WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!

Hello - they say that a week is a long time in politics - but it also seems the same with our summer weather at the moment! From 32c last Friday - to 18C this week - it has been some change! However, I think most of us here at the nursery at least - have been quite glad that it has cooled down - and we actually had over an inch of rain on last Monday - which has changed the grass back to green - and plants have heaved a collective sigh of relief. However - Thursday and Friday saw horrid gale-force winds at the nursery - gusting to 35mph - which caused a lot of damage. Broken branches - flattened plants - broken support structures - a huge tree came down missing going through one of our polytunnels by inches!

We have just about finished clearing up now - and the nursery is returning to normal.

So away from this week's trials and tribulations - onto something nice!!

At this time of year - many of our gardens can start to look a bit drab - especially with the dry weather we have had recently - but here at the nursery - our shrub sales areas are packed with all sorts of lovely items that will take your garden very nicely on into the late summer/early autumn period.

Here are just a few highlights at the moment -

Hydrangeas - these have come a long way since the huge blowsy-headed sorts of years ago - we have a couple of very nice 'candelabra'-headed ones - that look very nice at the moment.

Caryopteris - these are still not widely seen for some strange reason - masses of blue flowers on a compact shrub that is just coming into bud - and will flower for most of August.

Fuchsia - not the basket types - but the bone hardy ones - from the gorgeous 'Lady Boothby' - a mix of red and black - to the dainty tiny pink/white flowers of magellanica 'Alba' - these are stars of any late summer flowers.

Abelia - I cannot understand why everyone has not got this in their garden!! It has the most beautiful semi-evergreen metallic green foliage - and from late July into September dainty clusters of the most wonderful slighty-scented white and pink flowers - relatively compact as well - it should be a must-have!!

Spiraea 'Shirobana' - most of the Spiraeas are spring-flowering - but there are also some stunning summer performers as well. This one has a mix of pink/red and white flowers all on the same plant - changing colour as they age/

Teucriums - these Wall Germanders are just lovely - they are very dwarf and ideal for the front of any borders - evergreen - now coming into bud - very much a Sage type of flower - but a nice carmine pink and flowers throughout August.

Potentillas - these are superb low-growing shrubs - flowering from July to September - in orange to yellow.

And as well we have some superb climbers and wall shrubs - such as the lovely honeysuckle 'Lonicera 'Mint Crisp' - and also the perenial pea - Lathyrus latifolius - very much like a sweet pea in flower - but it comes back every year.

There are many more on the sales areas - so why not come down and have a look - there is always plenty to see - no matter what the weather!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD