Hello September...

All looking super Bloomer, good idea for your Echinops to replace the rose, I hope you enjoyed the park with Thomas and didn't get too cold! :o)

Thank you Neellan,glad you think it is a good idea to move the Echinops..and we haven't been to the park yet..they have just arrived for lunch:o)..It feels every so slightly warmer,but still very wild ..I might not have to pinch Thomas's Spiderman socks after all ! Lol

Still plenty of colour in your garden Bloomer. September and October are my two favourite months. July definately the less.

Lol enjoy your lunch and your trip to the park afterwards love your Cosmos surviving the narrow bed they are so pretty and delicate they don't look out of place :o)

Thank you Costas,I know you aren't a fan of hot weather,so I hope you enjoy the next couple of months,and hope they are both mellow ,,it can be lovely some years :o)

Lunch over,and going out soon..:o) I love the Cosmos too,and shall still have some more next year,but try a different variety..they are swaying wildly in the wind..and they never seem to snap,do they? such strong plants,and very deceiving :o)

Lovely Bloomer, deadheading is a daily chore here as well but like you I do like to hang on to my flowers as long as possible, started collecting my seeds as well so envelopes appearing all the time, its breezy here today but really warm in the sun, enjoy your time with Thomas, off for dinner with all the family today as it was grandaughters 16th birthday last Friday and her brothers 13th next Friday, young adults now but still my pride and joy....

all still looks lovely sandra, very pretty :)

Lovely colour Bloomer. I hope Thomas didn't run you ragged!
I like the Anemone with the Geum. I wouldn't have though of that combo - need to keep that in mind.

Hi Sandra your garden is looking Great, very pretty , colourful and very neat and tidy;0) I love the Cosmos especially the pretty pastel shades, mine are all white! and like yours tall and bushy, I will definately grow them again next year but will look for dwarf ones, they are fine in the back borders but a tad too large for the front garden. Your petunias are doing so well, mine have been a disaster this year in the hanging baskets, they developed a nasty sticky foliage and the flowers were all dying off, I have had to take them out, will stick to Begonias, Violas and geraniums next year. It has gone chilly hope it warms up for our holidays wont be long now just one week, I cant wait! Hope you enjoyed you afternoon with Thomas and he didnt tire you out lol ;0))

I hope you've enjoyed the park Sandra :o) I enjoyed your garden. It's still very colourful, and I hope it stays like that for some time yet.

Thank you,M.land..I've never had any last so long before,but I looked after them better, and have kept them shaded all summer..I have seen all the new stock in the Garden centres,and been eyeing them up for other pots later :o)

All looking lovely, Sandra! You say you want something "not too big" with purple foliage . . . have you considered Heuchera?? Or even Physocarpus Diabolo?!

Thank you,Sue..always a busy time,collecting seeds,and dead heading,but I quite enjoy it..it's pulling things up,I don't like !..but new plants will cheer me up soon :o)
I hope you had a lovely family day,nothing better is there? Two teenagers already..almost:o)It's lovely when you remain so close ..I hope to be doing the same in a few years :o)

Hiya,San..lovely to hear from you,and hope you are well..Thank you for your lovely comment,it's much appreciated xx

Thanks Scottish..and no,he didn't run me ragged..! he knows better than to try :o)
I didn't think of that combo of the Anemone and Geum either..I had no idea where I was going to plant the Geum, and found a little gap,so just bunged it in..I had totally forgotten the Anemone was there,as it hadn't started growing at the time..glad it worked :o)..I have now decided one or the other will have to be moved ...but
I have a plan..if I move the Echinops from behind them,I can move one or the other in it's place..see? simples ! Lol.

Thank you Carole..the white ones in the borders,are the ones you kindly gave me,and I bought another pack of mixed colours ,but three died..slugs got to them before I did ! Sorry your Petunias didn't do well,mine are just starting to turn a bit sticky..so I guess they will have to go soon :o( The two Surfinias I bought from Morries,when you were with us,have been the best I've ever had for continuous flowering..I shall definitely buy all that variety next year..
Tell me about chilly today,Carole.. winter jacket,boots and gloves,to go to the park ! good job the tearoom was open,as we just had to have tea and cakes..Thomas had his first ever Strawberry Cornetto ...cold doesn't bother him :o)
I've ordered good weather for next week..trust me ! Lol.xx

Thank you,Hywel..and at least having a young grandson,gets us out,despite the cold..we would probably have stayed home..with the fire on !
I used to wish I hadn't had as much hard landscaping,on seeing all the lovely gardens,since joining Goy..but I'm glad I did now,as it is easy for me to look after..especially as we get older..no getting away from that,is there? Lol

Everything looking good Sandra, the petunias look good still, and love the little viola's.

Thank you Sheila..and yes I have considered the 'Diablo' many times,as I do love it..but reading comments by other members,I think it might get too big for the space I have..and I do have some purple Heuchera's..two varieties given to me by lovely Goyers..maybe I could plant them at the front of the border,as a nice contrast?..They will need splitting next year,so that's something I hadn't thought of..I really appreciate your suggestions.thanks again :o) x

Thank you,Cinders..it has been a wonderful summer,for us all this year,hasn't it? and not before time either..hope it continues for a while yet,well into Autumn..:o)

You're quite right Sandra. I'm thinking of putting more slabs down next year, to make it easier here also ...

You have to do what is best for you,at the end of the day,Hywel,..and even if you have to get rid of some things in your lovely garden.or maybe pot some up,.I'm sure you will find it so much easier to manage ..

old age cometh not alone lol

tell me about it ! ..i'm already there ..Lol x

lol ... Everything is relative ... You're young in comparison to the people I used to see when I was a social worker :o)

Ha Ha..I was born at a very early age ! Lol..

lol :D x

Those lovely displays are rewarding you for all the tender loving care you have given them..........as are my plants punishing me for all the recent neglect they have had!!

The white cosmos is so pretty and those little violas have been exceptional. Bloomer it still all looks very lovely so just continue doing what you are doing!

Thank you so much,Chris..I must admit,they do take priority over most other mundane tasks ! Lol...The Cosmos are really at their best just now,and have only just really got going..I have one in a pot,which is huge,and not one bud opened yet..or one hardly to be seen,is more accurate !I may have to hang bells baubles and tinsel on it :o)
I am so pleased with the Viola's..you wouldn't think such a delicate looking little flower,could be so determined to survive all weathers .They deserve to live:o)
..

All looking very nice, lets hope we have a nice september...

Thanks Holly,I hope so too..still very wild and windy here,but much warmer than yesterday..looks set to be a decent week :o)

Your garden is looking marvelous Sandra , did you survive the park with Thomas ? I think you should reward yourself with a nice cuppa and cake after that and an ice cream for Thomas :o)

Such a lot of colour still Bloomer, hope the winds haven't damaged anything, we came back to a lawn full of apples...
Did you manage to keep up with Thomas..

Bloomer, your garden is looking superb. I actually think the cosmos looks good where it is, their delicate, feathery leaves are shown off beautifully. Well done, you. I've just about finished the back garden revamp, pics and a blog soon.
Hope you had fun with Thomas, it's our day with Freya this Wednesday, so early night tomorrow lol!

Thanks Amy,and just like Gloria Gaynor,I did (and will) survive! Lol...the tea and fruitcake helped enormously.....as I waddled back to the play area ..:o)

Hi Waddy,and thank you..glad you have nearly finished your revamp in your garden,and looking forward to seeing pics and blog..sorry,still haven't got round to the email I promised ..I will,I will :o).we had a.good time with Thomas at Beaumont Park,and I'm sure yours will be the same with Freya...but it will be a much warmer day than ours was! :o)

Garden still looking very colourful and well kept Sandra. Love the White Anemone and the Geum together.Morries plants are good value for money aren't they?I bought some bedding Pelargoniums(said red on label... but Salmon coloured...much better colour for me) and they are still full of buds, tried to get some cuttings today, cut 2 or 3 with buds on Duh! but still plenty left.We were only talking yesterday of doing some more hard landscaping, we've got so much lawn, both back and front. Glad you had a good day in the park with Thomas, but whats with the "winter warmers", it was lovely here, just nice enough to sit in for more than 10 minutes!They say you feel the cold more the older you get Lol:-)))))))

Thank you,Val.it's been a great summer,for summer bedding,hasn't it? I got my Pelargoniums from there too,but mine were deep pink..as it said on the label,
but I got some salmon ones from the market as well,for pots....I'm not bothering with cuttings this year,as I might have a change next year..no idea what yet ..
it's still a maybe :o)
You were lucky with your sunny day,it was only 12 degrees in the car at 2pm ! the wind was bitter..hence the 'winter warmers' .and yes,I definitely feel the cold more as i get older :o(.I don't venture out much,without my trusty cardi ..but this year has been an exception..:o))
I'm sure you will find it much easier with less lawn,I would go for it ..

Love your cosmos round the circle they look so airy fairy and the petunia tubs are still pretty and prolonging the season. Its been a lovely week but getting chilly early morn and night which is only to be expected but still dreaded - I hate being all muffled up.

Thank you Stroller..I shall miss them swaying in the breeze,won't I ? Lovely here today,too,and going to be warmer tomorrow..and yes,there is that ominous chill in the morning,and getting so dark too..especially as I am usually up around 6.am. I don't like it one bit either :o(

Love ur garden ... Looks really colouerfull ..maybe one day i will get to see it for ral ... Soooo pretty .x?

Now I understand why you were worried about keeping a Diablo small enough! Had you thought of a small berberis? Your garden is looking very good - well done for deadheading every day - takes a lot of discipline, where did you get it? I did the opposite with cosmos this year - put the short ones where tall ones would have been better.

Thank you Cristina,a compliment indeed,from someone with such a lovely garden as yours :o)

Thank you,Sue..and although a Diablo would have been lovely,you can see why it wouldn't be practical..and yes,I am still toying with the idea of a smallish Berberis..amongst others..never mind,it will give me something to think about,when I can't go outside deadheading !..Disciplined? only in the garden :o)

It's all looking lovely Sandra, I'm glad I've got paving too, hated the lawn in the winter as it was just mud. I fear the summer is over now (I'm wearing socks today lol) and I'm thinking of putting my sandals away and all things summery boo hoo:-( It's poured down today for which I'm rather grateful:-)

Thank you Ba..I agree about lawns in winter too..not nice..
I'm not putting all my summer stuff away just yet,especially the sandals..we might still be needing some of them,hopefully next week,at some point !
I have my socks on today too,only 10 degrees at lunchtime..so cold as well..but yes,the rain is very welcome :o)

Sandra - I know just what you mean about the tall white Cosmos - I reckon somebody in the seed packing department was having a laugh when they packed my 'Dwarf' ones as they're about 4ft. high now! Do you find they need dead-heading much more often than the pink varieties? I bought some mixed Violas for the pots by the front door - must get them planted up tomorrow in between the forecast showers.

Have you considered a dark Sedum for your purple planting? Just a thought .... or a Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' if you could keep it pruned small?

I love your Golden Oregano - mine is in a pot but having seen yours in the ground it looks much better - I feel a move coming on! :o)

Thanks Shirley..I haven't noticed a difference in dead heading between the pink and white Cosmos..It taken them all summer to get going this far,so have only done a few as yet..looks like a few are drooping a bit after all the rain today,so will do a headcount tomorrow :o)
I am still out, re purple foliage for the gap.I have a Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' in the front garden,and lovely as it is,I need something that gets to about 4/5 foot tall.Mine is only two foot after a number of years,but thanks for the suggestion..I might possibly put some of my purple Sedum at the front of that gap,but I will wait and see what I decide to get first..don't want a purple overload ! Lol...plus I will have to move some more Golden Oregano,recently split from the parent ..again ! (I now have three clumps growing)and I also have Wallflowers there too..I Why don't you leave half your Oregano in it's pot,and plant the other out? It looks lovely anywhere,doesn't it? I haven't any in a pot,so I might do that next year too ..thanks xx

Just a thought, what about Lophomyrtus Magic Dragon. It came through last winter here unscathed. I have one in the ground and one in a big pot until it gets too big. It's a good colour, sort of burgundy mix, and evergreen. I did put some pics on of it last winter. 'Crocus' give height as 1.6 meters and say not to overwater (Spritz had to get rid of hers) and give some winter protection in cold exposed areas. I presume your garden is somewhat sheltered? Others say give some winter protection when young ...that won't bother us TYT's though will it?:-))

Thanks,Ba..I will take a look at it..sounds nice,and you are so right,nothing bothers us TYT's much..:o)
I am now awaiting Questions from the Goyers that don't know our nicknames :o)..if they dare ask ! Lol.

Sandra - good idea to put some of the Oregano in the ground - shall do that in the Spring. Strange day, weather-wise, lots of dark clouds, saw a rainbow, sunny spells in between the showers! I planted some Violas in my blue pots by the front door, the Hostas I had in there weren't happy and are shutting down for the season anyway. Went into the GH to find two of the Tomato plants were leaning over, loads of green Toms on them, so a hasty bit of tying up with string and canes to get them vertical again! :o)