elegance and flowers

Unfortunately, DH has a special affection for pot marigolds. I thought I'd got rid of them all this year, systematically pulling them out, but he was delighted when he found some straggly seedlings growing at the back of the border.

Gertrude Jekill (sp?) is my guide, and Beth Chatto too.

It's the first year my cottage garden borders are really blending without any gaps- most of my plants were brought from our UK garden. All perennials, and I can assure you no pot marigolds in sight! Just about to burst- can't wait for the peonies and even more, the massive tree peony which seemed ver sad the first two years- but he now amazing, with massive dark flowers. I saw one about 1/4 of the size at the French garden centre yesterday- 64.50 Euros!!

The secret of a great cottage garden is continuation- so that when some flowers finish, others come into flower, and so on- here from May to October- so must Chelsea chop some cranesbill and phlox, etc, next week so they don't all flower at once. And a bit of madness and tolerance too- I have aqualegia of dozens of colours, including double bonnets- which self seed, and borage too- not always where I would have planned them. But I let them get on with it-unless they are truly in the way or over-shadowing other plants I want to protect (had to pull some out from around a rose, as it was being suffocated). Coloured Swiss chard, purple fennel, some mints- do mix well too. Just love it- and perfect for an old Vicarage 429 years old.

I like Monty,what's not to like,as to Corben,good grief,there's no comparison.

Just braved the wind and rain. Some minor damage and things blown over, but nothing that won't recover. Our banana has lost its new leaves, but it grows so fast that they will be replaced in a few weeks. The rambling rose through our apple tree is hanging down across the path, but I can tie it back in when the weather improves.

None of my roses are in bloom yet. The climber, despite my best attentions, is slowly losing its leaves to rust again. I sprayed it and it seemed to be looking ok, but I seem to be taking a handful of affected leaves off most days. It's covered in buds; shame, but I think it will have to go at the end of this season. None of the other roses seem to be affected. A very good show of geum Mrs Bradshaw this year though. I was absolutely livid yesterday to find that the square stone planter outside my front door which was full of fuschias just coming into flower had been attacked by cats and most of the plants and soil were on the floor.

Same here WW, rose are magnificent, new blooms every morning.

If the roses in my garden are anything to go by it is going to be a good year for roses - except those that fall down

Yeah, I have a car now so I can get to other garden centres and open gardens, starting this next month! Bring it on. (If I can breathe ).

Nellie - my Geoffrey Hamilton rose has suddenly produced masses of buds. So excited waiting for it to bloom!

jing I'm growing mine as a standard in a big pot. That was to molify my DH as well. I got it from Crocus and am prunning it as advised by RHS. Mine is a Japanese blue one with hopefully a good scent.

Must dash as supposed to be getting ready to take the dog to be clipped and then a picnic. Bloody cold though. Her Maj has picnics in the freezing cold so I am in good company.

DH won't let me grow one up our house. Yet when we saw one on holiday, he remarked how lovely it was! Grrr.

How old is it Nellie. I'm trying to get my to be a standard and it is a grafted about 3 years old

Ah Geoffrey Hamilton! He was a gardener. He would would say about a garden plants if that's what you like then grow it.
He did not like snobbishness about garden design.
A bit like me I buy plants I like and find somewhere to put them whether or not they don't fit anyone's design requirements. For me it's about lovely plants not garden design.
(Did I mention my lovely Wisteria which has just produced lots of flowers for the very first time. ) I am like a mother who can't stop gazing at her new baby.

No I've just remembered its proper name - heliotrope - smells like cherries

Sorry! found the one you mean

cherry pie

Just looked up cherry pie. After wading through a lot of recipes () I find that it is a type of marijuana. Do you need to tell us something whitewave?

Oh no I've just looked at it and it isn't. I don't think I've ever grown that. That's on next years list or even sow in September this year.

Is mignonette the same as cherry pie jing?

I grow NSS every single year. They are at their best on warm summer nights. So not that often then?

Thank for all the suggestions, heading to the garden centre soon. My thinking atm is
Lavender
Night Scented stocks
Dianathus

I like the smell of nicotina, but the plants I have grown in the past are a bit leggy for a tub.
Roses - a bit big (the sort we like)and we have dozens already, and a fragrant climber just behind seat.

Please keep ideas coming.

mignonette here in case no one remembers it. It's quite hard to find these days. People like more showy plants.

Does anyone remember mignonette? Not much to look at but, oh the scent!

Night scented Stocks and a Nicotiana with a good scent would be good by a garden seat if you sit out in the evenings. You have to be careful with Nicotiana. Some of them are disappointingly unscented. The white ones are the best for smell.