I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Last year there was a summer in this particular part of Scotland wherein lies my back garden.  This year, we are still waiting.

Meanwhile, the rain keeps falling and when it's not falling the sky is often grey and even when the sky is not grey it doesn't feel especially warm.  Some of us are grumbling.

Some of the plants are not happy.

Poor old Rose - she's not really enjoying this much at all.

I can't say her slightly sturdier friend, also called Rose, is much happier.

The African Daisies (Osteospermum) have just shut themselves up altogether - there's no way they are coming out to play today.

The poor old Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is trying to duck down under this pot for cover, but without much success.

And the Delphinium though much bigger and therefore, you might think, having greater resources and the benefit of Fuchsia magellanica to hide behind, isn't doing much better.

Corn Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) that like to dance in the sun are simply pooped.

Meadow grass is mashed.

Ox eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) are giving way under the yoke of the deluge.

And even the stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are being splayed.

But some things love all this rain.

Slugs.  Even on gravel the slugs are managing to get in and eat the Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) seedlings.

Mind you the slugs haven't yet devastated the Hostas which particularly love rain - indeed they do.  This is Hosta sieboldiana.

And raindrops can look pretty on the leaves of Lady's Mantle - Alchemilla mollis.

Fuchsia from the wetlands of South America seems quite happy too as does this Sedge - Carex comans.

The prostate Hypericum is a little bedraggled in places but is still shining in the gloom.

While standing at over 6 feet now, the Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' is thinking about coming into bloom - although it's common name is Queen of the Prairies which implies it likes dryness, it actually thrives on having its feet in the damp.


If you have been out in the countryside here or in the North of England you may notice it's creamy foamy British relative, Meadowsweet, is looking particularly spectacular just now.

Yellow Wax Bells (Kirengishoma palamata) is now in its second year and is enjoying this wetness particularly as the copper band around its base also seems to be keeping the slugs away.

It may even flower this year.

And some sunny flowers don't mind the rain, like this simply dazzling Pot or English Marigold - Calendula officinalis.

From a distance parts of the garden look normal.  Some flowers are open.  Some flowers are shut.  Some are struggling and I am guessing that means the bees must be struggling too which is not good news.


Things are very green.

The roses are not so vibrant,


But then . . . .



. . . . .  I never promised you a Rose Garden: