It is quite amazing how little has changed over the last 9 weeks since the EoMV for August. The shadows are getting longer and we move our clocks one hour back this week end with the end of summer time so the evening really will get dark quickly. We have had no frost yet so all of the more tender plants continue to shine. Actually there are more dahlias in flower now.
The Dahlia Twyning’s After Eight has produced so many flowers despite a lack of dead heading (I had assumed that any day now the tubers would be going into store for the winter so deadheading would not be worth doing!).
Similarly Dahlia Bishop Of Llandaff and Dahlia Bishop of Auckland
Bishop of Auckland is a lovely dahlia. It has velvety, crimson, single flowers on near-black stems, in contrast with dark green-red leaves. As the flowers age the edge of the petals have an almost incandescent blue tinge.
Dahlia David Howard also continues to perform.
Looking back towards our house along the south west facing border. In places plants are looking dry and finished but the sheer number of flowers is incredible.
From the same spot looking to the south west
A sign of the days moving towards winter when Cosmos Purity gets too large and falls over but it is still flowering.
There are seed heads everywhere. Here the seed head from an Agapanthus.
And here the dried up remains of Miss Wilmott’s Ghost with very nice grasses behind. We grow these from seed but unfortunately did not record what they were!
A corner of the pergola with Eucomis in the foreground and Euphorbia mellifera in the background.
Many roses continue to flower. This is Rosa Mutablis which has now been flowering since last May. Mutablis illustrates the typical China rose trait of darkening with age, instead of fading. Single petals open sulfur yellow, changing through orange to a rich pink and finally crimson. Bright, silky flowers of all these colors will often be on display at the same time, looking as if a group of multi-colored butterflies has settled on the bush. This aspect earned Mutabilis its common name–”The Butterfly Rose”. 
Rosa Mutablis last May, six months of beautiful flowers.
Just as I was about to finish this blog there was a spectacular sunset. This photograph is taken from our conservatory (see photograph above) and is looking across the garden towards the west. The old kitchen garden garden wall (1704) can be seen on the right. Originally it would have continues across the picture, to the left, where there is an arch and rose bed.
| Gardening Hours | ||
| This week | Total since June 19th | Average per week |
| 32 | 400 | 21 |
The Virginia Creeper which needed controlling earlier in the year is now coming into it’s own with a magnificent display of colour.
The Hydrangea petiolaris is having a final fling although the flower heads will stay throughout the winter.
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ looks great at any time of year but into autumn it really sings
and with the light shining through the leaves it becomes magic. One of the best shrubs/small tree for year round interest.
And Euonymus alatus Burning Bush is living up to its name.
Even this Cornus alba ‘Sibirica Variegata’ is trying not to be out done before it stars in the winter with its red stems.
The Mahonia is giving a display and
Cotinus ‘Nottcutts Variety’ looks great throughout the summer but in Autumn the dark red leaves just add to the event.
Ricinus communis impala looks fantastic
Here it is around a well near our front door. This time with Rosa May Queen and Rosa Phyllis Bide and you can also just see the Sissinghurst scheme in the background.
Box balls with Hakonechloa macra under trees. This is the green Hakonechloa not the more common golden varieties which would have been too much. We had an area of the garden where I had tried to imitate the Japanese tightly pruned azelas plantings. However as azelas do not do well in our area I had used a range of hebes. It worked well but the hebes did not like too much pruning and got too big. We needed a rethink and in our garden we now have
although the box has been replaced with yew balls due to a scare with box blight. In spring we have snowdrops and Anemone Nemerosa before the grass comes through. The trees are Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Lace Lady’ a unique small tree worth considering in any garden. Again very little maintenance required and the scheme gives year round interest.
Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco beans.
The green house haul. Tomatoes, Aubergine Bonica, and Cucumber Cucino. Now its time to clean the glass inside ready for seed planting.
Last but not least the Winter Squash Barbara Butternut.
This is Rosa Madame Alfred Carriere in all her spender.
The other big planting at this time of year is bulbs, mostly for spring and summer displays. I normally buy these from 
Glebe House Garden 