On Sunday night and most of Monday there was heavy rain with thunder and lightning to make things even more exciting. With so much rain the garden is beginning to really return to the green colour that I haven’t seen since spring.
Blue, blue Perovskia
Prostrate rosemary is flowering and attracting numerous bees and blue butterflies
I added 3 sedum plants, taken as cuttings last year, the others were all planted last year, these three were slower to grow for some reason
I’ve been adding some Euphorbia rigida, plants that self seeded from the plant in the Large Island
Stipa tenuissima is a fresh green now
Even the Stipa tenuissima that I cut back so drastically a few weeks ago is now growing well. It still shows the dreadful line where it was cut, but I’m slowly getting around, pulling out the dead thatch from the base allowing the lovely fine grass to waft in the wind.
Pennesetun
Looking up from the gate
What’s happening in your garden today? Is there one plant that has been flowering for months that makes you smile every time you see it?
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
You can really see the difference the cooler weather and rain has made! I can’t believe your Perovskia, it’s been going strong for months now! Fantastic! We’re having strange weather right now…it’s been freezing or nearly freezing at night, but the daytime temperatures are soaring. Some of my perennials that are usually getting ready for their winter sleep are still blooming. So interesting.
It’s still relatively warm here at night. I don’t think I cope cope with freezing yet!
Goodness, what a transformation from the rain. Hopefully one day my own perovskia will look like that, spectacular in a wafty, gentle, romantic sort of way. I am also wondering about using some prostrate rosemary as and when I finally get the pointy end of the front garden cleared it could work well I think.
It can be slow to establish, then it grows beautifully. It ‘coats’ walls like custard on a pudding!
Your Perovskia is so impressive! It just keeps on going doesn’t it 🙂 I love your slope updates and see some of that lovely blue sky too! As you saw in my post yesterday I have a few plants that keep on flowering and they really do make me smile. Especially when it’s pouring down like winter today!!
Your garden is sitting up and looking happy with the extra rain. My garden is drinking up the rain with fervour too. My nepeta has been flowering for months and its visitors have given me such pleasure but there are far fewer flowers now and I should really cut it back. It will be like saying goodbye to an old friend.
It was too dry for my Nepeta to flower all summer but it did flower for a long time and gives such a lovely hazy colour in the background.
E’ vero Christina anche io ho visto che dopo tanto tempo il giardino comincia di nuovo a prendere vigore e colore. Ho lavorato tantissimo oggi fuori. Da me una pianta che non ha mai smesso di fiorire è la tulbaghia, ma anche la perovskia. Non so cosa sia successo al mio cisto è rimasto solo un ramo verde il resto è secco credo…
Looks good! The rain and cooler temps must be a relief. I was wondering if you have ever considered some American plants that like sun and can take dry soil – like Winecups, Butterflyweed, or Blue False Indigo.
Apart from the blue False Indigo you’re going to have to tell me their Latin names as I really have no idea what plants you mean! and yes, I’m certainly willing to try plants from other places that will suit my conditions.
Sure! Butterflyweed is Asclepias tuberosa, and Wine Cups is Callirhoe inolucrata.
Thank you. I have grown Asclepias tuberosa, but it died, I think the winters here are too cold for it. Callirhoe inolucrata I will look up; it’s always good to know what grows well for other gardeners.
Too bad the A. tuberosa died, but it wouldn’t be because the winters are too cold, since it handles the winters fine as far north as USDA zone 4, which includes chilly places like Wisconsin and Minnesota. Could it have been A. curassavica (not sure on sp), which is tropical?
No, it was definately A.tuberrosa
I like the colour and form of Callirhoe inolucrata, the information varies as to how drought tolerant it is. If I can find some seeds I will try it. It would be good in the ‘Magenta zone’!
Ooh, ooh, ooh…what a little rainfall will dooh, ooh, ooh. I could show you what a LOTTA rainfall will do, but it’s not a pretty sight.
nice to see the rain is doing some good some where, Christina the slope is looking good, the green tuffs of stipa will soon fill out, enjoy your rain, Frances
The rest of the week has been glorious sunshine; warm just the right temperature for working in the garden. Hope ou have more sun soon.
thanks but it will take more than hope,
I definately moved in the wrong direction!! Frances 😦
It’s nice the rain has lengthened the greening of your garden. Hope your sedum takes off. I have found it can be a useful addition to the garden.
Sedum are one of the mainstays of the garden, they look good in all seasons and thrive in drought conditions…..and so easy to propagate.
The helianthus and asters are still the stars…
I am glad you had some rain! Your slope is lovely; I really like all the blues and silvers and pinks! Your Perovskia looks so pretty, and I love your prostrate rosemary. Hopefully, you will get more rain as it is needed.
Your wish has come true, we have had rain every day so far this week.