We are baaaack and it has been a boiling two weeks while we were away, and the evidence is in the garden. Nearly everything shot up and filled out. The mulch really did it’s job in suppressing nearly all of the weeds, so it was an easy job to pull what had made it through. The dianthus is still small but we have a couple of flowers, and I nearly missed the geranium blooming, it’s almost away! The gladiolus are standing tall, and the roses are starting to bud. Unfortunately, our Nye Bevan rose has attracted white fly, although a very small infestation. And I cannot believe I decided against pulling up the columbine sprouts a few weeks ago, as they have become much more difficult to remove now.

The biggest surprise when we arrived home was the mass of iris!!! The white variety has bloomed first, and now the blues and purples are following. They are so stunning, but I feel like I will either need to add some smaller plants amongst them next year or plant them more densely. I have creeping jenny planted which should cover the ground between them. I think this will soften the starkness of the tall iris against the bare ground. It’s not creeping particularly fast though! Our pond has gone a bit green and is hosting some mosquito babies…. but I am sticking with the hope that nature will sort itself out. I’d like to order a few more floating plants to discourage the algae and the mosquitos should attract some wildlife friends. It’s hard to tell how the water lily is doing, but the pickerel weed has a new leaf on it. I believe our primrose, flamingo water drop, and rain lily have died, in the hot sun with no one here to water them. And our acer is doing terribly as well in this weather. I’m still cheering it on though.

Next, I’ll be adding begonia around the bird bath and fixing up our pots. As well as ordering an obelisk for the honeysuckle! It’s strange to see everything filling in, I have gotten use to the bare patches that have persisted since I began renovating this garden. But I still have loads of space to fill!

Part 2 featuring the back garden coming next 🙂

Katy