Have spent a fair amount of time relaxing this week under the parasol on the patio with the odd glass of the 'amber liquid'. OH has picked 4 lbs of black currents and made about 16 jars of black current jam. We've been picking courgettes like there's no tomorrow, dwarf french beans ad blanching/freezing them (+ having them to eat now for two days). Tomatoes are just beginning to turn red (1st one today). It is a 'red alert' variety (I note yours was Red Alert that you picked over a week ago). Also picked a few white turnips about the size of a golf ball and made some Potato & Turnip patties with Creme Fraiche & fresh herbs from the garden. A bit different from 'Neeps & Tatties' but you can't get the Haggis down this way as they run too fast and not even a greyhound can bring them down
We've never had a Castor Oil Plant before but yes, the flower is Red on the one we have though I'm not sure whether the red at the top of the plant is the flower or a fresh bract of leaves. OH says it's the latter (she's usually right) but having seen the friend who gave it to us this evening he says this variety does have bronze leaves and red flowers. He did tell me the name of it but by the time we arrived back home it had gone completely out of my mind (happens all the time when you get to 68 I notice!)
PS,
The plant to the right of the Castor Oil is an evergreen Clematis which has an abundance of small white flowers when it blooms. The flowers are over now but the idea is to keep a bit of colour there all year round. The Dr Ruppel Clematis [which is just to the left of the Castor Oil Plant] is just starting another set of flowers we noted today, the main flush of them finished a few weeks ago but there are some new buds coming.
Garden is getting past it's best as there are plants to cut down and it's getting blousy. Bindweed has been doing very well! But there are still beds in flower.
and pots
and the annual end of my newest bed which is planted with the plants that didn't sell at my charity garden party plant sale.
and the shady end of same newest bed has filled out.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Well I was about to post pics of my garden then I see your beautiful pics Lizzie. Still you spend much more time than I do so deserve a truly wonderful garden.
First from corner by back door along wall next to house
Then along that wall
Along same wall different view
LLooking at other side which comes into garden
Then from end of this line looking to back of garden along left hand side
Posts
Lead F you should get that sunflower/bee pic enlarged and framed- it's stunning.
In fact - don't they do a competition on Country File for their calendar later in the year? I'd enter that if it was mine.
Sums up summer doesn't it?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Fg,
Have spent a fair amount of time relaxing this week under the parasol on the patio with the odd glass of the 'amber liquid'. OH has picked 4 lbs of black currents and made about 16 jars of black current jam. We've been picking courgettes like there's no tomorrow, dwarf french beans ad blanching/freezing them (+ having them to eat now for two days). Tomatoes are just beginning to turn red (1st one today). It is a 'red alert' variety (I note yours was Red Alert that you picked over a week ago). Also picked a few white turnips about the size of a golf ball and made some Potato & Turnip patties with Creme Fraiche & fresh herbs from the garden. A bit different from 'Neeps & Tatties' but you can't get the Haggis down this way as they run too fast and not even a greyhound can bring them down
Hi Mrs G,
We've never had a Castor Oil Plant before but yes, the flower is Red on the one we have though I'm not sure whether the red at the top of the plant is the flower or a fresh bract of leaves. OH says it's the latter (she's usually right) but having seen the friend who gave it to us this evening he says this variety does have bronze leaves and red flowers. He did tell me the name of it but by the time we arrived back home it had gone completely out of my mind (happens all the time when you get to 68 I notice!)
PS,
The plant to the right of the Castor Oil is an evergreen Clematis which has an abundance of small white flowers when it blooms. The flowers are over now but the idea is to keep a bit of colour there all year round. The Dr Ruppel Clematis [which is just to the left of the Castor Oil Plant] is just starting another set of flowers we noted today, the main flush of them finished a few weeks ago but there are some new buds coming.
Hi little ann ,I planted 8 chitted seeds.John and lead farmer what lovely flowers.the beds look so lush.
Garden is getting past it's best as there are plants to cut down and it's getting blousy. Bindweed has been doing very well! But there are still beds in flower.
and pots
and the annual end of my newest bed which is planted with the plants that didn't sell at my charity garden party plant sale.
and the shady end of same newest bed has filled out.
Well I was about to post pics of my garden then I see your beautiful pics Lizzie. Still you spend much more time than I do so deserve a truly wonderful garden.
First from corner by back door along wall next to house
Then along that wall
Along same wall different view
LLooking at other side which comes into garden
Then from end of this line looking to back of garden along left hand side
Looking into corner created at top left
From corner down left side
More views along left side
The bottom left corner
<pAcross to bottom right
Then up right hand side
Further up right side towards house- best ignore winter baskets of violas which are waiting for summer haircut
Up to top right corner
Another view along right hand side looking from house to back gate
Up right hand side beside the house- never any sun so I put ferns here
Then down the side of the house. Mini greenhouses and troughs of primulas and primroses oversummering
End of tour round garden- 7m by 4.6m
Wow, you certainly know how to make use of a small space Bev. Very colourful.