Horticultural Highlight- Dianthus caryophyllus

I dedicate this post to my Grandad Eric, in the anniversary of his passing.

My Grandad was a keen gardener and his interest for it fascinated my Mother growing up as well as myself, and I truly believe gardening is in the blood. In my garden I have a collection of bright pink Carnations drifting along the border edge, as one of my Grandad's favourite flowers along with lilies,  I'm often reminded of him, not like I ever forget, but I've cut my plants twice back over their flowering period and they've flowered right from May/June to just fading off now, but they have been such vibrant and soulful little flowers throughout the summer and are very cherished plants among most people, in gardens or in cut flower bouquets.

With the last few remaining, I have collected them up and bought them inside as remembrance for my Grandad.

I hope he would be proud of me, it's lovely to have a part of something he loved in my garden with me.

Horticultural Highlight-Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, I think, are up there with one of the most well known and loved flowers, even to those who claim to never set a foot into the gardening world. A clear favourite to florists for their array of colours and flower heads from the showy incurved to the understated single, it is a challenge to find a bouquet without a stem in. In my garden I have a group of 6 Chrysanthemum stems, which I was given when I left college. I had been asked to pot up the plants when they were about 6-8in and 'pinch out' half of the selection to create sprays (taking the terminal bud out, down to about 3-4 leaves from the base of the plant) and leave the others to produce single blooms. Unfortunately the cultivar is unbeknown to me but after some book reading, I have found that in my collection it appears I have 2 cultivars, one similar to (if not) that of 'Peach Margaret' (light salmon colour) and the other similar to 'Roblush' (white pink colour) both producing reflexed flower heads.

They provide the garden with that little flush of colour and gentle charm that is hard to come by at this time of year, usually flowering from September to October, they do require a staking properly and the wind this year has done my wonky stems no favours. Once they have finished flowering, the safest bet is to cut them down to a rootstock, lift and overwinter, ready to plant out again next spring/summer. I have such an abundance of flowers from my plants that I have cut a few stems off and brought them indoors for a small display inside as well, which they will still continue flowering for at least a couple of weeks. They make lovely companions with Dahlias for autumn planting, giving any garden a last surge of energy just before they quieten down completely.

Horticultural Highlight-Cyclamen hederifolium

Small but very mighty. With their characteristically nodding flower heads, it would appear that a swipe of wind would obliterate them completely, but this autumn flowering cyclamen, graces us with delicate drifts of vibrant pink just when the days of autumn are turning sour.  Not even the harshest of frosts could dash its spirits, with a hardiness of H5 (fully hardy,) she performs year upon year. 

They naturalise effortlessly under trees or in any partially shaded area and can withstand most soil situations. The flower are first to show before the leaves but the display will last well into autumn, brightening up any space, even into the early stages of winter. The leaves are just as decorative as the flowers when they arrive, mottled green and grey/silver, it is undoubtable to see why its common name is Ivy-leaved Cyclamen. One of the areas left the be developed in my garden is around the water feature, although I have no plans to improve the area now until spring, I have brightened the area with Pansy planted pots. The Cyclamen lie so quietly when they are not in flower that I forget that they home themselves there. Just as autumn arrived, they peeped shots of pink throughout the feature area and ramble carelessly over the border edge, cheering up the view from our kitchen window. A firm favourite amongst our family. 

Horticultural Highlight- Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

Yes peas! Sweet Peas are possibly the most favoured annual flower amongst gardeners. Fragrant, effortlessly elegant and the choice in varieties is exceptional, how could they not be a favourite.

I was given a small Sweet Pea pot from my auntie at around mid June, just as I was starting work on my new garden. There were two young plants about 50cm in height just starting to train around 3 canes with very few flowers, unfortunately I do not know the variety but after extensive research I have settled on the option it might be Sweet Pea 'Gwendoline'. The flowers are frilly, bright pink shot through with lilac with a slight white base to each petal, and sumptuously fragrant.  It's now happily settled into its new plot and it stands about 1.5m (with the a little help from canes of course) and about the same wide and its abundance of flowers appears to be never ending. Since I am growing it on for ornamental purposes, I pinch out the pea pods as they begin to form which encourages the plant to produce new flowers, but I never imagined it to be still flowering this strongly coming towards the end of October, it has taken quite a battering to the high winds over the week or so as well, from which I have had to reposition the canes back into the ground many times. It's just been lighting up a corner of one of my beds for many months and looks as through it won't cease yet.

I have re-started a new generation of Sweet Peas now, ready to be overwintered and planted out of in the spring next year. I have 21 happy Sweet Pea 'Cupid Pink' seedlings, which when they flower will have flower heads in a combination of white and soft pink, and fingers crossed they all go on to flower, I will use every one of them. This is a more compact variety, so hopefully the prevailing wind won't be as great of a problem. I have some taller ones to be sown also (Old Spice Mixed) www.mr-fothergills.co.uk and they will be trained to hide a particularly disastrous fence in the veg plot, the fragrance and colour will be enticingly pleasant when I'm working in that area, much better than the fence anway.

Heucheras-The Unsung Jewels of the All Year Round Garden

Mostly evergreen, vivid colours and eclectic variety, the Heuchera is quite the all round performer. Below, a lovely collection of jewels we have at work.

Especially over the last couple of years, I have noticed anyway, Heuchera's have definitely made quite a statement trend, especially at this time or year. Amateur Gardening magazine is definitely giving them quite a feature this season anyway. The vast contrast in colours from bright purple to almost fluorescent lime green, make them a popular choice for group and under planting beneath taller perennials and shrubs and make striking container plants for patio gardens. The trend is very similar to that of the Hosta, a similar principle of plant but when Hosta leaves die back during the winter, the Heuchera shines on through those dull winter days, never spoiling the seasons and gifting us with upright racemes of small pedant bell shaped flowers, rising above the foliage in summer. I have a group of about 5 Aubergine purple Heuchera in the top corner of my garden, in large clumps they provide quite a feature, proving not only tall plants can be eye catching. I believe one is 'plum pudding' with silvery veins on a dark purple leaf, not only beautiful in the summer but particularly striking in the winter months with its cool hues. I love Hostas, but just as they're dying back it allows my Heucheras to really come into their own without competition. With their desire for full sun or partial shade they really are suited for most areas of the garden, in full shade they so tend to go very leggy (a lesson I learnt the hard way) and grow very sparse in structure. 

It's great to be different but I would definitely recommend jumping on the band wagon with these little gems, I would be sure that you would not regret it. 

Horticultural Highlight- Lantana Camara 'Feston Rose'

The autumn feeling is very much in the air and as much as I particularly enjoy this time of year, my little piece of summer is still glowingly flowering.

 

I was given this Lantana by a friend of mine and was handed to me very pot bound and not looking in the best of health. A month or so later down the line and she's showing every sign of happiness in these gorgeous little bicoloured flowers. Although frost tender, Lantana camara bear flowers from late spring to late autumn and providing interest the rest of the year with evergreen ovate leaves, what more could you want from a shrub? Come the end of October-beginning of November- she'll need protecting for winter ready for her to start her delicate display all over again in the spring. I absolutely adore this shrub, so much so I have pushed my luck and taken some semi-ripe cuttings now she's settled her roots. A fraction late perhaps but, like most things in horticulture only time will tell.