Blending of the Seasons

Published on by Catherine

From the window, and it’s window viewing only at the moment for a couple of reasons, it looks as though the summertime fairy has touched the garden with her flower wand. Most of the roses are in bloom right now, opened out by the recent heat and rudbeckias, dahlias, fuchsia and asters add to the show. It’s a mix of autumn and summer. I know this won’t last too long, but at this moment in time, it’s there to be enjoyed.

But why window viewing? First, it’s pouring rain, secondly (and more importantly) there’s a large wasp nest in the garden. I won’t go near the garden right now, it’s September, they’re active and very aggressive. I’m keeping my distance until the nest has been removed. My husband had a double sting this week, and that’s enough of a warning for me.

As for the weather, our temperatures dropped to a very cool 13C yesterday and autumn sweaters are back in style. Summer has moved on until next year.

So this week’s Six on Saturday selection relies on a few photos taken earlier in the week, before the sting and the nest discovery.

Rosa Valentine Heart. I love, love, love this Floribunda. It flowers well throughout summer and when you expect it to be slightly exhausted by autumn, it produces another mass of blooms. It usually flowers well into October and onwards through November, holding its colour and form better than most others in the garden. Can I add any more? Yes – it has a beautiful perfume. End of gushing about Valentine Heart.

Rosa ‘Valentine Heart’. Look at the number of buds still to flower.
Valentine Heart – a great Autumn flowerer

Rosa ‘James Galway’. Like the rose above, it’s been in the garden for a long time, and both have made appearances on the blog. This rose flowers well in summer, not so floriferous in Autumn, but the flowers are attractive.

Rosa ‘James Galway’

Dahlia ‘White Ballerina’ is a pretty Waterlily-type, but I haven’t had many blooms from it, much the same as with most of my dahlias this year. I’m still trying to make up my mind about whether to continue with them next year. I’ll mull over it for a while, but I know I’ll probably be potting up tubers in March/April.

Dahlia ‘Ballerina’

Strawberry Runners. When my grandsons visited last month they helped with a few jobs around the garden. The oldest was trusted with my electric trimmer and cut back some perennials while the 15-year-old potted up strawberry runners. They’ve been detached from the mother plants and will be planted in threes into pots as soon as the roots fill the individual pots.

A few more were potted up more recently by my two grandchildren who live locally, aged 9 and 5 and those runners should be ready to detach – when the wasp nest has gone. More strawberries for next year.

Strawberry plants from runners

The Kettle. The old kettle that I bought at a garden fair many years ago is still sitting in the same spot, developing a bit more rust as the years drift by. Some people notice it and are curious, while others remain oblivious to its presence. I see it, I like it, and it’s staying.

The old rusty kettle

And here we are once again. Back to the beginning. This is Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Patricia Ballard’. What a crazy name. My tongue can’t cope with that, so I don’t use it. The plain and simple translation is Aster, or if you prefer, Michaelmas Daisy. Isn’t that prettier – and easier to say? The plant is about 1m high and flowers reliably. Bees love it. 🐝

Aster ‘novi-belgii Patricia Ballard’
Aster or whatever your preferred name is, this is a worthwhile autumn-flowering perennial.

Jim is our host for Six on Saturday, so be sure to visit his blog, Garden Ruminations and meet up with other contributors from far and wide.

Have a lovely week, whatever you’re planning to do!

27 thoughts on “Blending of the Seasons”

  1. I’m sorry you are confined to quarters, you must be champing at the bit! Your roses are beautiful. I was just saying we must get strawberries next year. You have done well to involve the little ‘uns, it will stand them good stead. Hope you are back to the garden very soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, yes, you must get strawberries! Picking and eating when they’re warm from the sun is a real treat.
      The little ones are good in the garden. The 9-year-old brings out her journal and writes down the names of the flowers and instructions on how to look after them. I’m impressed with her efforts.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Rosie. I see many varieties of asters on other blogs and they’re telling me I need to add a few more varieties to the borders. And maybe another helenium…

      Like

  5. Wasp stings are very painful. Already those of bees are annoying: I know that because I was stung 3 times this summer. Very pretty symphyotrichums and this rusty kettle found the perfect place!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I am lucky that my waspish neighbors seem to not be aggressive, though my favorites the Sphex spp., do fly in way that seems aggressive if you are not used to them. I guess social wasps that invest in larger nests spend more effort protecting them. Are they ground nesting wasps? Some of those can make very large nests if they find a spot that is undisturbed for long enough. Then one day you do…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They’re nesting in among our rhubarb plants and that’s making it difficult to get into the nest. The rhubarb has been left untouched for a good number of weeks to let it die back, so we didn’t notice any activity. But as you said, “Then one day you do”.

      Like

  8. Beautiful, beautiful Roses and Dahlias! Summer is mixing with autumn here in the Upper Midwest U.S. currently, too. It is a beautiful time of year, but I always feel a little sad when summer starts to fade. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your week ahead. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Beth. It’s been a mixed summer for us, but if we get some good autumn colour in the countryside, that will make up for it. I think perhaps your area gets some spectacular Fall colour? Have a lovely week.

      Like

  9. Valentine Heart looks lovely. It’s not a rose that I’ve come across before but I’m already wondering where I can fit some in. There’s always room somewhere. I’m happy to stick with the older and prettier names for plants too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Pauline. The first year I planted A. ‘Patricia Ballard’ it developed mildew, but since then there’s been no sign of problems. It’s turned out to be a strong and vigorous plant.

      Like

  12. Yikes about the wasps! Hope you’re able to get them removed soon, I remember avoiding half the garden several years ago for the same reason. The ruffled petal edges on Valentine Heart are so pretty, they look like they’ve been cut out with craft scissors 😀 I really like the shape of that kettle, the thick rust gives it an earthy texture that balances out all those leaves nicely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I believe the wasps have finally gone, Angela. Still a lot of buzzing going on around the garden, but I’m not seeing any wasps. I’m glad you like the old kettle – it’s a favourite of mine. 😁

      Like

  13. Oh I hope that you can escape soon Catherine! I understand your apprehension about venturing out having once had a wasp’s nest on my allotment plot. Your kettle looks just right sitting there. A most attractive aster and I’m in complete agreement with you about the name change.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes, I’m back working away in the garden and loving the release from the house! 😀

      I don’t seem to be able to get onto your blog – is there a problem with it right now, or is it just me?

      Like

      1. Glad to hear that you have managed to escape back out Catherine! My husband had to go into the loft at the weekend and what did he discover but a wasps nest 😱 We’re hoping that they died down soon. I think that Blogger and WordPress occasionally work at odds with each other. There may be issues at the moment as I’ve noticed a few anonymous messages with people then clarifying who they are in the bulk of their comment. It’s certainly not just you. I’ve been thinking about moving over to WordPress for some time now!
        P.S. Thanks for asking.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh, it’s bad enough having a wasp nest in the garden, Anna – but much worse to find one in your home! Hope you get rid of it soon!
          I used Blogger way back in the past, but, although WP can have it’s issues, I much preferred it to Blogger. Good luck making your decision!
          I’ll try your site again over the weekend and see if I can get into it.

          Like

Comments are closed.