GPE #2 : Jon's & Madam Arcati's Glorious Spells

Despite the fact that it has been a pretty mild (and on occasions glorious) spell of weather lately, the Spring and summer of 2024 in London were mainly pretty grotty. As I recall, we had a couple of days of sun in June, and in late July/early August we had a proper blast of heat, but then it once again went to shit until October.

 

Regardless, the extensive gardens here at 

 

D O L O R E S

D E L A R G O

 T O W E R S

 

                                                                               still managed to provide us with some stunners – the ferns [every one of which has self-seeded, so we have dozens of new plants], lilies, clematis, begonias, hemerocallis. thalictrums, daffs, tulips, brodiaea, taro, aquilegia, lobelias, pelargoniums, hesperis, verbena, agastache, tradescantia, brunnera, veronica, geraniums and roses all did us proud (and of course the salvias, impatiens and fuchsias, which continue to do so); but the phloxes (all varieties), hydrangea, campanula, dianthus and dahlias all struggled compared to previous years. It was probably just too gloomy for them – what with the preponderance of grey days, and the encroaching canopy of bastard weed trees that blocks more and more light off our garden every year.

 

So, on with the show… In a melodrama akin to “Sophie’s Choice”, I have slimmed down the myriad photos we’ve accumulated since the beginning of the year to one “Star of the Month” each month to date. And here they are:

 

Jan 2024 – Ipheion uniflorum

 

 

Feb 2024 – Primula

 

 

Mar 2024 – Narcissus Thalia

 

 

Apr 2024 - Doronicum orientale 'Leonardo'

 

 

May 2024 - Scilla peruviana

 

 

Jun 2024 - Rosa 'Veilchenblau'

 

 

Jul 2024 - Lobelia speciosa “Starship Scarlet Bronze”

 [Must get one of these next year - IDV]

 

Aug 2024 - Fuchsia 'RAF'

 

 

Sep 2024 - Salvia 'Rockin Fuchsia'

 

 

Oct 2024 - Geranium 'Rozanne' [which has been in flower since May]

 

 

But there is a “Star of the Year”, of which I am particularly proud: 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2023, Agapanthus “BlackJack”!

 

 

Roll on next year...

 

☙❧

 

 Thank you Jon and Madam Arcati for sharing the results of your gardening witchcraft!  It's all as lovely as always.

 The next stop on our tour will be in Melanie's neck of the woods, so make sure you pop back on Friday to have a wander around.