Stepson has stepsoned into the breach and loaned/given me a camera to use to get me out of my current predicament, but I have used my phone again today until I have had a chance to try it out (thank you Stepson!).
A hectic weekend meant I had to rush rather than ramble round the garden late this afternoon and take stock of what’s what – my newest joy is undoubtedly the nodding heads of Clematis ‘Buckland Beauty’, bought from Gardeners’ World Live at this time last year and now romping happily up a post in the clematis colonnade, with Geraniums ‘Dragon Heart’ and ‘Johnson’s Blue’ in brilliant bloom at the base. Also on this pillar and in bud was a similar acquisition from the same event, C. Lady Bird Johnson’ which has similar but pinker flowers. Both were fairly small (and cheap) plants so I am pleased they have done so well – I shall have no qualms about the potential of C. ‘Princess Diana’ and ‘Princess Kate which should be arriving from Crocus shortly, as they will be much bigger (and more expensive!) plants.
Also exciting me in the herbaceous borders were a solitary ranunculus, something I have really struggled to achieve any success with (and it was meant to be pink!), the swelling buds of the peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ who has sulked and refused to flower for the last couple of years, and the gradually opening heads of Allium cristophii:
In the hot borders, an unnamed frilly red poppy forms a great contrast next to climbing rose ‘Pardirektor Riggers’ and against the dark browny red leaves of Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’ and a group of Aquilegia ‘Oranges and Lemons’ flowers, whilst the kniphofia is a welcome sight indeed as this another plant I seem to have had little success with. The Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ lurking almost at ground level has also crept up on me unawares, unlike last year when I photographed it in April, early in the life of this blog – with so many changes in the garden it was a welcome sight at that time, but I am afraid it has been very much overshadowed since then and deserves better.
Rambling in the Garden 
I can see why that Clematis is making you happy.
Yes, she is totally unpretentious but stunning, isn’t she?
I think your phone photos are good!
Thanks Anna – you are too kind! I just have to trust the focusing – or perhaps seek out instructions!
‘Buckland Beauty’ and ‘Dragon Heart’ make a striking combination Cathy. Both ‘Dragon Heart’ and ‘Storm Chaser’ are on my wish list – two beautiful hardy geraniums from Orkney.
Ooh – I didn’t know Dragon Heart was Orkney bred Anna, so thank you for that. I googled the Orkney geranium breeder whose name is not on the tip of my tongue to see if he had a nursery we could visit when we were there, but no such luck. It shows how hardy the geraniums are, knowing that many have been bred in Orkney. Dragon Heart is such a lovely vivid colour and the darker centre accentuates this – it’s a bit lax though, and I am having to stake them. I shall look up Storm Chaser as I haven’t come across that one before.
Buckland Beauty is beautiful indeed, Cathy…I love all the bell-shaped Clematis, so delicate and charming. Check out Fascination, it’s one of my favourites and smothered in flowers for weeks 🙂
Looks fascinating – can I justify another new clematis? Of course I can!
You only live once, Cathy…or so it seems 😉 …go for it!
Actually, Annette, from my recent reading I am now pretty sure that this is not the case. I will still look out for ‘Fascination’ though!