June Snapshot of Grahame and Di’s garden at Wisteria Cottage

Wisteria Cottage from East Street

The cottage has been much photographed over past weeks. Despite lock-down it has had many admirers including Japanese tourists, a large crowd of non-distanced Bulgarians and even a drone snapping away.

The gallica rose on the front wall is Rosa mundi but I prefer the apt name used by the late Jo Read (Granny Read) who called it the Brighton rock rose, after the candy sticks.

Neighbours 1

Don’t tell him but when Jay Simson, our neighbour, has not been looking I’ve pulled over and tied down his Cecile Brunner rose (the button hole rose) to top dress our lovely Sussex flint wall. It much prefers our side! 

Neighbours 2

Who wouldn’t want a gardening neighbour like Linda Hartless?  We also get the best view of her magnificent Scots Pine seen here in evening light.

Lupins

I’ve loved Lupins ever since childhood days at my rural primary school where they grew in profusion. The sun always shone back then, which must be the secret, as they have thrived this summer.  

Shropshire Lass

I once had a girlfriend from Shropshire. Much later when I bought this rose I also bought one for her as a house warming present. She asked me what it was like and I told her it reminded me of her – very feminine, tall and leggy, graceful with beautiful delicate blush pink flowers with a delicious myrrh fragrance …. then I spoilt it all by saying it had large hips and a loose habit!  You can see it on the front of the cottage scrambling through the Wisteria. 

Pond margin

Yellow flag iris and marsh orchids growing in the pond margin. Can you also spot the dragonfly? If not, you should on the next photo. 

Broad-bodied Chaser

Broad-bodied Chasers are always the first dragonflies to emerge from the pond. The males have a gorgeous pruinose blue abdomen. They are very fast, manoeuvrable fliers and fascinating to watch. 

Damsel Fly

Damsel flies are hard to identify but I think this is a male Southern. Swimming around underwater, out of focus, in the background is a Smooth newt. 

Mallard Ducks

A pair of Mallard ducks have been roosting on an island created by the water lily alba and Bogbean. They arrive with a loud ‘boof  boof’ as they splash down to land in the evening.

Goat’s Beard

Originally from seed gathered from Rackham road, this Goat’s Beard has many other common names including Meadow Salsify, Shepherds clock and Jack-go-to-bed-by-noon. The small yellow flowers close up by midday and produce these magnificent tennis ball sized seed head clocks. A favourite. 

Common Blue Butterflies

A pair of Common Blue butterflies mating on Oxeye daisies in one of our wildflower meadow areas. Male on the left. The meadow also contains a lot of Birdsfoot Trefoil, a main food source for their caterpillars.  

Izzie

Monty Don has lost his beloved dog and garden companion Nigel but Di and I have Izzie who is always keen to help us.  Here she is with circa 1930s ‘The Gordon’ Timothy Whites roller and Erigeron or Mexican fleabane – surely one of the best flowers for these drought conditions.