Gardening

[oddoneout]

Those are night scented phlox ferney- Zaluziansky. Not sure if they are related to the more common phlox or not, but can vouch for the night scented bit. Wonderful under a windowsill with the window open of an evening. On a good night I had the perfume wafting up into my bedroom, not bad for something only a few inches high.
SA, phlox come in tall and short varieties. The short ones - creeping mats in habit - tend to be spring flowering, whereas the tall ones are later.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Those are night scented phlox ferney- Zaluziansky. Not sure if they are related to the more common phlox or not, but can vouch for the night scented bit. Wonderful under a windowsill with the window open of an evening. On a good night I had the perfume wafting up into my bedroom, not bad for something only a few inches high.
SA, phlox come in tall and short varieties. The short ones - creeping mats in habit - tend to be spring flowering, whereas the tall ones are later.

It's a deal! Probably my favourite aspect of Summer is the smells that come into the house from the garden in the evenings (especially after a little light rainfall) - I'm getting some night-scented Phlox on my next visit to my local Garden Centre. Many thanks, odd'un

[oddoneout]

It's a deal! Probably my favourite aspect of Summer is the smells that come into the house from the garden in the evenings (especially after a little light rainfall) - I'm getting some night-scented Phlox on my next visit to my local Garden Centre. Many thanks, odd'un

Good luck. They are not widely available(often classed as half-hardy annuals although mine came through several winters on a south facing patio in a crack between the paving and the house) so might be something to plan for next year - raise from seed.

[doversoul1]

I have been growing Nicotiana or Tobacco plants for summer evening scent for many years. They are not much to look at during the day but the scent in the evenings is heavenly. I plant some by the greenhouse so that when I go out to close the door late in the evening, I can enjoy the full effect. I like the original tall white-flower variety but these days, there are so many fancy new varieties (some are dwarf and have no scent. what’s the point?!) that it’s hard to find the right seeds. As with many flowers, the seeds are so minute that it’s impossible to grow just a few. I always finish up with a couple of large trays full of plants (around 60 odd…). Last year, they suffered from Tobacco mosaic virus. Most of them survived but they looked rather sorry for themselves. I hope they'll do better this year.

[Lat-Literal]

Thanks for all the comments.

I am so pleased that this thread is quite popular.

It might be this - if so, it looks much prettier in real life.

http://www.perennials.com/plants/phlox-paniculata-light-pink-flame.html

Questions, questions.

I love hollyhocks. If I get a couple in the next week, ready made so to speak, will they see me through to mid/late-August?

Or have I missed the boat?

[gurnemanz]

Hemerocallis (day lily) are great at the moment. They look good next to bright red crocosmia and some big-flowered rudbeckias.

[doversoul1]

I love hollyhocks. If I get a couple in the next week, ready made so to speak, will they see me through to mid/late-August?

Or have I missed the boat?

In theory (or an old saying), you can only move plants when they are dormant or less active. In other words, you cannot move a plant when it is in flower. You can get away with smaller plants like, say, marigold but hollyhocks are large plant. Unless the plant is in a large pot/tub and you leave it as it is, or dig a hole large enough to place the root undisturbed,I’d leave it until next year. Something to look forward to.

[Lat-Literal]

In theory (or an old saying), you can only move plants when they are dormant or less active. In other words, you cannot move a plant when it is in flower. You can get away with smaller plants like, say, marigold but hollyhocks are large plant. Unless the plant is in a large pot/tub and you leave it as it is, or dig a hole large enough to place the root undisturbed,I’d leave it until next year. Something to look forward to.

Oh right - thank you doversoul.

Hemerocallis (day lily) are great at the moment. They look good next to bright red crocosmia and some big-flowered rudbeckias.

The lilies have done well - very striking colours - but they are now waning here.

I feel that many of the flowers are feeling that they have just experienced the second half of July and August.

[oddoneout]

In theory (or an old saying), you can only move plants when they are dormant or less active. In other words, you cannot move a plant when it is in flower. You can get away with smaller plants like, say, marigold but hollyhocks are large plant. Unless the plant is in a large pot/tub and you leave it as it is, or dig a hole large enough to place the root undisturbed,I’d leave it until next year. Something to look forward to.

Autumn is a good time for planting as well, so if you find a suitable plant now you could get it, look after it for a couple of months and then put it in its final position. Planting out when in flower is as DS says not ideal - but it can be done with a potted plant if you are prepared to put in the aftercare. That might include taking off the flower spikes if the weather is hot and dry for any length of time. Depends on how risk-averse you are moneywise! Alternatively seed sown late summer into September in the ground will give a good show, all other things being equal, next year. The older single varieties(such as 'Sawyers') are better for this approach in my experience. At the site where I do some volunteer gardening I scattered saved seed last year at the base of a wall along a service track and this year there is a splendid show.

[oddoneout]

Hemerocallis (day lily) are great at the moment. They look good next to bright red crocosmia and some big-flowered rudbeckias.

You favour the understated approach then! I used to have the very old double orange 'Kwanzo' but sadly have lost it in various moves. It is a good one if you are into eating the flowers, as it's a big meaty blossom.There was a clump on the allotment kept just for that purpose.

[Serial_Apologist]

Hemerocallis (day lily) are great at the moment. They look good next to bright red crocosmia and some big-flowered rudbeckias.

Thank you for reminding me what they're called, gurney! I passed by a splendid local display the other day, complimenting the lady whose garden it was, and - typical of people in this neighbourhiood - she said I was welcome to come round and help myself to the seed heads, when they appear in a month or two's time. I said I'd never do such a thing without first asking, but she was insistent.

[gradus]

Day lillies are at their best here now. They are reliable and trouble-free and ideal border fillers. I've often found them in the reduced section of garden centres as July/Aug wear on but if you're after particular colours/forms, there are, I believe, thousands to choose from.

[Lat-Literal]

I may be going to a garden centre on Wednesday to reboot. It need not be costly.

But I'm assessing that it has gone very well from the start of June to mid July and now it needs a strategy for mid July to the end of August.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for - is it too early for asters and chrysanths?

[Serial_Apologist]

I may be going to a garden centre on Wednesday to reboot. It need not be costly.

But I'm assessing that it has gone very well from the start of June to mid July and now it needs a strategy for mid July to the end of August.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for - is it too early for asters and chrysanths?

It's always too early for Chrysanths!

[Lat-Literal]

It's always too early for Chrysanths!

I think dahlias, which I like, are too vulnerable so I'm really not sure.

Expert advice is crucial.

I'm in clay, chalk and flint but mainly builder's brick.