No gardening today but we did visit the gardens of Leeds Castle (east of Maidstone) just a five minute drive from our home. The gardens have now been extended down to the banks of the lake, and I'd never seen so many banana plants, each with massive flower buds about to burst forth, and clusters of tiny bananas behind the buds and ready to expand. The gardens are crammed with roses and allsorts and are an absolute joy. A hefty entrance charge is made but it allows as many further visits over the next twelve months as one wishes.
Well done GWRS's OH, our Village Flower Show is not till September. I deadheaded the large 'Penelope', 'Claire Austin' and 'Isaphan' roses, took a long time. Also severely pruned my winter flowering clematis 'Freckles', pulled lots of love in the mist plants, washed the porch and picked the last of the strawberries.
I tucked my jeans into my socks, put on my wellies, took a deep breath and clambered into the wilderness behind the old garage to prune (rather late) the ornamental quince which is shoehorned behind it. We think the previous owners built the garage extension around the quince many years ago. It flowered really well earlier this year which we can see above the garage (difference in levels) but need to keep it in check. Whilst I was there, I also severely pruned the Dr Ruppel clematis on the trellis which had become very overgrown. Had a lovely little robin join me to see what I was up to, seemed to want a drink or bath so put a large flat birdbath nearby and filled it with water.
Cut back some of the hardy geraniums, was going to give them a feed and water, but could l open the new bottle of feed ? Could l buffalo 🙄. Have to wait for a strong person to come along, failing that OH will have to have a go. Still have pulmonarias to cut back. Dug out small dead looking pink and a larger one that had collapsed in the middle. Took some cuttings from them 🤞. Replaced with 2 salvia "Merleau blue" and some Californian poppies Orange King that were in small pots. Fed clematis, sweet peas, beans and tomatoes with the last of the old bottle of feed and did some deadheading. Green waste bin is full.
AuntyRach , it was o/h who won , not me , she got 7 1sts , including Jostaberry Jam , tray of 5 different veg ; 11 seconds including raspberries, strawberries and 10 thirds incoluding chutney , potatoes 🥔 Entries where down on fruit & veg down to weather . More handy craft , wine etc But overall a good show
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I deadheaded the large 'Penelope', 'Claire Austin' and 'Isaphan' roses, took a long time. Also severely pruned my winter flowering clematis 'Freckles', pulled lots of love in the mist plants, washed the porch and picked the last of the strawberries.
Have to wait for a strong person to come along, failing that OH will have to have a go.
Still have pulmonarias to cut back. Dug out small dead looking pink and a larger one that had collapsed in the middle. Took some cuttings from them 🤞.
Replaced with 2 salvia "Merleau blue" and some Californian poppies Orange King that were in small pots. Fed clematis, sweet peas, beans and tomatoes with the last of the old bottle of feed and did some deadheading. Green waste bin is full.
Entries where down on fruit & veg down to weather . More handy craft , wine etc
But overall a good show