We Abandoned the Garden

Published on by Catherine

It’s been a better week of weather for us here on the west coast of Scotland, with the best day being Monday and great for gardening – we had a lot to do. We unexpectedly had Littlest Grandson with us on that day (school summer holidays) and he gamely helped in the garden during the morning. At lunchtime, we asked him if he’d like to go to the beach. We knew the answer well before his face lit up with delight. We live only a few minutes from the beach but Monday was the first day where we felt it was warm enough to let him dig in the sand, paddle in the sea and of course, get an ice cream from the van.

So off we went with folding chairs for gran & grandad, a mat that we knew he wouldn’t sit on, a bucket & spade, and other paraphernalia that is needed for a couple of hours on the sand. It was the first beach day, but I hope it won’t be the last. Gardening duties were simply abandoned and it was worth it.

Six on Saturday has arrived again. Six photos. Don’t count. I’ll explain at the end.

Coreopsis. I planted two Coreopsis plants last year. One was ‘Early Sunrise’ the other, I don’t know, perhaps ‘Uptick’ but the name doesn’t ring any bells. I need to get back into the way of updating my spreadsheets when I add any new plant.

  • Coreopsis – possibly ‘Uptick’?
  • Planted Summer 2023

Rosa ‘de Rescht’ was planted as a bare root during Spring this year. I bought it because I have never had an Old Rose in the garden, it was a repeat flowerer and most importantly, it is very fragrant. I’d love to tell you all about the perfume, but so far it has evaded me. I’m sure that once there’s some prolonged wamth in the air it will bring out the scent. It’s currently growing in a large pot, in a temporary position.

Rosa ‘de Rescht’

Mixed planting. This is the deck area at the top right of the garden where the two plants above live. Our deck is at the back of the garden as that’s the area that catches the most sunlight. The Coreopsis is planted in the ground and Rosa ‘de Rescht’ is in its pot, not really blending in with anything. We’re working on this area at the moment and the rose will be rehomed later. You can’t see it, but between the Hydrangea and the rose, there is a stepping stone path that curves left and snakes into our grandchildren’s den beneath the trees.

The top right area of the garden

Philadelphus – mock orange. I wasn’t sure we’d ever see this Philadelphus again because we cut it back harshly, as I mentioned in a post last year. It’s pushing through the Berberis again, and I think I’ll have to put on some armour and get into the back of the Berberis to see how the Philadelphus is growing. I’d rather have the Philadelphus in that area, but the Berberis is huge and, as you’ll know very spikey! Wish me luck.

The forgotten Philadelphus

Dahlia ‘Creme de Cognac’. This is the first Dahlia of the year to flower. It looks lovely with its sunset shades, but the bloom sits on top of a six-inch stem. Not all hope is lost – that’s a taller stem rising out of the top of the photo. Whew!

Dahlia ‘Creme de Cognac’

Clematis ‘Marie Boisselot’. The flowers on this clematis are huge but the plant is strong enough to cope. I don’t provide any support for Clematis ‘Marie Boisselot’ she simply clambers up a tree and across shrubs. To my shame, I can’t remember when I last fed this one as it’s tricky to get into, but she’s been doing that hike up the tree for years now, without any help from me. With the aid of long loppers, she gets chopped back in early March.

  • Huge 20cm flowers
  • A strong climber

Digitalis ‘Pink Panther’ is a hardy perennial that I bought a few months ago. At the moment it has only one stem, but there are new side shoots that should produce extra flower spikes before the summer is out…I hope. Pink Panther is currently growing in a pot and although it’s fully hardy, I’ll overwinter it in the greenhouse.

Foxglove ‘Pink Panther’

Rosa ‘Bonica’. Finally, here we are back at the rose image that started this week’s Six on Saturday. We had very heavy rain during the week and it fell without a break for 24 hours over two days. I went into the garden when it was over, expecting the worst. Roses and perennials were bowed and dripping and leaves and petals were everywhere on the ground but when I turned towards the greenhouse, this was what was there to greet me. I was taken aback by how many roses had bloomed and every single one of them appeared to be untouched by rain. It was as though they had been watered from the base and not above. Like all the other roses, ‘Bonica’ was pruned very hard earlier in the year, I wonder if this is my reward. Three Bonica rose shrubs are planted together alongside the greenhouse path.

  • Rosa ‘Bonica’
  • Dainty flower clusters
  • Flowers fade to almost white
  • Bonica flowers through October

If you’ve counted, you’ll know I’ve added in some extra photos this week. We have family arriving next weekend for a holiday. I won’t be able to post next week and possibly not the following week, so I thought Jim would forgive me for adding a few extras this week.

Here’s another little extra that I believe illustrates why it’s sometimes important to let go of the garden (or other projects), even when you’re aware that heavy rain has been forecast for the next few days and your project was important. 😊

Choices – getting it right.

To join in with Six on Saturday, or simply see other people’s gardens from across the world, link to Jim’s blog, Garden Ruminations.

Have a great weekend, wherever you are! 😊

29 thoughts on “We Abandoned the Garden”

    1. The perfume from the philadelphus isn’t very strong at the moment, I think it will take more heat to bring it out. I wonder if it will hold on that long…🤔

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        1. Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’ is growing beside the one I mentioned above, but hasn’t grown back from last year quite a strongly as the featured plant. The one above could even be Coreopsis grandiflora SunKiss – I recall that it had ‘sun’ in its name. I need to find a box to store plant labels!!

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  5. Yup! Definitely worth abandoning the garden when you have that on your doorstep (not to mention the cute little boy). Your roses look so healthy! And floriferous as does the clematis. I planted a bare root coreopsis in May, but it doesn’t appear to have done anything. Looking at yours maybe I will try again with one already established. Enjoy your family time. I hope the sun shines for you.

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    1. I think that black spot is till going to win again this year, Jude. I’ve been picking off damaged leaves this afternoon and I’m concerned that by the end of next month the roses will be looking a mess – or leafless! I have planted a number of bare roots into pots this year and most have come to nothing – but I’m starting to wonder if I’ve maybe overwatered. I know that peat free compost looks dry on top but can still be very wet lower down. I wonder if I’ve been fooled by the appearance of the compost. 🤔 The coreopsis were bought in full growth from a garden centre last year.

      Hope you have a sunny week ahead too!

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      1. I know what you mean about peat free compost in pots. I’ve just emptied some pots of bulbs today and they were saturated from all the rain. I am surprised any bulbs were viable.

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        1. Some weeks back, Adam Frost mentioned on Gardeners’ World to be wary of overwatering pots containing peat free compost as they would be dry on the top, but wet underneath. 🤔

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  6. Excellent choice to visit the beach on a sunny day!

    I am a huge fan if digitalis, but I plan to plant a similar looking penstemon since I am trying to keep to native plants mostly, if for no other reason than it keeps me focused. Otherwise I would end up buying everything in sight and who knows where I would put it all! The dahlia is very striking also!

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    1. When the sun shines here, and there’s a warmth in the air, you’ve got to make the most of it! Otherwise it’s a lost opportunity. You’re much more disciplined than I am! Sadly, I’m one of those who buys and then wonders where the plants will go…

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  8. You definitely got your priorities right, that’s a fantastic picture of your grandson and one you’ll treasure for ever.
    The roses, in particular, are beautiful, but even they don’t beat the beach photo.

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    1. Thank you, Helen. When my family arrive next weekend, they will want to go to the beach too – one beach day has become a little tradition even though the two grandchildren are older. I’m hoping the weather doesn’t let us down! My 13yr old grandson wants to garden while he’s here – now there’s an offer I can’t refuse! Hope all is well with you! 😊

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      1. All good here thanks. I don’t think you’re ever too old for a beach day, I just hope the weather doesn’t let you down. A 13 year old wanting to garden? That’s definitely an offer you need to accept!

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  9. That last photo is such a good reminder to us gardeners that there are othr things in life that are equally if not more important than our garden! 😃 Your last rose really is lovely Catherine. Such a bonus if it can stand up to the elements. And the dahlia is a pretty colour. Hope you get more blooms and sunshine this week!

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    1. Very mixed weather ahead for this week though it was lovely yesterday – my idea of a perfect day. No wind, no sun (yes, seriously!) but lightly overcast and warm. I probably sat in the garden more than I worked in it! 😂

      We’ve scheduled a BBQ for the family arriving this weekend but the forecast isn’t working for us! Still hopeful though! I hope it’s not too hot in Germany.

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      1. Today was cool enough to work outside, but the weekend looks muggy and thundery again. The garden is loving the heat and humidity and is like a jungle this year! Hope your weather holds for the BBQ.

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  10. Like you we live by the sea. IT’s great to spend time with the grandkids on the beach. And yes, we do take a lot of paraphanalia with us. Hubby asks if we are moving house.

    Do you get the Ha there? (sea mist) How does it affect your plants?

    I see you also display your plants on the deck in pots. I find this more flexible than planting directly into the soil.

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    1. I’ve definitely heard that expression about moving house, from my husband too. 🤣

      I only remember the Haar (different name here) once or twice in this area. Some of my family live on the North East coast of Scotland where the Haar is a fairly regular happening. It turns a sunny warm day into a cold and often spooky day in a matter of minutes.

      All except a few plants are in the soil here, with a smaller amount in pots. There are two pots on the deck with roses. The others are on a slightly lower level and two sides of the deck is surrounded with plants in the ground. At some point I’ll have to try to get a photo to show.

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    1. I’m glad we went when we did as the weather has since deteriorated and I doubt if there will be any more beach days this ‘summer’. Autumn walks during Autumn and Winter will take over before we realise it!

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