Stonewell Farm 9am June 29th 2019

Because this evening's weather forecast is for damaging thunderstorms, the series of photos this week are from today (Sat)

The early Hemerocallis (left) are blooming and the Hosta buds are up, but have yet to open.

Two of our ducks, Mayo (female) and Sir Francis (male) are busy controlling the insect population.  (Why Sir Francis? Answer at the end of this post.)

If the thunderstorm arrives, the poppy petals (center) will be washed away. Hopefully the Astilbe flowers directly behind the poppies will survive, along with the white Hydrangea (background) and the Rudbeckia (foreground)

The Red Fairy rose (right of center) is one of the later flowering roses, along with the better known Pink Fairy.

 Behind the pear tree and down the fruit garden border (see below) more Hemerocallis are coming into bloom.

The Philadelphus is almost past flowering. I altered the angle on this photo to show the drift of poppies beyond the apple tree.

 

I have re-wrapped the bamboo tripod with woody grape vine, in preparation for the Ipomoea alba (Moonflower) which are growing, and will soon be looking for a support to climb upon.

 This is what I would call a colour clash.

 Why grow so many poppies? (see end of post)

 

A slightly different angle to show Michelle's favourite Lychnis coronaria. (bottom center)

A couple of steps back to show the flowering Stewartia.

Once again from inside the border. The red flowered Rosa Excelsa ( Last week I incorrectly named it Excelsior) is joined by the pink Rosa 'Dorothy Perkins' I hope they persist until Hydrangea 'Annabelle' is fully opened.

The old, stone well is nearly concealed beneath the abundant and lush growth of another Rosa Excelsa, a true rambler rose, which we have to cut back every year.

Rosa 'Dorothy Perkins' here framed by the pizza oven and Picea pungens, and to the right and behind the Picea,

four Rosa 'Dorothy Perkins' and a Rosa 'New Dawn' cover the garage wall.

Mayo and her seven dwarfs.

The name for a male duck is a drake. 

Sir Francis Drake

and, the reason we have so many poppies,

especially so close to our beehives?

Honey.

Stonewell Farm 7am June 23rd 2019

The blue watering can is one, for watering the hanging baskets and two, to create a wonderful contrast with the sweet potato vine Ipomoea batatas when it eventually grows down to the wooden deck. At this time of year as the gardens transition from Spring to Summer, variegated, golden and silver leaves keep the eye focused. Even the tree trunks add contrast to the predominantly green palette.

Not only are the Salvia flowers still full of colour to contrast with the kniphofia pronounced Nip-hofia after the German botanist Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, but the recently flowered Fairy rose complements the mix.

More variegation and the expectant poppies that are flowering in some areas, and about to flower in other gardens.

Poppies, the true ephemeral flower.

The Philadelphus has finally flowered, unfortunately because of the odd Spring weather there are few flowers to greet it. Fortunately the bees are glad to see it, as am I.

The Echinops (front) are about to add to the Hippolyte, Thalictrum, Nepeta, Potentilla combination.

The Philadelphus will be cut back after flowering, but at this time of year it creates quite a shadow, which delays the roses in this area. Providing the shade is not too dense, most plants will still flower, just later, thereby extending the flowering season.

Poppies, Geranium, Anthemis and Nepeta add colour with the Miscanthus. While the Hemerocallis (foreground) is still to put up budded stems.

The variegated five leaf aralia I'll stick with the common name as the taxonomists seem to be in flux over its botanical name Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus' or Acanthopanax sieboldianus 'Variegatus'. Whatever the name, it thrives in the heavy shade of our crabapple, thereby brightening a dark corner.

Yes, I still have a few Buddleia, but I assiduously cut the flowers before they produce seed, which, in turn stimulates a second crop of flowers.

Last week I suggested this was a border that needed exploring to fully appreciate.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle' is about to flower in front of the already flowering Excelsior rose.

Which is the most enjoyable. The rising sun catching the tips of the western trees, or the setting sun, the eastern. I guess it depends on the quality of your day, or night.

The Spirea needs a heavy after flower pruning, it is taking over the garden.

I couldn't resist.

Wildflower patch update

Do I see a hint of green

The warm wet weather has certainly hastened seed germination. The weather is now set for a dry spell, but daily watering should continue the growth.

Predation by grazers

I appreciate that a normal infestation of tent caterpillars will cause no long term harm to this mature Willow (back)

But our apple tree that has become biennial bearing in its old age, needs all the leaves it can muster to bring this heavy crop to maturity

Therefore I cut out all caterpillar tents, before any real damage is done.

The same goes for our Blackcurrant bushes,

 

Mulberry tree

 

 which also has to contend with grazing deer

 

and one of our Philadelphus.

 

Having collected all the nests I dispose of them with my flame weeder.

 Betula nigra

Cercis canadensis

Prunus cultivars

are other trees that are suseptable to tent caterpillars here at Stonewell Farm.

Pruning to promote flowers.

The Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) is prone to flopping when flowering, by cutting back in May and then again in July

The shortened stems display the fall flowers at their best

 I also prune (once) our Fall flowering Asters for the same reason. This is the new growth from an early June cut back.

This year I am cutting back some of our Sunflowers (last week)

or they can rapidly grow to four feet and swamp smaller plants

At this time of year, (before flowering) I am never sure if we have Helianthus, or Heliopsis

I should hedge my bet and claim them to be Heliopsis helianthoides