There’s been a chill in the air this week, and too much rain. It feels like late September and the plants don’t like it. I don’t like it either. Temperatures were hovering around 15C (59F) during much of the week, but it hasn’t been all doom and gloom, as Thursday was glorious. We took our two local grandchildren to the park in the morning, and then to the almost empty beach, where the ‘paddle’ that we envisaged they would enjoy became belly flops into the waves. They had fun…and deserved that time running, jumping and diving into the waves; at age six and almost-two yrs old, lockdown has been a difficult and confusing time for them as well as for grown-ups.
Today is another glorious day, and I’m determined to spend time sitting in the garden, enjoying the warmth, the buzz of the bees and perhaps the flutter of a few butterflies. I might deadhead, but I won’t pull a single weed. Honestly, I won’t. At least I’ll do my best not to pull weeds…
Goodbye Japanese Anemone ‘September Charm’
This is a large plant, currently covering about 3 metres, and far too large for the modest border it occupies. We reduced its size in early spring when it started to grow above ground, but now realise that it has to be taken up. This border is about to have a revamp so now is the time to be decisive and say goodbye to it.
I do have another ‘September Charm’ in a different part of the garden, which is also getting too large, but that’s a job for another day.
Lupin Tutti Frutti
I’m quite in love with this little lupin. It’s the second flower on this plant, and a nice surprise since I hadn’t expected any to bloom this year. They were grown from seed sown earlier this year and if they were all to turn out this colour I’d be more than happy. I have five plants but there would have been more if I hadn’t dropped the tray of seedlings in the greenhouse. It landed, of course, upside down. The five plants I now have were the last of the seeds, hurriedly sown.
I noticed yesterday that another plant is throwing up a couple of spikes – I’m hoping it will look just like this one.
Clematis ‘Amazing London’
The one small problem I’ve found with this clematis is that it has no tendrils (it was developed for flower arranging) and needs careful watching as it has to be regularly tied in. I wondered how I was going to tie it in when it reached its full height (2m/6ft 6in) but a nearby clematis took care of that for me, by attaching itself to ‘Amazing London’ and then to the top of the obelisk.
Japanese Anemone
This very pretty Japanese Anemone lives in my little woodland border. ‘Woodland border’ might give the impression that this garden has a woodland – sadly the garden isn’t large enough to accommodate even a tiny wooded area – this is the border at the back corner of the garden that leads into the grandchildren’s den (a project I’m still working on).
There’s a few trees and shrubs in the area, and it does give it a bit of a woodland feel when you’re up there.
But back to the anemone, I don’t have the name, though its label might be behind the plant (I think you might have read that in a few previous posts) and I’ll dig it out, possibly with many other labels, in the depths of winter.
My sister has been trying to persuade me (for years!) to keep a spreadsheet of plants in the garden, and its something I’ve never got round to dealing with. It is a good idea, perhaps I should tackle it… Do you keep a spreadsheet (or notes) of all your plants and their location?
Pink Phlox
The Phlox has been late to flower this year, but it’s performed better than the white phlox, which hasn’t appeared at all. I’m not sure of the variety, it was given to me by a friend a few years ago; I think it could be ‘Bright Eyes’ but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
Lewisia cotyledon
To finish today, my little Lewisia is in bloom again, I thought it had finished flowering, so I was pleased to see its vivid little flowers. I left it out last winter, in heavy clay, and you’ll recall how wet the winter was. I thought I’d lost it, but it recovered after I took it into the greenhouse and put it in a small terracotta pot. It’s been back out during spring, but I returned it to the greenhouse a few weeks ago; it was beginning to look bedraggled during our rainy summer. I think it likes the greenhouse better than the outdoors.
The new virus outbreaks are worrying, so avoid crowded places and stay safe everyone. Have a happy weekend!
ABOUT SIX ON SATURDAY
To join with other garden enthusiasts from around the world, just take six photographs and post them to Twitter and/or your blog each Saturday. You can get all the details from The Propagator who kindly set it all up.
All photographs copyright of Catherine Wood unless otherwise stated
Notes From My Garden 
There’s nothing quite like the frothiness and airiness of Japanese anemones at this time of year. You have captured them beautifully, Catherine. Your outing with your grandchildren sounds delightful!
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I’ve always enjoyed the anemones in this border, but it’s now time for change. I expect I’ll still be digging pieces of the plant out for some time to come, it’s not that easy to get rid of. 😁
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I’m also very fond of the Japanese anemones though they have to be approached with a certain caution as they are inclined to run about and have such deeply set roots that getting rid of them can be a problem. I like the gentle pink of ‘September Charm’.
Beautiful photographs!
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The roots have travelled through many nearby plants, and I’ve spent long hours over the years trying to get them out, only to find them creeping back again after a matter of weeks. Digging the plant up is only part of the story, isn’t it.
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I also love Japanese anemones – we have a bank of them beside the house. Gorgeous pictures.
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They’re great when you have the space to let them roam where they please. This one has dared to roam too far. 😁 You must let me see yours when you return to summer.
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Your photos are always so beautiful. Lovely phlox and I do like the anemones, but they make me feel a little bit sad as for me their blooming heralds the end of summer. Your trip our with the grandkids sounds wonderful. Have a great week. 🙂
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Thank you, Gill, I enjoy flowers and enjoy photographing them. Yes, it’s always a bit sad to see summer drawing to a close and the plants in the garden starting to fade. Let’s hope for a glorious autumn and a crisp and sunny winter.
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You took very nice pictures as usual and I still fall in love for the lewisias 😍
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Thanks Fred – lewisias have such perfect little flowers, it’s hard not to love them. Enjoy the rest of your holiday and take it easy in that heat. ☀️
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September Charm does look beautiful. So far the Japanese Anemones have behaved themselves in my garden – which is odd as I’ve been warned they can take over. The Phlox is very pretty – I’m sure it is Bright Eyes as I think I had one briefly (it got finished off my the slugs and snails when it was but a young thing). The lupin is lovely.
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They will spread in time Graeme – just watch out for the leaves pushing through the ground near other plants. They can be hard work when they start to move around the garden, but definitely worth having. Oddly the slugs & snails don’t seem to be too bothered with the phlox (they probably have too many other delights to feast on).
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Such beautiful colors today! Tutti Frutti looks interesting. I might have to give it a try from seed. Although I swore I wouldn’t add more to my list! But, then, I only answer to myself.
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Tutti Frutti is a multi-colour variety, Lisa. If you have a lot of them, then you will have a rainbow in the garden. I really wanted a nice lilac but was too late to get hold of any, so bought Tutti Frutti – one of its plusses is that it’s a very long-flowering lupin.
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I like the pink theme this week. I always think how good Japanese anemonies look in other people’s gardens, but disappointing in mine. I will persevere though.
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Oh, I feel that way often about other people’s plants! The beauties that grow in other people’s gardens that my garden won’t tolerate. I’m not too good at persevering though.
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I do keep a spreadsheet of all my plants though keeping it up to date seems to be beyond me. My memory for names is getting very shaky so I rely on it to remind me what things are. Labels go missing, get broken, fade. Which gets me wondering when I last did a backup of the spreadsheet, losing that would be a disaster.
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I think I could easily get a spreadsheet started Jim, but keeping it up-to-date would be more of a challenge. It’s a good thing to do, as my memory isn’t all that brilliant these days either, and if I could squeeze some free time into a wet winter day I’m sure I could produce something.
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I try to keep a planting plan of each area with the plant names on it, so I have a record of what is planted where. It’s amazing how quickly it goes out of date. I buy a new plant or move one and then don’t update the plan or I go to check a name of a plant for a Six on Saturday post and find I’ve not written down the variety name. I’m trying to label things more as well, but I’ve given up on white plastic labels and so called ‘permanent pen’ which fade to nothing within a season.
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A spreadsheet is a great idea, though I can see how easy it would be to miss one or two entries here and there, or now and again – then before you know it, you’re doubting its accuracy. That would be my downfall. I’m willing to give it a go – and if my sister is reading this, she knows she can hold me to that. 😁
By the way, I’ve used a Staedtler permanent garden pen for a couple of years now, and so far the ink is holding up fairly well. The plastic labels though are another story as they snap over time.
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I think your Japanese Anemone could be pamina. I have a young one and they are very pretty. I also have a bog standard one which does seem to be colonising the area where it is planted, but that’s OK by me. I just feel they are flowering a little too early this year! I love your pink theme this week and that Lewisia is gorgeous. As for keeping a note of plants I wrote up a list (under Garden Diary on my blog) of all the plants in each area of the garden, along with roughly drawn plans. I try to keep it up to date as plants die/get moved/replaced. I have notes all over various notebooks, but figured by putting them in one place they are easier to find! And saying that I must add some newcomers to the list!
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I’ve had a look at ‘Pamina’ and you could be right. Crocus sells it, and all the anemones that I have came from them. I’m always fairly diligent in placing the plant label directly behind the plant, but what I didn’t think about was that the plant would spread and swallow up the label, plus, any plants in front and beside, make access harder.
I had a free hour this morning so I started listing everything in the garden, and they’ll find their way into a spreadsheet, with as much detail as I can add. I think I’m like you – in as much as I have notebooks all over the place. I remember seeing your garden plan, and last week I made a sketch of the border that’s about to be revamped. I’m trying to think like Adam Frost and get all the planting down on paper before buying! But I don’t have his horticultural & design flair!
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I saw some lovely borders in a NT garden today. I am soooo envious. If only I could get my raised beds to look like those.
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I know how you feel! I haven’t been out visiting any gardens for months – but I have a folder on my desktop full of screenshots of fabulous borders that I see on Chelsea, Gardener’s World and elsewhere. One day…perhaps..! 😁
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Oh I hope that you did make time to just sit and stare Catherine. Why is it that dropped seed trays always land upside down just like buttered toast? That little lupin is a gem. I’m not sure whether I still remember how to put a spreadsheet together but I do regret not keeping more comprehensive records over the years of what plants I’ve bought and where from as well as having notes relating to the ones that have generously been given to me by family and friends.
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Sitting and staring was a nice thought, my husband (on such a lovely warm sunny day) decided to re-felt the summerhouse roof, which is, of course, a two-man job. So he was up one ladder and I was up another… 😕
I’ve started a spreadsheet, but filling it is going to be a bit of a slog. If I can complete that part of it I think I should be able to keep updating it. Time will tell.
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a very pink six this week! good luck with your spreadsheet and garden organising, sounds very, well, organised. those are my instincts too but i end up just winging it.
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Yes, there’s a lot of pinks everywhere in the garden – I need to get a bit more adventurous with colour. The spreadsheet has been started, the upkeep might be another story. 😁
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Your photos of the windflowers are beautiful! I have a couple of plants but they do not seem to be growing well and have not flowered. I think I had better give them a little more attention this coming spring/summer and hopefully They will reward me with some flowers! I do love the colour of the Phlox – which is yet another plant on my must have list, and I have already found a supplier, so should be placing an order soon. Mmmm. I started a basic list of plants a while ago, but then felt i should incorporate more detail about each plant. It is a tedious chore, but I hope that I will eventually get it done! Good luck with your spreadsheet!
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Don’t give up on your anemones. I’ve found that they take a while, sometimes a couple of seasons to flower after they’ve been moved, or after they’ve been first planted – but when they start to flower, they’re worth the wait.
I’ve started a spreadsheet, but agree that it’s a chore, and I guess I’ll have to persuade myself every so often to work on it.
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I will definitely persevere with the windflowers. Thank you for the encouragement. Oh boy! I can relate to the spreadsheet chore….to be saved for miserable weather days!
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The lupin is a pretty thing. Pity that Murphy’s Law applies to seed tray spills, just like buttered toast falling buttered side down!
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Incidents pertinent to Murphy’s Law are regular occurrences in my garden. 😐
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