Flower fun

I must water everything first off. This heat hasn’t resulted in a typical Ardeche rainstorm yet. One is predicted tomorrow, but until then I shall have to make liberal use of the hose. Luckily the source is almost full. Just a foot off the top of the tank, so there must be water somewhere.

I was itching to start on the flower garden, but first I had to rescue the clematis that is supposed to be climbing the walnut tree. Instead it was lurking in the long grass. Rescued also the seedlings I am supposed to plant in the garden under the wisteria. They were gasping. I want to plant some kniphofia (is that how it’s spelt? Red hot pokers, but in that case green) and some echinacea green envy here. But so far they are still in their pots and further down the To Do list today.

To reach the new cutting garden behind the potting shed I do have to go past the sight of a few more pots that are still in the hot and thirst-enducing shed. Guilt ridden about the red hot pokers, instead I plant out all the mint that has been lifted from the mint prison for the winter (it had a lovely display of tulips and narcissus instead) and so far neglected to be returned.

Duty done, it was down to the fun of flowers: I started with a major Agastache plant. It’s a good do-er so I am planting scads. I think I will eventually plant a hedge of it facing the shed wall. But for now it’s in the wrong place and will have to stay there until spring. But I have planted clumps in around the liatris spicata bulbs at the edge of the wall.

Lots of water and a good mulch and then fish blood and bone. My they are being spoilt. But this is now a warm sunny spot so they need nurturing.

I had to uproot lots of stipa grasses that I have grown from seed. They are to go onto the bank below the pool. Poor things, they have just got going, but I need the room for flowers, and they will do a better job down by the edge. I dread going out at all now. It’s 28C and a warm wind is quite desiccating. But there were more seedlings to do. I planted sunflowers and zinnias and sorted out the netting to use as a flower support. Remembered almost too late that I need paths in between. And then managed to find a space for the three dahlias I have revived from their tuberous winter state.

There are plenty more rows of things to go – but they are still too small to risk planting out. My cleomes are too tiny and it’s a miracle they germinated, so I don’t want to kill them just yet.

Ended day planting stipas in the bank below the pool and feeling that things are coming along nicely indeed.