Saturday, June 9, 2018

the pre-monsoon update

I have been away for weeks, and it is good to be back. Back home, back in the garden, and back doing the Six-on-Saturday post. Do join in if you can, here's the how-to.
So here is what my garden and I have been up to:
1.There has been a very hot spell which crisped several plants. Some, like this fuchsia will recover. But the plants that I had put into the wall I want to green will not return. More planting then.

2. On a happier note, the foxgloves continue to surprise me. Here is this enchanting little one that reminds me of raspberry ripple icecream.
It also reminds me of an azalea I covet. I saw it in Sikkim, it is white with splashes of the same red-purple that this foxglove has, and- i swear- smelt of raspberries. I did not steal a cutting because a) it was in my host's garden and b) cuttings don't 'take' when flowering is going on. I have regretted my prudence ever since.

3. Speaking of cuttings, remember the lavender cuttings I took last autumn? Only two survived, of which I gave one to a friend. Here is the one in my garden.
Have taken another six cuttings, and am keeping my fingers crossed.

4. It is bold, brash and looks like it was made of plastic. I almost thought I would not keep it, till I chanced to sniff it late one evening, and smelt the musky-fruity scent. It stays.

5. See how nice and tall these chrysanthemums are standing? That's because I managed to get my act in order and did some pre-emptive staking. Not early enough to be truly 'correct' , but better than my usual style of waiting until the stems break.

6. Not my favourite plants. Hydrangeas aren't. They are too brash (the mopheads at any rate), have no scent, and do  not shelter any insect/bird life. Nonetheless,  I  do have some in the shady patches, and I like the smaller, more 'normal looking' varieties. This white one is an example- look at those pretty blue centres!

This one on the other hand, is rather an overwhelming pink.


3 comments:

  1. The lily is lovely - glad you decided to keep it. Your foxgloves are looking good too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I need to to thank you for this excellent read!!
    I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I
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    ReplyDelete
  3. That’s a pretty foxglove. I like the raspberry ripple idea.

    ReplyDelete