Itchy Fingers


 

August

 
 
 

 

July

 

On the face of it, not a huge amount has changed.

The Verbena in the foreground is almost over. The beautiful rose, ‘Alpine Sunset’ at the opposite end is having a bit of a rest too, although she does sport another couple of buds. Perhaps the most noticeable difference is that the sun has gone in. That’s been the story of August this year.

 
 
 

 

Persicaria ‘Orange Field’, Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Lacey Blue’, Echinacea ‘Pow Wow White’, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’

 

I’ve done a bit of work at the far end of the lower level, clearing away a barrow load of ivy and relocating some of that London Pride. I wanted to put some colour into this area which, together with the sedum when it blooms, will create more late summer interest. Although it gets full sun all afternoon, this end of the terrace lies under the canopy of an enormous spruce tree. It is one of the drier places in the garden, hence the irrigation.

There’s plenty of room for all of the new arrivals to fill out and I suspect I’ll be dividing the Persicaria sooner rather than later, but it looks good in that spot for now. In the photo below it positively glows through the gloom, even in soft focus.

 
 
 

 

Sedum

I’ve no idea which variety this is, it came with the territory. The recipient of a Chelsea Chop back in May, it is satisfyingly compact and covered in buds. Insects have found it already.

 
 
 

 

Verbena rigida

Web building in progress.

 
 
 

 

Sempervivum ‘Pacific Hazy Embers’

In late Spring I planted a sempervivum vertically in a crack in the lower terrace wall. The experiment seems to have worked. Back in May it was just a single large rosette with a few tiny offsets. It’s had a spritz with a water spray every few days during really hot weather, but otherwise it fends for itself.

 
 
 

 

We bought this Dahlia as ‘City of Alkamaar’

Everywhere I’ve looked online describes this cultivar as apricot-orange. Which clearly it isn’t. Although there may be an orange flush developing at the base of the petals, just visible above.

 
 
 

 

The Hydrangea has deepened in colour and is starting to fade.. beautiful.

 

But didn’t I resolve, only just last month, to leave the terraces alone now? Shut the tools in the shed and throw away the key? Those were the words I think I used. The trouble is those fingers of mine they have been a-twitching.

 
 
 

 

The bright red azalea really would add a lift to that dark back corner in Spring.

Except the whole scene might then become bottom heavy. So I’ve been thinking about those two yellow variegated grasses, Hakonechloa macro ‘Aureola’. It’s time they were divided. Some bits could move up a level maybe, and the rest go towards starting a new drift up on the bank. I watched them this week, in the autumnal gale late summer breeze, performing their mexican wave. It’s exactly the sort of movement I’d love to see cascading down the slope.

The geums on the top level also want dividing. And the Lily of the Valley needs bringing back under control.

All of this will open up more gaps.. just in time for the autumn plant sales?

 
 
 

 

Salvia patens

 

.. My name is Jessica and I’m a compulsive plant shifter.

 

Linking up with Helen’s End Of Month View (here) at The Patient Gardener’s Weblog. Click through to find out what other gardeners are up to this month.