Mollycoddling plants ready for our Open Day
A plant-packed suburban London garden that is accessible all year.
With our NGS Open Day approaching at the end of the month, we’re watering, watering, watering. It’s a real struggle to keep motivated in this relentless heat, but, after all, it’s a labour of love.
With the last of the heavy pruning completed – Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’ has certainly lived up to its name of flamingo willow with its new shoots of pink and white. My main objective from now on is to mollycoddle the late summer flowers into opening in time for our visitors.
The tree lilies are just starting to open, so they may well be over by July 29. Rose ‘Oxfordshire’ is flowering profusely, although its pink blooms have been bleached almost white in the sun!
David has installed his new watering can fountain, and is busy creating wall art made from driftwood for our new boundary wall.
I’m filling gaps in the borders with late-flowering perennials. It’s far from ideal to plant now but needs must. In these extreme weather conditions it has proved really important to follow the ‘right plant, right place’ rule and, in some cases, it has been a steep learning curve.
The water pressure isn’t sufficient to maintain the irrigation system on the roof terrace so some of the plants are suffering, although the grasses and red hot pokers are coping. Getting the hose up there is no laughing matter, so it’s every plant for itself.
In the greenhouse, the tomatoes have yet to produce more than one or two flower trusses, although the cucumbers are thriving in the humidity.
Containers and hanging baskets are getting a weekly feed as I’m sure with so much watering all the goodness in their soil must leech out. Persicaria ‘Painter’s Palette’ is the most eye-catching plant in the garden now. The blue, white and lemon border is at its peak, with salvia ‘Caradonna’ and agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’, achilleas ‘The Pearl’ and ‘Moonshine’ and Nepeta govaniana all looking good.
At the sunny end of the patio chartreuse green and dark chocolate ipomoea, copper coleus ‘Campfire’, red begonias, fuchsia ‘Thalia’ and stripy cannas create a tropical hot spot, contrasting with cool ferns, heucheras and hostas at the opposite shady end. Now in its second year, the Cornus kousa ‘Robert’ is covered in waxy, white panicles, so much better looking than its predecessor, the spotted laurel.
On our recent horticultural society coach tour we visited the gardens of Kent and East Sussex, including Driftwood garden in Seaford, owned by fellow Over The Fence contributor Geoff Stonebanks. Geoff’s garden is a real feast for the eyes. He’s a terrific host who made our party feel so welcome. Thanks Geoff. l Visit www.ngs.org.uk for more details of our Open Day on July 29.