wendyswonderlandgarden

My passion in life is gardening and specifically growing flowers from seed

Summer 2023 Review

I start again by apologising for the silence. I haven’t really done much gardening this summer due to the weather although I don’t like to complain about it. I thought I’d do a little review of the summer in the garden. I’ll try to be as positive as I can!

I decided this year to try and grow less from seed to make things easier for myself. I sowed cosmos and none came up at all. I think they prefer peat based compost and I refuse to use it. I also tried to grow Tithonia from seed which has been successful in previous years but this time I think they were eaten before they grew very much at all. I did have success with the Sweetpeas which I sowed for myself and my friend but they were a little slow especially to flower but after a lot of rain got going

I wanted a few Ammi but the seeds are so small I ended up with about 100. I gave a lot away and planted some but they need better support than I’ve given them.

I have grown some wallflowers from seed too and they are very easy and are currently in the greenhouse waiting to be planted out.

It has been a great year for roses and I include a few pictures here. Sorry I can’t name them all

Fruit wise – we had less raspberries this year but that’s maybe because we had less plants. I had one Cherry I think off my tree this year and it’s looking rather unhappy with black curling leaves. The tomatoes are doing well, beefsteak and cherry ones and I have some in hanging baskets.

Finally a few of my containers – my hanging basket had a sunflower seed in it (not planted by me) and it’s how flowering

Also my new wheelbarrow is flowering well with pansies

Wordless Wednesday- Phlox

Sidalcea Elsie Heugh

Another plant has never appeared on here before. I have a couple of them and they do pretty well in my cottage garden improved clay soil

RHS Tatton Park flower show 2023

It’s a few years since I’ve been to this flower show for several reasons including lockdowns. When I got up this morning it was raining so much I was regretting having got the tickets because I thought the rain would spoil it. Fortunately, however, by the time we set off it had really cleared up so although muddy we didn’t get very wet. There were lots of gardens to see, show gardens, school ones and various new exhibits such as the long borders and I liked the vast majority. Also the amazing floral marquee. I didn’t buy a single plant but did take a lot of pictures some of which are below

Dahlia Cafe Au Lait

Sweetpeas 2023

They’ve taken a while to get going this year likely due to strange weather but finally they are flowering and smelling beautiful

Wordless Wednesday- roses

Peony

Another flower that hasn’t been posted about before. We have several Peonies and this is by far the best

Campanula

I don’t think I’ve ever posted a picture of this on here before. It’s a very easy going flower and I have it in blue and white in the garden. Not sure where it came from but I’m very happy it’s here. It’s very easy going and seems to grow anywhere, I never water it just cut it to the ground when the flowers have finished

Wordless Wednesday- Owl planter