I know it is a bit late, but here is a collection of pictures taken in my own garden during June. The weather has been very damp here, as everywhere (fortunately in someways, since our hosepipe ban was only lifted this week), but working from home I have been able to nip out when the conditions were at their best. Many of these pictures were taken with my 90mm Macro lens - I have been experimenting with close ups and varying depth of field.
As with the May contribution, these plants will be in alphabetical order - the easiest way to make sure I post all the pictures I intend to.
Aquilegia hybrids
My garden has far too many of these cottage garden aquilegias, but I do love the flowers, particularly the pale pink ones. I try to take off the dead heads before they seed, but there are still plenty of seedlings all over the place, in the crevice garden and anywhere I really don't want them. Still, they make lovely pictures.
Armeria alliacea
This thrift is one which does very well here, whereas I find the little forms for the rock garden quite difficult and short-lived. I don't know whether there is a pink form; I have only ever seen this white. Does anyone grow a pink version of alliacea ?
Astrantias
I have been trying to take some good close-ups of astrantia this year. It is one of my favourite border perennials; for some reason the deep red forms and white forms dwindle and die out here, and this mid-pink is the one which dominates. I have had several sessions photographing it, and the results are getting better, but I'm not sure I have yet got the perfect picture of it.
Mixed border
I liked this mix of colour which has occurred completely spontaneously.
Clematis Niobe
Dactylorhiza hybrids
I know there are lots of you out there who grow dactylorhizas much better than this, but I was pleased to have two flowering spikes. I think the wet weather has helped them, and usually my conditions are too dry for them.
Dianthus
I'm not sure what this dianthus is; as usual with the crevice garden it is sitting on the label !
Dianthus Fusilier
At least I know the name of this one. It needs propagating this summer.
Dianthus Starlight
Geranium papuanum
This plant has now been with me for 4-5 years. Although it makes wiry shoots out in all directions, it doesn't root down, and every winter dies back to the central point. Surprisingly, the thread-like shoots do take as cuttings.
Border Geraniums
Now some geraniums from the border; again I don't know the names - they came to me from family and friends, with no labels attached - but they are common and familiar garden plants.
Helianthemum cultivars
Now some of the many Helianthemum cultivars around the garden. Not many labels left with them either.
Helianthemum Ben Ledi
This is one of my particular favourites, hence I remember the name.
Hypericum olympicum
Another plant I tend to take lots of close-ups of, fascinated by the fan of stamens.
Carpobrotus edulis
The Hottentot Fig. This is the plant that is a dangerous invasive on parts of the Cornish coastline, but in a hanging basket it is quite well behaved and produces huge flowers.
Linaria purpurea
Linaria purpurea is almost a weed here, but the pink form, commonly sold as Canon J Went, never seems to produce seedlings, so I was delighted to find this one in the front garden.
Lychnis coronaria
Another cottage garden plant which tends to seed itself in the wrong place (I only have one plant this year, in the middle of the rock garden), but which I am fond of for the startling colour and the great contrast with its grey foliage.
Oenothera
I'm not sure which species this is - it is annual or biennial, but has been with me for several years (another stray seedling tolerated in the crevice garden). The flowers are pure primrose yellow when they open in the evening, but the following morning they have this interesting water-wash effect.
Papaver sp.
A largish poppy, 15in high, which I grew from AGS seed originally, but these 2nd generation seedlings have deserted their label.
I love the clean orange colour.
Potentilla recta
Another plant which maintains itself by seeding gently, here in yellow and primrose forms.
Roscoea humeana
An early, purple form.
Saxifraga Hare Knoll Beauty
The silver saxifrages do really well in the crevice garden, and have started to self-seed. The progeny will probably all be hybrids, but I don't really mind; I much prefer it when plants propagate themselves like this. Note the tiny hunting wasp which is visiting the flowers, and hopefully pollinating them.
Senecio polyodon
This is a new plant for me this year, but I have been delighted with it - masses of small startlingly purple flowers.
Triteleia Rudy
I find these do much better for me in the garden than they do in pots.
Tuberaria lignosa
Finally, a plant I have tried before several times, for the beauty of the flowers, but have always lost in the winter. Two years ago, Rachel Lever persuaded me to have another go with it, I planted it at the end of one of the crevices where it gets the best drainage, and it is still with me (touch wood). Rachel says it seeds around gently; I do hope so. The flowers are beautiful, but fleeting. I inspect it after breakfast each morning, and photograph it if it looks good; by lunchtime the petals have all fallen, even in still, warm weather.
July
A few more images from the first half of July.
Roscoea cautleoides
Dierama igneum
People always say this is tomato-red, but I have never seen a tomato this colour. I guess it is closest to salmon, but it is pinker than that. I am always meticulous to take the seed for the exchange; it means I don't get self-sown plants where I don't want them, but this year I need to take some seed for myself, as I have decided this plant is too big where it is, and they are impossible to move.
Interesting taking close-ups of the dierama in the wind!
Raoulia lutescens
I'm not sure if this is the right name for this little raoulia, but it is very tight, and flowering now (and needs a weed - with tweezers!). I wish I still had Raoulia haastii, with its bright green carpet, but that has departed now.
