[This is not Ms Scarlet. This is Barney her canine companion]
M s S C A R L E T
My garden saw some new additions in 2025, namely a higher fence, and a larger dog. There were also some plant purchases, which included an apple tree in early Spring, and some Asters, which gave some much needed colour in early autumn. There was also something that had orange flowers - dead common, grows in hedgerows, and just about everywhere else, but I can't remember what it's called. We bought it in the hope that it would see off the ground elder.
The big pink bush did its thing in late spring - not as vibrant as last year, but still in the pink. 2025 was a good year for the Hawthorn tree, but not as good as 2023.
[Pieris japonica - possibly "Flaming Silver" - in April - IDV]
"This is not THE big pink bush, but a different pink bush that flowers earlier in the year" said Ms Scarlet, here.
[From the end of April: the new apple tree, one supposes - IDV]
[Hawthorn blossom in May. If you click to embiggen, beneath the tree you might spy the graceful stems of Solomon's seal (Polygonatum x hybridum) in the shadows, a clump of blue perennial cornflowers (Centaurea montana) in the centre at the edge of the "lawn", and what might be some primroses/primulas just to the left - IDV]
[The Big Pink Bush™ in May - IDV]
[June: Ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) - IDV]
[Foxglove!!! (Digitalis purpurea) - IDV]
"a big mauve shrub thing"
[AKA a smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) with what looks like an enormous poo bag underneath! Whatever did Barney have for his tea the night before?!? - IDV]
[July: Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare, I think?) - IDV]
[Ms Scarlet's arty Hydrangea - 2025 edition! - IDV]
[August: I think this "dead common" Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) is the "something that had orange flowers" Ms Scarlet bought to "see off the ground elder"? - IDV]
"[...] a higher fence [...]" (September)
[I rather like Ms Scarlet's new 'dot dot dash dot dot dash' fence - IDV]
[September mist - IDV]
[I think this October flowering daisy is some sort of marguerite? - IDV]
"[...] some Asters, which gave some much needed colour in early autumn."
My garden is large and somewhat messy with an abundance of bramble and ferns. We've tried really hard this year to keep on top of it, but I think the birds and wild creatures like it as it is!
And this concludes my entry for the Infomaniac Garden Contest* 2025.
It seems I took a lot of pictures this year - blame the sun!!
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Thank you, Ms Scarlet! Your garden - and its view - is lovely. And quite pink at times. Barney is a very lucky (and handsome) young man to have such a space to play in. Your birds and wildlife, too.
* Ahem! May I take this opportunity to remind you all that The Infomaniac Garden Photos Event is NOT a competition!
Everything, including the view, is just lovely! And I feel that I know you so much better now that I've had a good long look at your big pink bush, dear.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha!!!!
DeleteThank you, Ms Nations!
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I agree with Ms Nations. And I/we desperately NEED such a fence here! I lived for years in Swiss Cottage (NW London) and ground elder was a bit thuggish. The chap who did the local paper round also brewed his own wine, including elder.
ReplyDeleteMr Blue made the fence after a lot of nagging and cracking of the whip. I don't actually do anything, I simply direct.
DeleteI don't think the white flowery plant was the ground elder - just something that looks very much like it? It was too...nice? Posh ground elder?
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It seems to me like you were instrumental in the fence coming into being, Ms Scarlet. Without your "encouragement", would Mr Blue have constructed the fence? (Mr Blue sounds a like me in needing a lot of such encouragement to begin a task.)
DeleteI did wonder about the (obviously very posh) ground elder flowers. I looked at the little leaves on the flower stems to identify it (in case the flowers were coming from another plant just out of shot), but could easily be wrong.
RHS says "Ground elder is a useful plant to wildlife and people, so not all gardeners view it as a weed." And "Ground elder has a long history of medicinal and edible uses" and "also makes an attractive groundcover plant for wild areas, with delicate-looking umbels of tiny white flowers lasting a couple of months."
Ha! Yes, Mr Blue does need a lot of encouragement! The previous fence came down in a storm, plus it was rotten, and the farmer had done very little to keep his cows in and was reliant on a wall of brambles. The brambles have all gone for the time being; the farmer has put up a barb wire fence, and I have my lovely wooden slatted fence, so all good! Huge improvement. Though I might have lost my voice via nagging.
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Oh, the farmer had Giant Japanese Knotweed in his field in summer. It was dealt with properly, but I am keeping an eye out for it resurfacing.
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Brilliant garden photos, sweetpea! It seems to me y'all are doing a great job! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Savvy!!
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There is just about everything imaginable beneath the Hawthorn tree! It's beyond the fence so it's left to its own devices!
ReplyDeleteAnd that IS NOT a giant poo bag - it is evidence of weeding!! Though probably not by me. It is waiting for a trip to the dump, and yes, it's still there - but yay, a whole new fence!!
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Ah, my apologies, Ms Scarlet I can't have had my glasses on when sorting out your photos. (And it probably didn't help that I can almost see up Barney's bum in that photo!)
DeleteYep, Barney is fond of bombing a photo. To be honest he does produce a lot of poo, but they usually make it into the lane side poo bins promptly!
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A joy to peep in, thank you MsScarlet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mr Mags!
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How lovely! I love that "borrowed view" - Devon's rolling hills are beautiful. in the brief periods when it's not raining, of course 😄
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos of some prize specimens! Jx
Jon - it's flipping raining right now and the mud is doing its stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have a terrific view of Dartmoor from here and can see the snow on the peaks sometimes - it's an ever changing view that we're lucky to have.
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Hello Ms Scarlet,
ReplyDeleteWhen in England, we are in Devonshire.....never realised in this virtual reality that we are neighbours when we are not in Budapest.
Your dog looks adorable but has the scheming glint in his eye that suggests he is a lawn wrecker. Nevertheless, the Solomon's Seal, the Michaelmas Daisies and the 'Annabelle'? Hydrangea look lovely but, from our gardening days, we know from bitter experience that no living plant, tree or shrub can outwit Ground Elder. Just pull and pull and pull until, many pulls later, it gives up.:):)
Hello, Jane and Lance!
DeleteYou are correct about Barney, re the glint and the lawn! And thank you for the advice about the Elder. I have a horrible feeling that we brought it with us from Kent!
Are you based in South Devon when in the UK?
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Darling Ms. Scarlet,
DeleteWe are in East Devon, Budleigh Salterton [yes, the very one immortalised by Noel Coward] on the sea. We love it there but not as much as Budapest where our cat, Harriet, makes it home.
Oh, I like Budleigh Salterton - my aunt lived there for awhile - and yes, home is where the cat or dog is!
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A lovely tour! I didn't know ground Elder was athing, or a problem, so I read up on it, aka "Goutweed", I have a mild case of Gout from time to time thanks to the English side of my family, but so far 1/4 cup walnuts for 3 days take it away when I do get the rare flare up. If you have the problem, give the walnut trick a try. Its something in the walnut oil.
ReplyDeleteBarney is just so stinkin' cute! I love all the pictures. I would so love to come for tea sometime!
Thank you, cousin Blue! The gout gene seems to have passed me by, and I am grateful for that as I know that it's a painful affliction - but it's good to know the ground Elder might help as there is a lack of walnuts hereabouts. Walnuts also make great ink, but I've not tried the recipe yet.
DeleteYou are welcome to tea anytime!!! Barney would love to say hello - he's a bouncy lad, but he is very affectionate.
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It's funny. My favorite picture was September Mist! Stunning Scarlet!!!!!! A nice selection this year! My favorite were the snowdrops and the flaming silver and of all things the gorund Edler. I love just a vase filled with it! Bravo Scarlet! And what's not to like about the new pup?
ReplyDeletePlease never plant any ground Elder, Ms Maddie!!! You will regret it!!!! But, I agree, it can look kind of pretty.
ReplyDeleteThe snowdrops are on my little dog's grave, so they are there for Sid, along with some lavender and other plants that flower throughout the year. I couldn't leave him out of the Garden contest.
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I, too, find that my bush lacks the vibrancy of previous seasons. Everything is looking splendid in your garden, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI'm taken with the September mist coupled with the wispy mauve bush they're giving off ethereal vibes and your pink bush is as radiant as ever.
ReplyDeleteI love everything but not the Ground Elder.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing view. It almost makes me miss Devon. The South Hams are my bit of Devon stretching up to Dartmoor.
A mild, wet climate perfect for gardening and your garden is a joy; Oh and so is Barney.