Ver-bee-na

I always think verbena is a really summery flower. I bought two a couple of years ago and thought I had lost both in frosts but they seem to have self-seeded (when I bought them someone in the garden centre said they had really spread) - I've found them in various parts of the garden - I guess because they are so tall the seeds go quite a distance. Good news for me in my 275ft garden.

Eaten again

These were healthy-looking mange tout (Norli). Healthy until they got eaten by those slimey things. Been a bad year for beans and peas on the veg plot (although the broad beans were brill - will do more for next year).

Not pretty

Hmmm...I kind of had a bad feeling about this choisya when I saw how feeble the root system was. It was salvaged from a friend's front garden and was worth a go at saving. It didn't stand much of a chance with so few roots and transplanted in our excessively hot April. I had it under an umbrella and watered it everyday but it still couldn't cope. Still, my mum's given me a big pittosporum to fill it's place - being planted this afternoon (if I can resist more toast).

Cuttings

I've been busy already today (just enjoying some toast with jam and cheese - try it, lovely) . I took some cuttings early this morning (the best time). These are:

• everlasting wallflowers (our site is so windy, especially in winter, I've decided to grow new each year from cuttings, otherwise they look rather woody)
• Physocarpus opilifolius Diabolo - a big, beefy purple-leaved shrub with pretty pink flowers in summer. This is for my brother, he's got an empty garden at the mo and needs a bit of structure.
  
• Rosemary - Mrs Jessop's Upright
• a pretty shrub that I can't find the label for - has variegated leaves and lilac spokes of flowers at the end of summer
• penstemon 'Stapleford Gem'
  

Trouble is my cold frame is full with Pak Choi, spring greens and lettuce, all sown in trays last Thursday (and they are showing already). Not sure where the cuttings are going to live...might have to take over a windowsill...

Star for August

This clematis was a cheapo purchase from Woolies to climb up a homemade obelisk-type structure that we made. The obelisk soon fell over in the wind and needed emergency staking to remain upright. 'Emergency' staking has become rather permanent and it doesn't look very pretty (hence no photo). Obelisk now called wobelisk. Nice clem though not sure which one it is - the box of labels is out of reach and I have home-highlights on my hair. Nuff said.

Ready for planting

We cleared the weeds (dense brambles and bindweed) and now the beds around our beach area are all clear and ready to be planted. How exciting. I have tons of stuff put aside for this moment, including about eight Coreopsis Zamphir plants grown from seed. I'm planning to empty a few pots on the patio here - thought this would mean less work with watering - bit of a joke this year though.

Wet deck

Having successfully avoided giving the deck a second coat of preservative (I promised I would do this but failed...doghouse for me), Chris gave in and did a top job. We were amazed at the rain just sitting on top.