The Garden at the end of June

Today, on the last day of June, the roses are beginning to go over. They've been lovely this month, but the recent wind and rain has left them bedraggled. Their beauty is fleeting, as human beauty is, and we must enjoy it while we may, and look forward to beauty yet to come...

A full blown David Austen rose
- but who can tell me which one?

Another blousy yellow rose fading to pink

Rambling roses bedecking the espallier pear trees
- Belvedere, Veilchenblau, American Pillar

Belvedere is rather too vigorous, but what a show!

There is so much else in the garden too. Marty's labyrinth garden is particularly good this year, thanks to Geraldine the gardener who manages it for her.

Daylilies and Penstemon 'Purple Bedder' burning brightly
as the blue Lupins fade out

Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'

The whole garden is delightfully scented by Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'. And since we had the sceptic tank pumped out it no longer has to compete with other fragrances!

Perennial Foxgloves

We have two forms of perenial foxgloves, a larger one and a smaller one. The bees love them both, but the smaller ones frustrate the large bumble bees which can't fit their bodies inside the finger. But something does manage to polinate them, because they are spreading all about.

Blue Delphinium spires

The Delphiniums are just going over. Which reminds me I must ask Geraldine to leave some heads so that I can save the seed.

Anthemis 'Grallagh Gold' with Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Marty also has raised beds in the back for a cutting garden, and it too is splendid this year. Here we can see a real local which should be much more widely known and grown - 'Grallagh Gold'. It originated as a chance seedling in the garden at Grallagh, just outside Nenagh, where Mrs McCutcheon propogated it from cuttings. I was generously given some by one of her descendents.

And finally we come to my part of the garden which I fear is terribly overgrown this year. I might claim to have been a good eco-warrior following a no-mow-May policy, but in truth I have just been unable to keep up with rampant growth. My age is telling on me, and I am becoming over-blown and blousy like the roses! But I am pleased at the way the wild flowers continue to do their thing in the Willow Border. Here you can see white Yarrow, purple Greater Knapweed, blue Meadow Cranesbill, and pink Red Campion.

Wildflowers in the Willow Border