Yes 
It’s been a while since I blogged, and it’s well overdue for a catch up.
No major changes have happened recently in the garden. It’s now becoming well established, with maintenance and tweaking the order of the day. Humdrum stuff really!
But at the height of summer, with everything blooming and smelling divine, I just had to share!
I love hydrangea “Annabelle ” at this time of year, just as the flower heads change from lime green to pure white.
And, as always, when June moves into July, we have the battle for perfume champion.
It’s always the roses…
…. versus the philadelphus.
Mind you, there are other contenders, too.
Jasmine….
….and our “borrowed” honeysuckle!
I’m afraid the jury’s still out!
Chloris http://thebloominggarden.wordpress.com/ has been asking which new scented plants, I’ve purchased in the meantime. Not so many, I’m afraid! I’m having to be more disciplined as space is becoming limited. I’ve bought Cistus purpurea to add to the Cottage border, to replace a failing rose, (which has now sprung back into life in a pot – typical!) and a Calycanthus “Venus” for the same reason! (But that’s for another time!)
Of course, there’s also the impulse buy from Malvern show, Rhaphiolepsis umbellata, which is still languishing in its pot, while I ponder where to put it. Must get this one right first time – it won’t tolerate being moved.
And my most recent purchase is – surprise, surprise – not scented! It was bought at the local carnival this weekend and was not an impulse buy. It was one that was premeditated for adding to my collection of blue glazed foliage pots, a dark leaved Phormium, to set off the other surrounding dark planting. (Sadly, with no label!)
I’ve also experimented with seasonal pots, using night scented phlox (easier than Zaluzianskya ovata!) as the main ingredient, which I’ve grown from seed. This is the first time in many years I’ve dabbled in this aspect of the garden. I’ve planted up two large pots and used them alongside complementary summer bedding.
The first is a large, metallic planter where I’ve picked up on the white flowers of the phlox backed with purple, and paired it with a scented Petunia (of course!), one whose perfume takes me back to summer holidays.
The other is in a brown and white glazed pot, where I chose a white begonia with the darkest, chocolate brown leaves I could find, to plant with the phlox, to match the planter.
The rest of the phlox plants I grew have been planted in a couple of containers on their own. As yet, the phlox is yet to flower, though it’s not far off. You can just see them starting to open in the brown pot.
Elsewhere in the garden, the Grass garden was really in need of an overhaul, due to some plants, including, I’m afraid to say, weeds, taking over. It’s now settling in and performing well.
So that’s a round up of our main developments!
And it’s good to be getting back into the swing again! So will see you again soon!
The Long Garden Path 
Lovely to catch up with your garden news. I have Calycanthus Hartlage Wine, but Venus is new to me, it’s lovely. Another beautifully fragrant flower to grow from seed for pots is Dianthus superbus.
Thank you, Chloris! I will look out for that one and hopefully try it next year. Yes, the flower of Venus is quite exquisite! Strangely, the flowers take on a black speckle as they age!
Gosh, your garden really has matured since we saw it, and your pots are adding another dimension. I am increasingly realising the joys of scented plants so will look out some of the plants you have nentioned. Good to have a post from you and hope your garden design business is taking off
Thank you Cathy! Please try out some scented plants – it adds a whole new dimension to the garden, especially at night! And thanks for your best wishes for the business. Slow and steady just now – the day job gets in the way!
Good to catch-up with your garden again, at this time of year it is difficult to find time to read and write blogs.