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Category: Gardening 2008 | Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:41 am

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It seems fair to say that our summer here is over before it's even began, weather-wise. Abnormally high rainfall and on the dry days, overcast and leaden skies. There have also been 'unsesonally high winds' which all together, has left the garden looking pretty bedraggled. There are some late flowerings but even these plants aren't having an easy time of it.





I've had mixed success with the 'black' plants. The Painted Fern comes and goes (currently 'gone') but the rhizomes should still be intact so hopefully next year, it'll come back stronger.

This dahlia is one of a pair but it's definitely had the better of the blooms; I realise now I should've restricted the flower-buds but Hey! it's all a learning curve!



But what is this...my beautiful 'black' cactus dahlia? No...





Interlopers!

Now, I'll be the first to admit that it is a lovely fiery red colour but - and I hate myself for my overblown tenacity at times - it's Not What I Ordered, Or Wanted! The upshot was, the bulb company have refunded me for that part of the order although I had originally requested replacements, if possible. So, I really can't fault them for that...Thank You J. Parker Ltd.

One new plant that has given me a lot of pleasure is this Golden Rod.



It was a clump that I was given and has proved really nostalgic as it was in our family garden when I was a child. It's my Mum and Nan whom I have to thank for my gardening interest, too, so that's a nice connection.

I wasn't planning to buy in any bedding plants this year but I when I found these Surfinia and garanium plants being sold at literally pennies, I had to give them a home. They looked very rain-battered at the store but they've really picked up with a bit of TLC.



I love the versatility of containers as you can just pop them anywhere to brighten up a space.

My overwhelmingly favourite plant this year has been my Amaranthus 'Ribbons and Bows'. I first saw these spectacular plants at my friend Sylvie's



and loved them. That's Sylvie with one of the three Arab horses she has bred; two are in their late twenties , which is a pretty phenomenal age for that breed.

Anyway, a few months after I'd admired Sylvie's Aramanthus plants, my gardening magazine gave away a packet of seed of the same type and I gave them a go.



The crimson red ones are my absolute favourites



but it's the lime green ones that have done better.



I have to admit, that those pics were taken a few days 'pre-Rupert' and he's since been out and about in the garden. He is notoriously difficult to capture on the move, photo-wise.





Well, as I say, Amaranthus before...and Amaranthus after!



But what little puppy could ignore those lovely fronds overhanging his head on the path? Not Rupert, certainly and I don't blame him. I was more concerned about accidental poisoning, as I noticed some chewed-up 'Gladi leaves at the same time but he doesn't seem to have come to any harm.






Last edited: Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:43 am

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Droopy wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:31 pm:

Your garden flowers look delightful, despite your strange weather. And Rupert is adorable. I think I could forgive him just about anything, that face is too sweet!

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eileen wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:59 pm:

Gosh where do I start!! I love your glads - mine didn't flower at all this year. All the flowers in your garden are lovely but the purple glad is my favourite.

What a beauty that Arab is. Your friend certainly knows how to keep horses to have two reach their late twenties.

Rupert is a bundle of energy and, no doubt, trouble, but I'd forgive that little fellow anything as he's just to cute. If I visited you you'd have a really hard job stopping me from taking him away with me.

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gardengater wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:07 pm:

What you have left is very pretty, Sharon. I hope to start some Amaranthus, but didn't have any blooms from my Dahlias and I didn't have a happy visitor to my beds like Rupert. What a sweet little fella.
Gardengater

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dooley wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:32 pm:

I love your dog. Even better than your flowers. We had one like him for a neighbor once. He was such a sweetie. He watched all the kids on the block play and if someone he didn't know come along he growled big time at them. Our own security guard. They are so beautiful. dooley

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glendann wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:29 pm:

Sharon We have golden rods growing wild here in Texas.All over the fields and along the roadway.They are very pretty.I love the Black flowers.Sorry the company sent the wrong plant but that one is for sure a beauty.The Amaranthus are so very different and the red ones are called Love lies bleeding.Before you take up the planr put a plastic bag over the head as you will have little plants everywhere.Both of them reseeds profusely.
Rupert is a real cutie .He seems like a bundle of entergy.

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sharon mc wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:18 pm:

Thanks everyone for your comments and Glendann, thanks for warning about seed-heads 'tho I wouldn't mind some springing up again. O Rupert; what can I say? He's very good; admittedly he's got space in the porch leading out to the garden-bit (enclosed!) but he's happy to amuse himself and is pretty quiet, 'cept for his 'Mad Moments'. He's a sweet little dog, true enough :)

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kuntrygal wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:29 pm:

Seems as though you still have many flowers. They are beautiful. And I love little Rupert with his blankie!

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Sjoerd wrote on Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:17 pm:

Wow-wee Sharon!...those atre some pics.
I enjoyed the picks very much but coupled with a great commentary the whole posting was an absolute delight to look at and read.
Thanks for this great posting ...and some of those flowers are absolutely to die for...Like that purple Glad-- Oh me, oh my!

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sharon mc wrote on Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:16 am:

That blanki is my Nan's old sheepskin coat! Disgraceful that it should be treated so shoddily by me :) but I thought it'd be safe, ie non-chewable! I'm so glad to be part of gardenstew; as well as sharing in other folks' gardening exploits, it's nice to share mine / ours.

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