We have had a little rain in the past 2-3 days. We also had high winds – gales, even, on Friday. Thankfully not too much damage was done. The roses are starting to open now so will feature heavily in today’s little tour. So will Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia) and the downside of seeing butterflies in the garden.
This Red Hot Poker plant is one of 3 near the front boundary.
This red climbing rose looks stunning later in the year when there are many flowers open across a long section of the wall. Right now there are just a few, of which this is one. Some black spot visible on the leaves. A fungal infection that, as Monty Don says, does not prevent the plant from flowering abundantly.
A primrose coloured bush rose. Note on the ground a bloom snapped off by the wind.
Another climbing rose that spans a long section of wall although, as with the red, only a few blooms are evident yet.
A big kniphofia plant. This one with no fewer than 11 ‘pokers’
Another rose!
And another red hot poker!
Red hot pokers alongside white columbine
A white clikmbing rose reaching for the sky
Much as I love having butterflies visit the garden, I don’t like what they leave behind. This is a white currant. The leaves have been stripped by tiny caterpillars. They have attacked the gosseberry, too, as they did last year. Yesterday I went round both bushes brushing off the caterpillars. They are not easy to see, being the same colour as the leaves and working from the underside.
Three purple alliums (with a red hot poker muscling in to the picture like one of those idiots who make rude gestures towards the camera when some reporter is doing an outside broadcast)
The peonies are just starting to open. They have remained upright despite the gales.
They will – a treat for you next week, perhaps! Also next week I’ll be featuring my ceanothus bush which is just coming into flower and will become a magnet for bees.
I enjoyed the walk around your garden, Frank. I agree when you say: “Much as I love having butterflies visit the garden, I don’t like what they leave behind.” Last summer, the caterpillars destroyed my string beans plants.
Of course, I could use chemical sprays – but I refuse to do so. I remember as a child going round the cabbages and other brassicas to remove caterpilars. I’m still doing it 70 years later!
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Those peonies are going to be magnificent once they open.
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They will – a treat for you next week, perhaps! Also next week I’ll be featuring my ceanothus bush which is just coming into flower and will become a magnet for bees.
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I’ll look forward to the peonies but have to own up that I’ve no idea what a ceanothus bush looks like.
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Gorgeous pictures, Frank. I love the red hot pokers.
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Indigenous to South Africa, I believe!
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I enjoyed the walk around your garden, Frank. I agree when you say: “Much as I love having butterflies visit the garden, I don’t like what they leave behind.” Last summer, the caterpillars destroyed my string beans plants.
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Of course, I could use chemical sprays – but I refuse to do so. I remember as a child going round the cabbages and other brassicas to remove caterpilars. I’m still doing it 70 years later!
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All very beautiful, but my favourites are the yellow roses … I LOVE yellow or orange flowers! Thanks for sharing the beauty of your garden with us!
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Thanks, Jill. You are welcome – especially if it helps you forget for a few moments the goings on at the WH!
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😊
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Those are some amazing shots. The flowers are gorgeous!
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We used to have red hot pokers, but Sam dug them up as they were spreading everywhere. You have a lovely garden, Frank.
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