The warm sunshine of the last few days has done wonders for the garden and brought out the heat lovers like the Tuscan jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, which is now covered in starry flowers wafting their sweet scent over the patio.
Naturally, the roses have also loved the heat, and ‘Roald Dahl’ is one of my favourites. It reminds me of my Granny’s powder puff on her dressing table, but I could be making that up. It was a very long time ago! Roald is one of those David Austin types with clusters of huge flower heads which need supporting or they end up on the floor!
My National Collection of hardy Tradescantias has been recognised with a new plaque which now sits proudly at my entrance gate, surrounded by Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’. The hope is that it may prompt a few questions about why Plant Heritage exists and the work it does to preserve and maintain threatened species and cultivars. Mine is just one of around 600 National Collections around the UK in gardens, stately homes, botanic gardens and arboretums.
My little forest of self-sown Delphinium requienii is thriving in the front garden, despite being far too close together. This compromises their height, which is two feet shorter than usual, but has the added benefit is more flowers for the bees and other pollinators. This biennial form of Larkspur is unique, in that it does not get attacked by slugs and snails due to its glossy, almost leathery leaves which are apparently inedible to our slimy friends. The seedlings sit in place all winter without any damage and rise perfectly intact in the spring.
My favourite clematis at the moment is the texensis variety ‘Princess Diana’ which is absolutely covered in small, fluted dark pink flowers. Elegant and beautiful like Diana herself. I am unashamedly a Royalist and hope to acquire the equally beautiful ‘Princess Kate’ very soon.
Hardy Fuchsia ‘Whiteknights Pearl’ which was moved earlier this year to a more suitable position, has emerged unscathed and is flowering again like nothing happened. A little shorter than usual perhaps, but that is understandable having lost a lot of established roots. She will recover and prosper in her new, improved position and delight us with her dancing ballerina flowers for many years to come.
Have a great weekend
David
Davids Garden Diary 
Congratulations on the green plaque David. Perhaps there will be a blue plaque one day! On a sadder note the slugs took over our garden while we were out of the country in March/April. Not only did they shred the irises, munching all the flower buds, but they ate the self -sown delphinium requiennii down to bare stems. I intend to follow your anti-slug regime next year!
Love the Larkspur! I bet your Princess Diana Clematis would go well with another texensis – ‘Gravetye Beauty,’ which is a deep red.
So glad someone else is growing F. Whiteknights Pearl. My daughter was in Whiteknights Hall of Residence at Reading Uni, so had to have it in the garden here!