Cutting Garden

Nearly all the seedlings have been planted. I have dotted them around although I cleared a space next to the brick path.

The plants have been in pots too long, the Ammi and Nicotiana look a bit sad but they should recover. I got a bit carried away when I pricked out the seeds and did too many. Still, I have taken some to my volunteer garden, larkspur to mum's garden, and a few have gone in the front garden.

The 'English Miss' and 'White Gold' Roses have buds that are almost open.

At the moment I am picking odd stems of perennial, enough to make a jug for my kitchen windowsill which is my favourite place for cut flowers. Although the kitchen overlooks the garden, there is nothing like having fresh flowers by you when you tackle the washing up.

 The jug contains Alchemilla, Nepeta, Astrantia, Verbena, Roses 'Felicia' and 'Gertrude Jekyll' and Nemesia 'Confetti'. I also added some green Aquilegia seedheads. I read an article on cut flowers and the florist had used them so I thought I would try them. They do look nice. I picked the Alchemilla and Nepeta 5 days ago but they still look good so I put them back in the vase.

I went to the BBC Gardeners World Live show at the NEC in Birmngham yesterday. The only plant on my list was a scented leaved pelargonium to add to my cutting garden. I bought 'Lady Plymouth' ( on the left of the picture above) and 'Mabel Grey', both from a specialist grower who had several varieties. I also bought Matthiola from another nursery, this is a perennial white stock. I grew this a few years ago but it died. I don't know why it has taken me this long to replace it, it has a lovely scent. I also bought some seeds which were being sold off, Scabious 'Border Mixed' and Nigella papillosa. Both good for cutting. The Scabious is similar to Scabiosa 'Perfecta Blue' which I have recently bought, and is pictured below.