Throngs of Colour. SoS October 31, 2020.

Six on Saturday this week is leading off with an old friend, Rosa ‘Climbing Pinkie’. Having ended last season with as bad a dose of powdery mildew as you’re likely to see anywhere, steady applications of potash and rose food and a good prune have helped to ensure that Pinkie has rewarded with an outstanding display of bubblegum pink flowers. She may be rather brash in her colouring and lacks the gentle demureness of some of the other climbers, but it cannot be denied that she is a trooper. Or should that be trouper? Both could apply here.

Next, a mirror adds an extra perspective to the garden and also hides part of an ugly fence. Eschscholzia californica has put on a sunny display in this corner along with Arctotis ‘Pinched from Neighbourhood Garden’. The poppies will possibly be a nuisance later on, but they’re easy enough to thin out. I do wonder though, why the golden ones grew so well and the very pretty pink double ones disappeared without a trace?

Flora’s garden (she’s there with her back to us, by the silver birch trunk) is bustling with flowers. There are day lilies, taller salvias, oriental lilies and agastaches still to make an appearance, but this the effect I’m aiming for: throngs of colour like the crowds on Bondi Beach.

Backed by a climbing Rosa ‘Iceberg’, this garden contains Penstemon, Salvia and Lobelia plants. On the left is a small bay tree replacing one of the two trees liberated from their pots a couple of years ago. Neither tree survived the -7 degree frosts that occurred in their first year of freedom, and they have been replaced by two others which had much more protection last winter and are doing well.

This little group lives on the south side of the house, meaning no sun in the winter and blazing hot sun on summer afternoons. Courageous Heuchera ‘Caramel’ survived 40 degree temperatures last summer with minor frizzling of outside leaves and has tripled in size. It’s about to flower. Next to it, Heuchera ‘Firefly Red’, somewhat crowded by a more robust neighbour and already daintily in flower, is newer and hasn’t had to deal with summer yet.

Finally, as we’re talking about flowers, here is one of Mr MG’s paintings which depicts flowers and is almost in the garden, as the studio is separate from the house and hosts ‘Climbing Pinkie’.

Those are my six this week. To join in, or to take an excursion into other gardens, follow this link to The Propagator’s blog. You won’t be disappointed.

Weather today: Showers, 10-20 degrees C. Happy gardening, everyone.

52 Comments Add yours

  1. Derrick John Knight says:

    I like the photographs putting the flowers in context; we use mirrors, too. The painting is marvellous

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, Derrick. Mirrors are great and in my case, I’m glad to be able to cover the ugly fence.

  2. Your title says it all. What lovely photos and a beautiful painting to finish with. Mr MG is very talented as well.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you so much, Granny.

  3. Paddy Tobin says:

    I love your ‘Climbing Pinkie’, bubblegum pink and all!

    1. Jane says:

      Yes, it’s an outstanding performer.

  4. fredgardener says:

    This rose ‘Climbing Pinkie’ is stunning ! I love it . Great photos Jane.

    1. Jane says:

      Hi Fred, yes, Pinkie is a prolific rose. I just wish she had a more evocative name!

  5. Katharine says:

    Congratulations to Mr MG on his beautiful painting. It’s beautifully coloured. And you garden too – so much bursting into flower!

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, Katherine. I’ll pass your congratulations on to Mr MG.

  6. shoreacres says:

    I’ve never seen a mirror used in a garden. The effect is pleasing, and the idea itself is a reminder that our ideas of what belongs ‘inside’ and what can be used ‘outside’ may need to be examined from time to time.

    1. Jane says:

      Yes, I like the mirror very much. It had a strange effect for us when we first put it up as it was almost as if we had a door leading to the next door garden! I’ve become used to it now. It attracts birds as well which like to examine themselves in it. Or maybe they see an adversary.

  7. Lovely colours to the painting. Very talented. Spectacular climbing rose. Looking top notch.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you.

  8. Climbing Pinkie is looking fabulous. I have a thing about rose names so if it had a nice romantic French name I would love it even more, but it’s still pretty good 😊

    1. Jane says:

      Yes, I agree, it’s a very unimaginative name. I don’t know who’s responsible. Google tells me it’s a sport of ‘Pinkie’ and has been around since 1947, so not exactly new.

  9. It is nice to see your blooms as we are heading into winter. That Heuchera is stunning.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you. I’m very pleased with the Heuchera.

  10. Your garden is looking beautiful and Climbing Pinkie is stunning. Mr MG is very talented.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you for your comment. CP a is very reliable performer.

  11. The flowering of that rose! Glad to hear the TLC helped with the mildew. My rambler Alberic Barbier had a bad case of it this year. Will feed it well. I love the painting.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, Sel. I hope the mildew stays away. It made its appearance at the end of Autumn last year, so I’ll have to wait and see if my administrations work. I read that a milky spray helps.

      1. I made a spray using bicarbonate of soda, washing up liquid and vegetable oil. It seemed to help along with more regular watering, mine is in a dry spot on a big wall.

  12. All looking very lovely, warming my toes on this miserable day. As for Pinkie ……. what a beauty!

    1. Jane says:

      Thanks Gil. Pinkie: ghastly name for a lovely floriferous rose!

  13. Kris P says:

    Spring is off to a great start in your garden, Jane! Even though pink isn’t my favorite color I love your climbing ‘Pinkie’. I enjoyed your Arctotis as well and I note that California poppies appear happier in your garden than they do in mine. I’ve invested in more Heucheras myself this year in the hope that I can get them sufficiently well established to survive our summer heat.

    1. Jane says:

      The California poppies are almost over in the photo, but they have been prolific, and coupled with creeping thyme (more pink flowers!) they were a cheery sight. Good luck with your Heuchera, Kris. I am amazed at how mine survived and I’m planning to plant more. They’re new plants for me and I find I’m appreciating them much more than I thought I would.

  14. March Picker says:

    Lots of gorgeous color, Jane, and Mr. MG has a great eye for it all. Your throngs of color are taking shape nicely in your flora’s bed.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you, March. It’s a heavenly time of year.

  15. The garden looks wonderful and I love the painting.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you. I love the painting too.

      1. I have a hard time commenting on your blog for some reason.

  16. Love those pink roses!

    1. Jane says:

      Thanks.😊

  17. Oh, so pretty! The extremes of weather and temperature really are our biggest challenges. I’m hoping the forecasts for a wetter spring and summer come true.

    1. Jane says:

      Your garden must be doing well also, with some gorgeous roses, no doubt. So far, apart from a few days at the beginning of September, our spring has been quite cool, and we’ve had quite a lot of nice rain.

      1. I did have a lovely flush of beautiful roses but they’re all gone now. I’m hoping for more soon. We’ve had a mild spring but not much rain.

  18. Chris Muller says:

    Your garden looks so pretty and please tell Trevor I really like his art work.
    Chris

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you Chris, and I will pass your message on. 😊

  19. Gerrie Mackey says:

    Your climbing Pinkie must be a lovely welcome to spring…and your Heuchera Caramel is eye-catching, we also need plants that will survive extreme heat.
    Mr MG’s still live painting is wonderful.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you Gerrie. I expect things are looking very lush down your way too. The Heuchera is a surprise to me as it’s supposed to have a semi shaded position. It’s a plant I felt sorry for when I saw it on the Ailing Rejects’ Table, and when I got it home, I wondered where I could put it!

  20. bonnie groves poppe says:

    the pink double is probably an f1 hybrid and sterile. the fluffy colored ones are all hybrids.
    bonnie in provence from california

    1. Jane says:

      Thanks for that info, Bonnie.

  21. pommepal says:

    Such a gorgeous display of colour, spring is an abundant time of the year in our gardens and your display is exceptional. Mr MG is very talented, I would like to see more of his work. Is it an oil painting?

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you PP. Mr MG always paints in oil….much messier than acrylic, but he prefers it!
      I’m sure your garden is looking glorious. I haven’t seen anything from you for a while…?

      1. pommepal says:

        Just did a changing season post on the weekend. I went to an acrylic workshop and was taught how to use mediums to make them feel and work like oil paints.i found oils to be too messy, but they give great results.

  22. Catherine says:

    My goodness Jane, R.’Climbing Pinkie’ is fabulous! I’m awestruck – it’s beautiful.

    Heuchera ‘Caramel’ is a perfect specimen, I love Heucheras and it’s so nice to see yours looking so utterly fabulous when mine are succumbing to the ravages of the autumn-moving-fast-into-winter weather. Your garden is beautiful.

    Talented Mr. MG!

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you for your lovely comment, Catherine. The garden is giving us a great deal of pleasure just now.

  23. Pinkie may indeed be brash in her colouring, but what an outstanding display of colour! It is gorgeous! I like the effect of the mirror that hides part of the wall. It makes the garden appear bigger by giving it depth. That is a lovely display of colour in that corner. I love the mixes of colour in Flora’s garden. The colour combinations in the little group on the south side of the house is delightful, and the ‘Carmel’ draws the eye. I will hold out hope for my Heuchera now that I know yours are tolerant of the high temperatures -although we have the humidity added to that. My two new plants are potted and in a different location, which might work for them. Your garden is looking beautiful! Lovely painting by Mr MG; I like the colours and tones he uses.

    1. Jane says:

      Thank you for your generous comment. The garden is giving us a lot of pleasure just now as I expect yours is for you. Good luck with the Heuchera ….I have just purchased another, so I hope it can survive the summer too!

  24. Heyjude says:

    Not wildly keen on the name, but Rosa ‘Climbing Pinkie’ is a wow! I wish my climbing rose was anywhere near as floriferous. And I do like your mirror. I have been eyeing up an exterior mirror for some time and now I am thinking it would be a lovely Christmas present to myself 🙂 Thanks for showing us Mr MG’s painting. More please I love this one.

    1. Jane says:

      Climbing Pinkie has been the star of the show this week! My Pierre de Ronsard ( a much nicer name) is almost as full of flower, but hangs its head so sadly I thought I should post something more cheerful. Roses do very well in our climate. Good idea about the mirror. Mine isn’t really an outdoor one, so I don’t know how long it will last.

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