Margaret's Garden Journal for August 2010

Ornamental section of back garden

The drought of early july cut short the roses' flowering period and faded the green from the crocosmia foliage. However the crocosmia flowers held up well. Once again Lucifer preceded Lady Oxford and finished first

The tall yellow cone flowers in the front garden had spread so much and the wind had knocked so many down I had to cut many stems away as they were smothering other plants. However, I have discovered that, displayed on their own, they make superb floral displays in the house. I will however have to dig some up in Autumn. I may replace them with the shorter daintier variety that are blooming well and spreading fast in the back garden

The surviving overwintered dahlias, came into flower late because of the long winter, except for the cerise cacti variety in the back garden. Some of the new cacti I bought in look promising and I am ploeased with some of this years Bishop's greatgrandchildren seedlings

This is the month of bountiful berries.Loganberries finished early in the month to be replaced by blackberries and the earlier of the autumn raspberries.

There were fewer plums than in the prolific earlier years but the quality has been far better this year.