Wildflower Meadow

I always wonder how wild plants perfectly grow in the meadows, fields, woods without any help of a gardener, without fertilizer, weeding, pruning, etc. and well survive in winter, flourish and propagate self-seeding. This month I have gone for a walk to a nearest wildflower meadow not far from my summer cottage.

feather grass, wild rye, hair grass, briza

I've enjoyed the smell of meadow, flowering plants and the sight of tall grasses swaying in the wind. We call such a meadow - motley grass, there is a lot of cirsium (thistle), clover, feather grass, elymus (wildrye or wheatgrass), deschampsia (hair grass), lolium (ryegrass ), briza, scented flowers as mimulus (monkeyflower), caltha (marigold), filipendula (meadowsweet) there. 

Ledum

Источник: http://rozarii.ru/katalog-rastenij/bagulnik-ledum-palustre.html
© Rozarii.ru

Ledum

Источник: http://rozarii.ru/katalog-rastenij/bagulnik-ledum-palustre.html
© Rozarii.ru

Ledum

Источник: http://rozarii.ru/katalog-rastenij/bagulnik-ledum-palustre.html
© Rozarii.ru

thistle

clover

 

monkeyflower

meadowsweet

 

Along the narrow creek the bushes grew, at first they seemed similar to me , but after looking closely I noticed that their leaves and inflorescence were different. I think they were Sorbaria and Aruncus (goat's beard).

goat's beard

High flowering perennial plants with white and yellow small flowers smelled pleasantly, many bees and bumblebees had flown around them.

Two low yellow plants in the tall grass was a St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) and a Tansy (Tanacetum) both are drug plants that can be bought at a pharmacy.

St. John's wort

Tansy

Other plant that I know, it was a meadow fireweed or rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), which begins to bloom in the middle of summer. If you want to know how long the summer will last, then look at the fireweed flowers. If they have already wilted, then autumn is coming soon, and if they are still blossoming then rejoice the summer! 

fireweed 

 Angelica

On the photo above Angelica is, it was revealed from 14th Century as a medicinal plant and when I was a child it was popular in our games. The red flower that surprised me was Maltese Cross (Lychnis), its bright red colors contrasted with wildflower meadow.
 

Lychnis

My walk was short, I've had some business at home. It was nice I took the pictures to talk you about wild plants growing in the North.
Maybe some of them grow in your place as well? Do you use them as drug plants?

Greenwich Park's Rose Garden

It was the rose bloom peak in July when I came to the remarkable Greenwich Park in London, UK. The popular Rose Garden is on the eastern side of the park and is arranged in front of the 18th century elegant Georgian villa that was the residence of the Park Ranger. Now there is a collection of works of art belonging to the English heritage.

I liked a semi-circular design of the rose beds. There was a stand saying that  hybrid tea and floribunda roses are predominantly grown there. The history of this planting is that it was originally created and then enmediumd at the end of 20th century.

At the 1990th it was enclosed on a yew hedge and since that time the Rose Garden became extremely popular. Situated on top of a hill, visitors enjoy sweeping views across the River Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and beyond.

Since 1990 more than hundred of rose varieties have been planted in the garden, it made me familiar with various of them as   tea hybrid, floribunda, patio roses, old fashion and park roses.

When I have been walking through the rose alleys I was surrounded by bright colors and pleasant scents, it was the feast for eyes and nose :-) 
Although I don't grow hybrid tea rose due to our cold climate I love them and always pay attention on them. The froribunda roses are more suitable and hardy to our northern climate therefore I have written out their names from the gardener's stand. 

Of course, I was interested in the experience of a local gardener who watered roses. I listened to him talking about his daily work in summer and in winter (photo # 2 on the left) .

July Is Over

Fuchsia

Well, July is over. Honestly to say we have had a few hot summer days, I've heard a nightingale singing in the evening ... This summer is not warm. Despite on the weather nature must continue its life cycle.
Let's take a walk in my garden. My pond it's not big and not deep, there are 4 nymphaeas. Finally first water lily blossomed. At the cold day it dared to open its bud, now every morning I greet the beautiful crimson wonder.
Some plants are still potted due to the cool weather. They are fuchsias, begonias and petunias, that surprise me with their persistence to strong wind, low night temps (+12 C 52 F). Fuchsia bloom in red/white and red/blue colors. White begonia blooms since last month.

Begonia

Dianthus alpinus

Tradescantia

 

 

Cornflower

Near the pond many perennials are planted. Dianthus alpinus decorate the pond shore and there is hosta, gypsophila, dicentra, cornflower, tradescantia and lady's mantle. 
Let's go to the front garden. A fence protects plants from cold wind and snow in winter. Therefore I think they overwinter better than other ones in the garden. The bright blue flowers of delphinium rose over the fence that is unusual, it has grown as mad, very tall.

Delphinium

 

rose 'Flammentanz'

I planted the climbing rose 'Flammentanz' 3 years ago and this year I can enjoy its wonderful flowers. They are deep red color, without smell. Another rose 'Proud of England' survives every winter, isn't tall, blooms well.

rose 'Proud of England'

Now we're at the cottage porch. I have some hanging pots and baskets with petunias and impatiens. They need frequent feeding and protection from wind and rain.

Petunias

Here are Duantus barbatus (Sweet willams) and small flowers of Saxifraga (stone breaker) both bloom on the bed in front of the porch.

Duantus barbatus 

 

 

 Saxifraga

Under my cottage window Lupine grows. It's blooming and producing little pods with seeds. Aquilegia rises over lawn, this year it's in yellow color, but I remember I planted red, white and brown ones.

 Lupine

Aquilegia 

First gladioli started to flower, they were frozen in May so I'm glad to see their beauty now. I plant them in tubs because the soil fast gets warm.

 

Gladioli

What is your garden at the end of July? What is the weather in your place?