Bee........... Happy!

The bees are loving the cardoon flowers.

They get in and sort of roll around,

then become very still.

Love watching them.

My Cycas Revoluta, has had the most amazing flush. I have had this a number of years now and although it has flushed most years, it has excelled itself this year. It is huge, the fronds are enormous and for me it has flushed a lot earlier than it has done before.

I don't think I have done anything different,

I love my garden.

Variegated Agave Americana a very neglected plant, I occasionally water it as I walk past, but every year it gets bigger and bigger, I wish it was hardy, it would look amazing in the arid bed. I think next year it may need to be re-potted!!

My Agave Montana has just opened up some new leaves. I find them fascinating. The marks made on the leaves whilst they are wrapped around the central point are really defined, but, the amazing thing is they remain for years.

Quite fascinating.

My two newly planted 'spikeys' like where they have been put.

The garden is enjoying the rain, even though the work I need to do would be a lot easier if it was dry and cool!!!

Water v Rain

No amount of watering with a hose can do to a garden what rain can do.

I have decided that rain is the rocket fuel for plants. The pot above had been at the front of the house, since I moved it to the patio it has gone mental.

This year I decided to grow some of my Eucomis in pots. I am so glad I did as they look amazing and you can really see them properly.

Dahlia. When I was a youngster and mum and dad grew dahlias in their garden I hated them. They always seemed to be full of earwigs. But now I love them, and I don't have the problem with earwigs. You can get some really beautiful ones now, I just have to master the art of overwintering them.

The Paulownia is heading for the sky.

Stunning Cardoon, I have had loads of flowers this year, probably about 12, all the insects and bees love them.

The lower 'jungle' bed.

Looking back up the garden under the Trachy.

Phormium, must be close to 20 ft.

Evolving side bed.

The new Butia is still in its pot, I have to remove the large bush before planting it, but I'm tempted to keep it in a larger pot as I like the height it is.

The Arid bed enjoying the rain, I sometimes forget to water them during the summer. Living in the UK I assume that because its cooler they don't need the water as much. But you can literally see them grow after its rains.

Pond, don't you just love the Zebra grass.

The other side of the arid bed, so green.

In the process of dismantling the coal bunker.

Not had much chance to get out in the garden this week as I have had my mum staying. I do miss it.

My Garden .......... currently!

Sadly this is not 'all'  my garden, mine is the skinny bit down the middle, with the shed and the chimney in. The shed houses the biomass boiler and the 'runway' down the middle of the garden was my hubbies idea.
This is my bit of England, out in the middle of rural Wiltshire. I love it here.  We have no rear access, so everything and I mean EVERYTHING comes through my house.

Paulownia tomentosa  pollarded again and aiming high!!

Its amazing what a bit of rain can do?

Sonchus Arboreus in the centre

Sonchus Canariensis

Chenopodium giganteum, these have self seeded everywhere and can easily hit 6ft.  shall have to move these as they are close to the front of the bed.

My cardoon is enormous,  can't wait for them to flower.

Brahea Armata, strange palm, well I think so, should be a blue grey colour, never has been in my garden, still sending up new spears.

Ricinus

Dasylirion Serratifolium

remember I weed killered around this, you can see the damaged fronds, but the main plant looks fine  so I shall trim off the lower fronds and hopefully be able to see if the creeping weed (toad flax)comes back.

My beautiful Yucca Rostrata, how this has grown since I first got it.

This Agave goes from strength to strength.

what amazes me most is the fabulous markings which remain on the plant for years.

My passion flower, very hardy!

Well I could not finish this post without a pic of my Phormium lol!!! For reference I'm 5ft 9ins!!!

Feeling Hot! Hot! Hot!

Yesterday to keep my mind occupied I decided to treat hubbies man shed! I am really pleased with how it has come up, but boy was it hot, it needs another couple of coats but they can wait till another day!

Meanwhile the garden is loving the warmth, you can practically see plants grow in front of you. According to the weather forecast, sadly, this isn't going to last!!!

So for a change starting at the bottom of the garden and yes the Gunnera has grown since I put it in, I am watering it religiously everyday.

Poor pond area has been badly neglected. I am waiting for the neighbours to put in their new fence, which in the spring they said they would do and we are still waiting. All of a sudden after 7 years, they are not talking to us, we have no idea what we have done, probably all my moaning about their flippin hedge, but hey ho!

Planted a few more 'exotics' in this part of the flower bed, should look really good when it gets going.

Looking up the garden from the archway. I really must get the trough filled with some soil and lots of gravel, it may have to wait till next year after 'The Wedding'. I am trying hard not to spend money in the garden, but its not easy!!!

My Hiniba, now looking a lot more healthier than earlier in the season, love the red stripe up the lime green leaves.

The top bed in the very bright sunshine this morning.

Kong Coleus, bottom right of this next photo, bought from Aldi!!! There should be another bottom left but the slugs have had a field day eating it!! I could use slug pellets but I worry about them, especially having the dog around.
The Maurelli leaves look amazing in the sun, again another slow grower this year, just wondering if the Trachy is taking all the goodness and nutrients out of this area?

Cardoon growing well, amazing thistle type flower heads

which as you can see all the insects love!

thetrachy in glorious sunshine, really loving the bromeliads.

the very top bed, some of the flowers are now beginning to bloom. The Maurelli in the sunshine looks amazing, but is struggling for some unknown reason, I will keep watering and feeding.

Stunning Canna, love this colour.

I love my garden, and get a lot of pleasure from it, I know its the same old, same old, every time you read my blog, but to me its everything. I know I should grow more from seed, but having the space to bring the seedlings on is what I lack. I just wish I could open it up for people to come and see as it is so unusual. Sadly that will not happen unless our neighbours start talking to us. We have no rear access, everything to do with gardening comes through my house, the only access we have is for 'coal' which as you know the Rayburn went 3 years ago. Hey ho! Off to do some sewing now!