It has been a while since I posted about my cut flower patch. This has been mainly to do with the weather. I’m so glad this wasn’t my first year on my plot, otherwise I may be wondering why I had thought getting an allotment was such a good idea. In many ways it has been my flowers that have suffered the most in all the rain. There were some days when I didn’t want to even look at the flower beds. Even worse, is catching sight of photos from last year. The comparison between 2011′s floral abundance and this year’s damp squib makes my heart sink.
Daucus carota ‘Black Knight’
It hasn’t been a complete disaster though and perseverance has paid off. This is the first year I have grown Daucus carota ‘Black Knight’ and Ammi visnaga but both proved to be difficult to get going. The first sowings were eaten by slugs and the second failed to germinate; I’m sure they rotted because it was just so wet. Not one to give up though, I sowed some in seed trays and nurtured them to a decent size before planting out. And finally, in the last week or so I have flowers on both plants. It’s really quite late in the season but better late than never.
Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’
My Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’ are flowering now and should go on until the first frosts.
Scabious have been one of my great successes. Another new introduction to my cutting patch, not only have they provided plenty of flowers, I’ve discovered that their seed heads are very pretty and look lovely used in arrangements, too. And, if that wasn’t enough, the insects can’t get enough of them. Every day now they are covered in hoverflies, bees and butterflies.
Nasturtiums have given not only a splash of heat from their red flowers, even on the dullest and wettest of days, they have been a great addition to salads and I’ve discovered that they last about 5 days if picked and put in a vase.
It’s not just my own plot though that is providing a splash of colour amongst the fruit and veg. There is a large patch of fennel on one plot. I love its architectural flowers and their yellow umbels are a magnet for hoverflies.
More and more flowers have appeared on site this year and I’m particularly envious of one neighbour’s plot and his zinnias, rudbeckias and asters. His allotment shows the difference having a greenhouse makes, especially when our weather isn’t playing ball. He also buys his plants in as plug plants which is something I may consider next year, although I’m always disappointed at the varieties on offer and the large quantities in which you have to buy. I really don’t want 24 plants of one type of rudbeckia!
In my garden, the brilliant purple of Verbena bonariensis is providing a great source of nectar for the butterflies which have appeared at last. I love it and the shot of colour it provides and I’ve got my fingers crossed it might still attract a hummingbird hawkmoth into the garden this year. Along with it are the plumes of Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ and the excellent Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ which does exactly what it says, sending out blooms from late June right through until late October.
Hydrangea ‘Lime Light’
In complete contrast, in the shady border, Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ has large panicles of ivory-white flowers. My shady border is really at its best in spring and I’ve found it hard to keep the interest going into the latter part of the year so I’m particularly chuffed to see that ‘Limelight’, planted last autumn, seems very happy in its spot. Continuing the white theme is Anemone japonica ‘Honorine Jobert’. It’s white flowers and yellow centres slightly remind me of a poached egg. It is much better behaved than the pink varieties which have a tendency to take over a border and such a pure white at this time of year is a welcome change from the more autumnal colours of my sunnier borders.
What a difference a bit of sunshine makes, plants, bees and butterflies are happy at last. So pleased that your cutting patch is now producing such lovely flowers to keep the insects busy and for you to enjoy.
The sunshine has been a real delight this week. The wellies have come off and the flip flops have come out
You have some nice flowers to pick, so don’t be dispondant. You can harvest the fennel flowers and dry them, they taste wonderful sprinkled on roast potatoes or with mushrooms. Christina
The fennel flowers are on another plot so I need to ask them if I can use them. I love fennel seeds and use them a lot. A really gorgeous flavour. WW
I feel sorry for those growing things for the first time this year, they must wonder what they let themselves in for. I think everything is later this year, flowers and veggies alike. I do like that cosmos, such a lovely colour, and once they start flowering they seem to go on and on.
Certainly everything on my plot is later. This time last year my courgettes were coming to an end but this year they have only got going in the last month. So hopefully they’ll keep going for the rest of this month at least. Cosmos are such a star plant. They too, have been late developers but will flower up till the first frosts.
You evil temptress… You show pictures of dahlias and don’t even mention their names?
They look great, though, as do the other flowers. I wish I had more of a display at this late stage of the season, but maybe next year…
Both those dahlias are on my neighbour’s plot and he hasn’t got a clue what they are. I can’t really complain though, I’m rubbish at keeping labels and don’t know the name of the dahlia that is currently my header. It is going to be a New Year’s resolution that I must try harder with my labels and plant names!!
Ah, the joy of being able to look at other people’s plants and enjoy them – without worrying about slugs or heavy rain or early frost or whatever it is we worry about for our own plants.
Tell him his dahlias have a fan in Denmark.
He’ll love that idea, that his dahlias are now known in Denmark.
The Daucus carota ‘Black Knight’ looks stunning
Thank you. They are beautiful and such an unusual addition to the cut flower patch.
I am very impressed and rather envious but as always I tell myself there is another chance next year. And I feel for anyone who was attempting to grow cut flowers for a family wedding this summer- that would have been a challenge too far.
Oh thank you Sue. Just spent the day planting up my biennial bed for next year. It’s good to be planting for the next growing season.
A timely post as I’ve been thinking about what flowers to grow, and where, next year on the plot.
I really like hydrangeas so I’m slightly envious of yours, which is a variety I especially like. xx
I’m not normally a fan of the blousier hydrangeas but this one is a stunner.
Oooh, I just fell in love. Again. I must get me some Daucus carota ‘Black Knight’ seed… Bet they would look amazing with the black scabious that I love growing too… I know you are disappointed compared to last year, but you seem to have a glorious array of colour available despite the failures. And hopefully we will all find next year rather easier for growing.