Ch-ch-ch-changes
Cur the lilac back to the bare bones. If I have killed it my defence will be that Monty Don did the same to his in last week’s GW. Planted 6 very short-lived sunflowers and four morning glory seedlings.
Successes
Hawkbit in the lawn in full bloom, justifying all those times I thought about mowing it down but didn’t. Self-seeded Nigella is flowering and looking great. Overlooked at the end of the garden, the solitary lavender in flower and the campion is zinging zingily. The hosta remains miraculously unslugged all month (and, spoiler, into the next).
Both the hydrangeas look good Annabelle more advanced than the smaller Limelight in the west- facing bed. The Black-Eyed Susan is doing well.
The achillea is flowering by June 23. First buds on the day lilies. Brunnera silver spear is recovered from slugs and having been watered is putting on new leaves. The astilbe is flowering. Lots of new growth on the mahonia and the nandina is getting ready to flower. The loosestrife/alchemilla corner looks lovely as always.
The privet on the patio is flowering. Sitting underneath it is like being gently snowed on.
Hmmms
So far the casualties claimed by slugs and snails this month include five of six sunflower seedlings, three of four morning glory seedlings, the hylomecon bought from the Garden Museum, the acanthus in the back bed of which only two puny flower spikes survived and a handful of skeleton leaves. The garden museum salvia has about a third of one leaf remaining uneaten, although amazingly it seems to be growing back.
One of the hebes is dead, the other is hanging on but not looking healthy – might need to find a replacement for that next year.
Pond is covered with tiny green leaves but it’s hard to clear it without also clearing tadpoles. It will have to wait to be cleared, but the pond generally looks a bit unkempt – the lilies are overgrown and the lack of rain means the water level is right down.
Weather
Hot most of the month cycling between mid 20s and mind-30s. No sign of rain
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