WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD IN JULY 2018

Hu Gail, get some Dianthus.

They're easy as can be. Grow well in gravel, range from little 2" high grassy hummocks to 3' high stately plants. They're evergreen ( well grey/silver or blue/green actually ) and would fit in your front garden perfectly.
And, most importantly the scent in absolutely heavenly.

 

PS... I can't stand Lavender, I find it too overpowering and it makes me feel sick :(

 

Typhonium venosum seedlings are starting to look more like mature plants this summer..........
Typhonium venosum by longk48, on Flickr

Typhonium venosum by longk48, on Flickr

Gloriosa..............
Gloriosa by longk48, on Flickr

This Ismene (Hymenocallis) festalis was a surprise as it is in a nursery pot of what were small offsets last year............
Ismene (Hymenocallis) festalis by longk48, on Flickr

 

Ha ha Gail.....you never offend me
You can never have too much scent in the garden though.....apart from long stretches of lavendar here looking superb and filling the air with scent, honeysuckles and regal lilies, check out heliotrope. Not the annual marine variety but the perennial types mainly Chatsworth. Put one in a few pots scattered around the garden and the cherry pie smell from mid summer well into winter is wonderful. I also have white varieties, White Queen and White Lady, that have a slightly different but equally as delightful scent. Once planted you wont want to be without heliotrope

 

Hi KFF,

I've just been looking at them and there's some nice colours in them mate...worth looking at next time I go to the garden centre

 

@BigC - good idea re rhubarb - but the t. rex leaves are so big and the finger like structure would make the water dripping even more interesting

 

Good morning Verdun, i'd like to ask a question i'm a bit concerned about my yellow Carex in the front garden as the heat is to much for them and when the shade comes of an evening they rise but leaves are getting burnt and the same goes for my red Astilbe leaves but the pink one is not affected and they're both in direct sun light and being watered regular as you know

 

Beautiful shot John and the colours are outstanding ….you've been very quiet my friend

 

Gail, both plants...carex elata and astilbe ....are not really for direct sun unless the soil is moist. Ok, the pink astilbe is coping better but it too needs some shade.
During this hot spell I would throw a fleece over your carex and astilbe when the sun is at its hottest. It will make a difference
You are doing the right thing in watering it ...its all you can do for now.
In your gravel garden try to go for plants that thrive in hot, dry conditions

 

Verdun thank you for the advice because the Astilbes have stopped flowering and are in a dull stage so I shall keep them covered and also the carex and your right I need plants that like direct sunlight from early morning till late evening both back and front...we have no shading here what so ever

 

G.

 

A mixture of plants which I'm sure aren't designed to go together. I don't mind as long as they last the summer. After that, if they are still alive, I can re-arange them around the garden as necessary.

I wasn't going to go for the multiple layer look but it happened by chance. The purple osteospersamums where put on the floor whilst I assembled the new patio table. I decided I liked it that way. The lobelia - Felicia pot is a new addition.

G.

 

Hi Gary, it looks a nice arrangement mate and your plant I do adore in the centre

 

Well on the front garden my Blue Elijah grasses from young have joined together on both lots and coming on well and I just adore my ponytail

The pictures show how they've established along the edging of the drive in order they showing.

Three young Elijah Blue plants put into one











​