The rain finally arrived in the wee hours of last Saturday morning. It rained throughout the day, that night and through the following day. It has continued to rain a lot this week with a couple of sunny days in between – but I’m sure you get the picture! The garden is now looking green and lush, and plants are responding well after 4 weeks of drought. The baked soil had been unsuitable for planting, but that’s all changed and we’ve managed to plant several new shrubs and perennials. Hopefully on Monday I’ll be able to start putting the seed-sown perennials and annuals into the ground too.
It’s cooler too, but I’m not complaining about that as it’s easier to work in – though I hope it warms up as we go into summer. I’m sure that no one on the northern hemisphere needs reminding that the first day of summer, if you go by the Meteorological calendar, is tomorrow. But if you don’t mind waiting another few weeks, the Astronomical start of summer is Saturday, 21 June 2025.
The plants have made up their minds about which season we’re in; roses are starting to bloom, and there are pops of colour all over the garden as buds start to open, most of them, just a little bit earlier than previous years.
It’s time now for this week’s Six on Saturday. Six photographs from the garden this week – see more info at the bottom of the post.
Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’: Apart from the lovely Rugosa rose ‘Hansa’ that bloomed two weeks ago, I’m happy to see that Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ has become the first rose to bloom this year! Just one flower has opened so far, but there are plenty of buds waiting to burst into colour. Rhapsody in Blue faced challenges with Black Spot in recent years, and last year I planted Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ near the base of various roses after hearing that they could prevent this fungal infection. Even though some of the salvias didn’t survive the winter, there’s a couple thriving beneath this rose. And so, the experiment has officially begun; I’m hopeful that these salvias will help protect this rose from infection! Time will reveal the outcome.
Allium ‘Purple Sensation’. Alliums have been growing in this area for several years, and now I can see that they’re starting to multiply. I deadheaded most after flowering last year, has that made a difference, I wonder?
Clematis ‘Marie Boisselot’ is climbing rapidly up a small tree earlier than usual. I love its huge white flowers, they’re so impressive, and brighten this usually shady area.
Odd Bedfellows. Chives, Geum and a Hardy Geranium are all mingling together in this little corner of a border.
Deutzia ‘Pink Pompom’ is a newly planted shrub that was delivered complete with flowers. It’s small and the flowers are packed together so the pompom effect isn’t seen. As long it’s happy in its spot in the border, it should eventually make a nice addition to the garden.
‘Geum Firestarter’ stands out among the other Geums with its bright red, semi-double, ruffled flowers. Another new introduction to the borders, it will take a year or two to bulk up. I’m beginning to appreciate the value of these little flowers in the garden. A few more are growing in pots from bare roots, and with the right conditions and probably a bit of luck I’m hoping to see their cheery blooms peeking out from behind, in front of, and between, other planting. I’ll have to make a point of regularly deadheading them to keep them flowering throughout the summer and into Autumn. Yes, there’s definitely a bit of Geum love happening!
As always, if you want to see what’s growing in other people’s gardens, follow the link to Garden Ruminations, where Jim hosts all the links to other the Sixers.
That’s all from me for today – wishing you all a very happy weekend!
Catherine x
Notes From My Garden 
These purple Allium balls look lovely together with the birdbath in the background. (if it is?)
I was showing off Geum ‘Mrs Bradshow’ last week, and this one looks a lot like mine. Perhaps with slightly smaller flowers? Finallky, I do like the rose ‘Rhapsody in Blue’; it’s a sure bet with truly incredible blooms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s a bird bath. It’s at the back of the garden close to the trees where they can pop out to have a drink or a splash without the fiendish neighbourhood cat spotting them. 😁 I had G. ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ at one point and I don’t know what happened to it. I don’t know about the flower size, but ‘Firestarter’ is slightly shorter and I think its flowers are a darker red.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And there is geum love here too! Love Firestarter and the combo with chives and geranium is beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have high hopes for Geum ‘Firestarter’, though fingers are crossed! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so pleased that your garden is lush and blooming so well. I am still in need of more rain, we only had a trickle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A trickle of rain won’t go far after such a long dry spell. 🙁 Here, once it starts, it forgets to go off again. Perhaps your garden will get a good drenching next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed, there is more rain forecast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Geum ‘Firestarter’ is certainly eye catching. It is so pleasing when blooms in the garden finally begin to open.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re opening at a fast pace since the rain arrived. The next job will be to add more feed to keep them going.
LikeLike
I’m a true lover of Geum as well and have added more and more over the years. You’re right about its cheerfulness! That shot of your birdbath is particularly lovely. Enjoy the garden this week, Catherine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I waited with the camera for a little bird to come and splash in the bird bath – but no doubt they spotted me and kept their distance! Hope you have a good weekend too, March.
LikeLike
So glad you have got some much needed rain, we had a bit, but not as much as we need! Love the deep colour of your Rose Rhapsody in Blue, hope the salvias work to keep it free of blackspot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hoping for the Salvias to work some magic too, Pauline. I’ve also grown some annual clary from seed and I’ll get them in around the roses next week. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the roses to check for results. Here’s hoping…
LikeLike
I love the Chives, Geum and a Hardy Geranium combo. I have Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ so I look forward to your experiment with Rhapsody in Blue. ‘Margaret Merril’ is very prone to black spot and I fear won’t be around for much longer – I don’t think she flowered at all last year. Those alliums look splendid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Graeme. As I’ve mentioned to Pauline above, I’ve grown annual clary/Salvia viridis from seed as it appears that all salvias of a certain type give rose protection from black spot. Assuming these grow quickly, (they’re still small) I might as well attempt another rose-salvia experiment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That Geum is a cracker! How tall? I have a few, but a couple are quite short so not as dramatic. And the combination with chives and geranium is beautiful. Great contrasts. As usual, beautiful photos. We have had some mizzle, but not enough to really soak the ground.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Firecracker’ is my current favourite, Jude. It’s a new plant and still needs to bulk up, but the stated height is 50cm. Shorter than some, taller than some! But the colour is stronger than all those I currently have, so what it lacks in height it should make up for in colour impact. I hope you get some real rain soon that to drench the soil. Enjoy what’s left of the weekend. 😊
LikeLike
Lovely geums. Rhapsody in Blue is lovely. I always think it is a silly name as it is not blue at all. And that’s a good thing, who wants a blue rose? Pink Pompom is cute, does it stay small?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rhapsody in Blue is only blue-ish under certain light conditions – but nevertheless – my eyes see it as purple! 😁The Deutzia’s height is 1 – 1.5m, so not too tall.
LikeLike
Some lovely pictures. I really like geums but they don’t like me! I have tried a few in the past, but after the first year, they disappeared. On the other hand, Geum urbanum grew to perfection in my last garden and became a real nuisance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some plants are meant for us, other are not. I’ve just seen your lovely Meconopsis ‘Crewdson Hybrid’ and I’d love to think that it will do well here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, I think the Chives, Geum and a Hardy Geranium make an interesting dispay of textures and colours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It wasn’t meant to be like that (though I quite like it!). But the chives are about to be evicted as their space is needed and more chives are elsewhere in the garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful title for your post, and the Geum is indeed striking! ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is such a unique colored Rose. And I’m a huge fan of Alliums, for so many reasons. What a lovely collection you’ve shared here. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, Beth – I know I’m so late in acknowledging your comment, it’s been an over-busy week. Thank you, I’m currently loving the ‘Geum’ effect when they’re in the borders and peeking out through other plants. I’m looking forward to seeing what the new varieties will look like when they flower.
LikeLike
I’m pleased to hear you allium are multiplying. We’ve planted exactly the same variety for this year and we have 5. Hopefully, next year they’ll be even more plentiful. It took them ages to finish popping out I noticed.
We also have Geum Mrs J Bradshaw and Totally Tangerine. They always do well and must clearly love our soil. I might get rid of our centaurea which has completely flopped and add another geum in its place. Thanks for sharing and reminding me that geums and alliums are garden staples!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ almost disappeared for a year or two, Laura, but they now seem to have established themselves in the border – and greedy me – I’m hoping for even more next year! Oddly, my Centaurea hasn’t done well this year either, I might just follow your lead and replace it with something that lasts a bit longer! Another Geum perhaps? 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person