Whilst there are certain areas of the garden looking reasonably tidy, like the left hand Lavender Bed above, the majority of the garden is in a state of chaos, like the right hand one below. Not only is this bed full of self seeded Lychnis coronaria and Verbena bonariensis corpses, but sadly it’s also pretty full of couch grass. I think a big dig is called for.
The Swing Beds are also looking almost completely devoid of colour, although they are now marginally tidier than the photos below as I did some chopping back at the same time as planting some Dichelostemma ida maia bulbs, bought from the Avon Bulbs sale. Hope they’re not in too late!
I still havent tackled the climbing roses as I think gauntlets and a ladder will be required.
The grass beds have had the Zinnias and a few lingering Verbascum pulled pulled out, and are now back to the bare bones of the Stipa tenuissima along the back, with a muddle of forget me nots and self seeded Cerinthe major in front (and let’s be honest, in the path). I’ve added a few more Narcissi in this bed, but it does makes me a bit sad to think I’ll be waiting until April for anything to happen.
The Mid Century Bed is probably the most colourful with the Salvia ‘Dyson’s Scarlet’ and Rhodochiton atrosanguineus still blooming well, albeit rather manically.
One thing I am excited about in this (easterly) end of the garden, are my Agapanthus grown from seed planted at the back of the strawberry bed. Although they didn’t flower this year (others planted in front of the greenhouse did) they’ve grown enormously and I’m hoping they will like the reflected heat from the wall and bloom next summer.
At the other end of the garden the Bronze Bed has nearly been put to bed. The ‘Happy Single Date’ Dahlias which provided so many blooms and so much pleasure this year still haven’t died back, but they do seem to have finally given up flowering. They’ll be nothing else in this bed until the Hamamelis flowers in February.
However, behind the Bronze Bed, the Melianthus major is madly continuing to produce new leaves.
Other sources of hope and optimism are provided by late season cuttings (or perennial seedlings awaiting a permanent home),
bulbs
and early sweet peas in the greenhouse.
as well as perky succulents.
They’ve been moved under the glass verandah, but are probably in need of being properly inside if continued perkiness is to be assured!
With thanks to Helen at the Patient Gardener for hosting everyone’s End of Month Views.
Duver Diary 