The hottest May on record may rapidly be being followed by the coldest June! Or perhaps we were just getting acclimatised. The garden, at any rate, has enjoyed a good soaking over the past few days, as have we on the occasions we ventured out, and it is a good deal cooler. While frustrated that at times it is too wet to work in the garden, I am also glad that we chose this moment to trim the box, since it can get sadly scorched if pruned in hot, dry weather.

I have now weeded once round the prairie, that has taken 12 weeks, and of course there are now plenty of new weeds back at the start point. I have also taken a fairly ruthless line with some plants in the Gravel Garden that I rather suspected of being weeds, scabious and daisies, it is sometimes difficult to know whether these are invaders or cultivated forms that have reverted. I have likewise removed several white achilleas growing among the red ones in the Prairie. In the Gravel Garden I will replace with Echinacea and Hemerocallis, both of which do well there, although as yet they have not broken bud.

In contrast some of the smaller Hemerocallis in the Prairie are already in flower, this is Corky, contrasting nicely with Penstemon barbatus coccineus

which is doing well this year with large clumps in several of the massifs. The flower spikes seem to lie somewhat horizontally in places, I’m not sure if this is wind damage or a struggle to support the weight of flowers.

Taller perennials are flowering now too, competing with the grasses for height. Notable among these at present are Achillea Cloth of Gold, with the Dianthus still in flower alongside, it has held its flowers well and more than earned its keep.

Also, inevitably Verbena bonariensis.

I am happy to have it, in limited quantity! I have removed a fair amount this year, including a clump which was alongside a deep orange Echinacea, an unfortunate combination, but they will be back, almost as good a Gaura and Scabious at self-seeding.

There are flowers away from the Prairie now as well. The Buddleias are out in The Gravel Garden, although not on the lower terraces.

The white Oleander, which I must have moved 3 times and finally homed adjacent to the swimming pool overflow, is spectacular, so spectacular indeed that it is now difficult to squeeze past, although I am reluctant to prune it.

The Lavender beds which Phillipe created for me down by the lower cave are well established now. Sadly the white lavender has not done as well as the blue, but there isn’t really space at present to replace it. Perhaps when these bushes reach the end of their natural life.

The salvias in Walnut Terrace are beginning to go over, but some at least of the Gladioli have survived

and even a few Potentillas on the lowest terrace have made it, although in reality I think it is probably too dry for them here.

The sun will be back soon, bringing out more varieties of Echinacea and Hemerocallis for next week.