June is full of surprises... each day the garden looks different. I was away for a few days and suddenly the garden seems to have come to life with flowers everywhere; some plants showing some dominance by spreading and taking over areas; other plants showing weakness and losing their ground. There are lots of buds and lots of growth (including lots of weeds).
It seems the warmer weather combined with rain showers have really provided good growing conditions. Here's what's currently making a show...
Left and below: Aquilegia / Columbine grown from seed a few years ago.
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| Did you spot the bee? |
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| Of course my cat 'Ginger' likes to walk with me as I take photos. |
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| Above: I love the purple/blue and bright pink Geranium. These were divided and moved to new areas in the garden last Spring, and they seem to have established well. |
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| Above: The lupin seem to have suddenly come into flower and already need some old flowers removed to help prolong their flowering period. |
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| The poached egg plant / Limnanthes Douglasii (originally introduced to the garden 2 or 3 years ago by seed ) are a hardy annual that self seed and establish their dominance in the borders. They must like heavy clay soil. |
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| Above: I find it interesting that poppies establish themselves every year in the tiniest of cracks in between the paving slabs. |
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| Above: Rose 'Arthur Bell' surrounded by Poached Egg Plant and pink Geranium. I generally don't spray roses with chemicals, hence the black spot on the lower leaves. |
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| This is one of the borders I haven't much time to look after, however, sometimes plants just look after themselves. |
Here's hoping July and August are as lovely as June!
Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.
Ginger looks like she may enjoy the garden as much as you. Love lupins and the geraniums are fantastic. I might have to se if I can't get some to grow in my patch
ReplyDeleteOur poached egg plants are over and done with now. hardy geraniums are just so obliging aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your gardenwalk with Ginger as companion. It gives such more pleasure when our animals are with us in the garden, I think. Except in spring, borders do not need to be looked after so much I think. Summer is to enjoy the beauty of our previous work, hardy geraniums are always nice and the poppies and aquilegias who selfseed on unexpected places are most beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh your garden is lovely & colorful,I have one white lupin open in the front, the rest are yet to open,they are ever so slow to open my flowers this year.
ReplyDeleteI've moved quite a few geraniums and they always do well, they don't seem to mind whatever you throw at them. The poached egg plant is obviously enjoying conditions in your garden.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely this month! I agree, I need to get out in the garden every day otherwise I may miss something.
ReplyDeleteYour garden does flourish. We are noticing around here that all of our spring moisture really helped.
ReplyDeleteI agree that many plants look after themselves other than to dead head and divide when necessary. You have an Arthur Bell rose, too! I hope ours gets established once we decide where to put it.
ReplyDeleteSo many lupins...I just love them and their colors, and Geranium is even prettier.
ReplyDeleteDo poached egg plants come in any different color? I think they would love my soil here (also heavy clay) but I have issues with yellow color/flowers :D
I've never seen the poached egg plant in any other colours.
DeleteA beautiful post of lots of lovely flowers. Your garden is an artist's dream!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelli, your garden looks just glorious despite your absence! I would wish I could say that of mine. I have been gone for two weeks (to England, actually) and my garden looks like a mess... I better use my last day off to get out there and bring things a little bit back to order :-)!
ReplyDeleteChristina
You have a riot of colour there as always, Kelli. That Poached Egg plant looks fit to take over the whole world! It is supposed to be very attractive to bees, so your garden really ought to be absolutely buzzing.
ReplyDeletePoached Egg plants like heavy clay soil, huh? I guess I'd better try it here, because that's just what we have.
ReplyDeleteThe garden's looking wonderful Kelli! I have Rose Arthur Bell too, and I love how yours is surrounded by the Poached Egg plant. It's a really pretty pairing.
ReplyDeleteHello I'm a new follower.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos of your flowers and your cat. Your garden looks lovely and I look forward to seeing more.
Julie :o)
Hi Kelli, its great to come home after a couple of days away and check the garden to see the difference!My lupins are slow but flowering.I love the Poppies growing through the cracks and if a few black spots on the lower leaves is the only blemish on an otherwise beautiful rose then non spraying is the way to go!
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