived here for the last 4 years. An impulse buy at the time, I wasn't fussy if they survived not! Gladioli surviving in the open ground in Scotland over winter is certainly not the norm! They have even been joined by a self set Lavender seedling. For the moment I have to live with this combo. The gladioli grows up through the middle!
Variegated Weigela 'Kosteriana' has thrown out a couple of late blooms.
 |
| Weigela Kosteriana Variegata |
My shady side garden is a mass of foliage in different forms and colours for most of the year - Hosta Halcyon is just holding onto the last blooms.
 |
| Colchicum autumnale |
You all know what this is don't you? Well, I didn't!! I was handed a large pot of green strappy leaves a few years back. 'Purple flowers' my brother told me. A gift from his neighbour who didn't know what they were called either. Each year, the leaves grew and produced no flowers. Earlier in the summer, I decided that they were never going to amount to much so they had to go. I must have missed one of the corms. Not one of my finest garden moments! Unaware of their beauty they were relegated to the huge compost bin in the sky! I wonder do any of you know will they naturalise from a single corm or would it be wise to purchase more?
The border which holds my teeny tiny wildlife pond has had a good old tidy up and there are a few blooms to share this September. Lupins, Astrantia and Ajuga all flowered earlier in the year, it's nice to see their flowers again.
 |
| The yellow waxy blooms of Kirengeshoma palmatum Ajuga Burgundy Glow with a late flush of blooms. |
 |
| Astrantia major Ruby Wedding flowers again. |
 |
| Lupin and a rescue pot of Rudbeckia |
 |
| Persicaria microcephala Red Dragon with Geranium himalayense Gravetye scrambling through the stems |
 |
| A single Primula vialii bloom lost amongst a mass of foliage |
 |
| Heuchera Binoche extends the season by flowering again |
 |
| Sedum unknown variety |
 |
| Very poor picture of a new purchase Sedum Red Globe |
 |
| Clematis Ville de Lyon |
 |
| Clematis Josephine |
 |
| Helenium, Persicaria and others in the hot bed |
 |
| Lemon scented Pelargonium |
Note the Lemon scented Pelargonium in the pot - I successfully brought this through winter last year with high hopes for this year. It's been rather disappointing and is only just flowering now. Anyone else growing these? I'd appreciate any tips - I did wonder if the late start to the year might have been the problem.
 |
| Rosa Warm Welcome |
Around the arbour The Wedgewood Rose flowers again - I share with you a shot taken a few days ago, they've probably been decimated by wind and rain today.
 |
| Rosa The Wedgewood Rose |
 |
| Rosa Happy Times |
 |
| Monarda and various Phlox paniculata |
 |
| Cardoons, Sedums, Potentilla, Anemone, Verbena, Achillea, Salvia and Astrantia |
Until summer 2012, red tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius) regularly visited my garden in their numbers. I considered myself lucky that they had chosen to nest underground amongst the shrubs in a particular part of the garden. Sadly, this area was flooded last year. I witnessed the Queen making her bid for freedom. She was drenched and I would imagine pretty well exhausted. Not wanting to interfere with nature, I watched as she recovered and dried out. It took a good few hours for her to fly away.
As the months passed this year, I had made not one single sighting of these creatures. Not only did I scour my own garden - I asked neighbours if they minded joining in on our own personal Bee Watch. Until a couple of weeks ago, none of us had a positive sighting. Sitting on the back step, something black flew straight by my nose! I closed my eyes, not daring to wish for fear of disappointment. This disappointment was not to be! A lone bee flitted about flower to flower. I daren't move for fear of frightening it off. Having spent an good while feeding off it flew.
They may not have returned in their droves but there has been one or two visiting every day. I'm so pleased they have come back to visit my garden!
Have a happy Bloom Day! I'm off now to see what everyone else has blooming!
