Sweet peas, sweet williams and roses are in full flight. I’m amazed anything survived the recent torrential hail and high winds. Some of the tree leaves have holes where the hail went straight through them. But flowers were unperturbed.
Rose Cerise Bouquet climbs to the top of a mature beech tree. It thrashed about in the storm, sending a cascade of red petal confetti across the lawn. It’s such a floriferous rose, there’s hundreds more flowers ready and waiting to open. It will bloom, on and off, until November.
I also feared for the climbing New Dawn rose. The willow tree supporting it was almost stripped of its leaves. Most ended up in the pond. There was no water to be seen. Just rose petals and shredded leaves. However, remaining rose buds opened, and the tree has put out tiny new baby leaves to replace those whisked away in the storm. I’m sure nature is sending us a message. Through troubled times, there’s always destruction, fear and grief followed by renewal. We have struggled through Corona virus times. But we will recover.
Pinks and carnations are in full flower now. I’ve planted old-fashioned types, Mrs Sinkins white and Doris Pink. I’ve also invested in some modern ‘Devon’ hybrids, Devon Cream, Devon Wizard. Cranmere Pool, Letitia Wyatt. The names sound as delicious as the wonderful scent. A good one to look out for is ‘Memories,’ an improvement on the heritage variety Mrs Sinkins with good weather tolerance and it is also repeat flowering.
I wouldn’t be without sweet williams. I’m sowing next year’s flowers now. A pinch of seed in a 3″ pot, or a sprinkle in a half seed tray. Leave at the base of a sheltered house wall and they’ll germinate in a few weeks. I’ll prick them out into a full seed tray and then plant them into their final positions for them to settle and produce roots and leaves this year. Being biennials, they will grow now, and flower next year. A whole bed of flowers for just a few pounds. I’ll grow the highly scented auricular-eye type, and one called Sooty, which is almost black.
I’m just planting the last of the sweet pea seedlings. The October-sown plants are in full production. But I’ll want a supply right through until first frosts. This is the secret of growing. Always keep sowing a few more and a few more. Make sure you have a back-up supply incase anything goes wrong. I’ve just had a neighbour at the front gate. Do I have any climbing beans, by any chance, he asks? Luckily, there’s some in the propagator – a back-up in case mine get nibbled. He can have these to replace the ones taken by rabbits. We chat about the weather, slugs, snails and mice. And covid. What are we to do, he asks? I shrug my shoulders. Keep going, is the only answer I have. Don’t give up. Celebrate the successes and don’t be beaten by the failures. Help one another where we can, and try to enjoy the simple things. Look closely at all the beauty in the world. That’s all I can say.
I usually take part in the Six on Saturday meme…but this week I’m a day late. https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/13/six-on-saturday-13-06-2020/
Whitman Pinks:https://www.whetmanpinks.com/garden-pinks-en/page-3/
Peter Beale Roses https://www.classicroses.co.uk/
Mr Fothergills sweet Williams https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Flower-Seed/Sweet-William-Seeds/
What’s looking good in your garden this weekend? Thanks, as ever, for reading. Your comments are always welcome.
Bramble Garden 
Once again photographs to be admired, the rambling rose has certainly mastered the tree into which it is growing. I also love pinks and so far have around 25 different species/cultivars including a 30 year old prostrate clump of an alpine Dianthus. Keep up the good work Karen.
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Oh Derek, Thank you. Could I possibly have some cuttings? Dianthus are so easy to grow from little cuttings. I’ve tried to buy some on line. I love all kinds of dianthus. All the best. Karen x
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That Cerise Bouquet rose is a stunner! You have reminded me to sow Sweet William and I must get onto that soon – thanks
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Thank you 😊
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Beautiful as ever. I, too, feared for our New Dawn, but she survived
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Thank you Derrick. I’m glad yours survived the storms too. What a summer we are having. Have a good week. Karen
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What a fabulous display Karen. I love your climbing roses. WOW!
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Thank you 😊 🙏 xx
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https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/
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An absolutely beautiful basket that captures the very essence of summer Karen. I can smell the scent from here. I will be sowing sweet williams tomorrow. In the meantime I’m puzzling over my sweet peas which seem very shy of showing any sign of flowers. As you say all we can do is hang on in there and keep going. Take care.
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Thank you Anna,
I think the problem with the sweet peas is lack of water. It has been a drought here since lockdown. Peas of all types are very succulent and will only produce flowers as a luxury to reproduce , produce seed. If plants are struggling, they will not flower as the first priority is to just survive until conditions improve. Water really well and add tomato fertiliser. I like the mr Fothergills Seasol feed which is what I’m giving mine. After altering, lock in the moisture with a 2” mulch of compost, mushroom compost, fine bark chippings or grass clippings (dried first so it’s like straw – rather than wet and sludgy.) good luck- and report back please 👍🙂
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Keep going! I can smell the flowers! ( which apparently means I dont have covid!)
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Thank goodness! Me too 😃👍🙏 xx
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You may have been a day late, but you are worth the wait. That basket photo is gorgeous.
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Thank you Anne. Things don’t always go according to plan do they. Better late than never. Thanks for your kind words. Have a good week x
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Beautiful
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Thank you 😊
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You welcome💕
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Well, it is a good 6 + regardless.
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Thank you Tony. I hope you have had a good weekend. It’s been sunny today, but torrential rain again now.strange weather for June.
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Roses, dianthus and sweet peas, oh my! That bouquet must be divinely-scented. I like your advice about carrying on, moving forward, wringing of hands is useless, after all.
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Thank you Eliza. That’s very true! Have a good week. Karen x
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