I am NOT a flower gardener; this extract from my 2008 book 'Je t'adore 24' proves as much. And I don't like orange flowers, orange cars, orange clothes, etc. Deep blood red is my preferred colour, but I leave it to others to plant them.
However, the garden at this time of year is quite florid; below are just a few examples. There is also a second rush of Wisteria flowers, and plenty of others with forgettable names.
I do know of Hibiscus and Oleander, but I'm not good with flower names.
The most important element (for me) of a flower garden is that things just appear year after year without my intervention. I do a bit of pruning just to make things look tidy, but that's it.
So far, it's working quite well.
Your flowers are looking good whatever your method.
ReplyDeleteIt's a miracle. They've done well over the years; without any help from me. As you know, I was more interested in Vegs than Flowers.
DeleteYes, self seeders and perennials are great. Like weeds (never underestimate the beauty of the much maligned dandelion) they will come up through crevices.
ReplyDeleteWhat is not so great are squirrels. The grey ones. Red ones I can forgive on account of their beauty and, anyway, there aren't any around any longer. Slugs and snails come a close second. I don't know what hatred is since I don't hate anyone or anything. But I imagine what I feel when a squirrel does a Me Tarzan, You Jane routine swinging from one six to eight foot sunflower head to the next, breaking them in the process, may, just may, be ... no, forget hatred. Exasperation more like it.
Good job I am not a three year old any longer. I'd cry. Yeah, well, the gardener's, farmer's lot isn't an easy one.
Apropos of nothing, one of my fondest memories of hot countries are the RED geraniums, usually grown in pots. Red, in stark contrast to whitewashed facades. The sun belting down.
Enjoy, which you do,
U
We only have Red Squirrels here, but I haven't seen any this year; yet. I did manage to keep some Geraniums for several years, but eventually the frost got them, and they've not been replaced.
DeleteI love flowers of all colours and feel a sense of joy when I see them all in bloom in our garden. Each to his own!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what it is about Orange, but I really dislike it everywhere.
DeleteI love flowers for the colour they provide. And they seem more successful in my garden. At the moment I have some sort of pink and purple daisies. The geraniums are in bloom and the lavender. The oleander along our neighbours wall are already fading away.
ReplyDeleteBasil is thriving. I do like herbs and they seem to like me too.
I'm just back from shopping and you've reminded me that I forgot Basil. I'll get some at the end of the week.
DeleteMaybe you shouldn't have flagged up your book because now I have discovered your real name and will easily be able to extort money from you. In a way, it is disappointing to learn that you are not, after all, Crozier Balthazar Magnon, Marquis de Loubejac.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's true. I am indeed the bastard brother of King Charles, but they have asked me to keep it secret.
DeleteI guess that The Duke of Edinburgh had his way with a parlour maid. Charles is only 76 so I suspect that you should be king - ruling with an iron fist. King Roger the Terrible.
DeleteKing Roger the Dodger!
DeleteKeep blooming.
ReplyDeleteI hope they do; they're all been very generous so far.
DeleteFloral gaucherie! That makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI also like plants that return each year. Old faithfuls. My Fall blooming clematis and Hydrangea vine are favorites.
We still have a couple of Clematis, but they're a bit swamped these days.
DeleteWonderful flowers photos. I love English cottage gardens. They are informal and pleasing like patchwork quilts.
ReplyDeleteNothing to beat them. Versailles isn't my bag!
DeleteWhen it hits -40 at least once every winter, it's always a pleasant surprise to see which plants made it through.
ReplyDeletePlum, Apple, Peonies, and Lilacs return each year.
A very boring hydrangea developed for this climate comes back. Not the blue/pink glories of my childhood but a boring greenish white.
The squirrels appear to have eaten my crocus bulbs.
Which is better luck than the rabbits and cats have had. Wylie our neighbourhood Coyote is very sleek and well fed.