Gravel strip behind astronomy platform

I’ve often thought about planting something in this gap. Mind-your-own-business, chamomile, succulents or sweet woodruff. As a first step I cleared out the gravel in the narrow section to a depth of 100cm or so when it was dry, cleaned it and topped it up with fresh golden gravel. The drainage is probably still not brilliant.

Clematis montana

These continue to do very well. It’s quite hard to determine peak flower time, but it must be close. Each flower of the pink one hardly smells at all, but there are so many of them there is definitly a hint of something slightly sweet and toffeeish in the air. Marshmallow?

The white one at the back had originally found its way almost to the eaves, but the top wire broke in the high winds. It’s now been replaced with something thicker.

Both plants will need to be cut back, probably with shears, or the hedge trimmer, when they’ve finished flowering.

Looking good

The solanum was heavily cut back after being blown down last year and in the NE corner fence clearout, but is still obviously in a rude state of health, and will benefit from further treatment later this year.

The bleeding heart (now called Lamprocapnos spectabilis) has a moment of glory now before being swamped by the acanthus.

The foliage in the SE corner is now so good that I can’t see the fence at all. Unfortunately it’s all deciduous so I’ve got to do something when the fence is replaced next winter. The rosa rubrifolia always looks dead at this time of year.

Camassias in pots

These were very good last year, but this year the flowers are weak and the leaves seem dead at the tips. Did I let them dry out too much?

Pond plants

There’s rather too much greater spearwort so I ought to get some out. It would be nice to let it flower, but I can’t remember when that is. I presume the white arum-like flower is the lysichiton, but everything gets so jumbled up it’s hard to tell.

Prune hydrangeas

White mophead in F4:

Remove all dead flowers and dead stems. Remove congested stems. Cut back from path and door a bit.


Bluebird in F4:

Cut back to required outline. Tidy up.


Reddish in B2:

Cut back, but not too much so fence remains hidden.