W/C May 21: a climbing hydrangea, a marigold, a peony, some bonus pics

Taking off like fireworks

For reasons that I am completely oblivious to, this is the only flowerhead on my Hydrangea Petiolaris this year. There were definitely more last year. The only difference in its conditions between then and now is its close proximity to the Clematis Montana. Maybe this steals all the nutrients? Maybe this blocks all the sun? Not sure. The plant is happy, and slowly expanding in size, so I shan't be calling 999 just yet, but I'm keeping a beady eye on its flower productivity. Wisdom has it that these plants are slow to establish, but once they do they go absolutely bananas. This is its second year in this position (started life in a pot by the back door, but this era was short-lived) and I am now ready for the bananas phase. I want the green fence its clinging to covered. I want it to resemble the finale of a particularly lavish Glastonbury headline set, with those lacecap flowerheads popping off like fireworks all over the place. Soon please.

One colour picture all in a row, of a marigold

I like this guy, this guy is cool. This guy lives in a raised bed with four tomato plants, and two pepper plants. This guy's job is to stop things called root-knot nematodes from decking the tomato plants and making them sad. Everyone seems happy so I think things are going okay. And look how orange this guy is! Obnoxiously so. I love it.

Life can be sometimes ridiculous

Peony's are aaaaaaabsolutely ridiculous. So showy and flouncy and impractical. Any plant that grows a flower that's too heavy for itself to hold is, basically, a total idiot. I did actually stake this to try and support the weight, but I'm not sure my angles were correct, and as a result these giant pink clouds have been flopping all over the place. This is year three for this peony (not sure on the name, another cutting from my dad). Year one: no flowers. Year two: some flowers. Year three: the most so far. Handsome.

Some pictures with no accompanying words, just because this last week has been so pretty

What is this? I have no idea! Pic taken May 26, 2018

Patricia, my second favourite geranium. Oh you'll find out what my favourite is soon enough, don't you worry about that. Pic taken May 22, 2018 — Patricia, my second favourite geranium. Oh you'll find out what my favourite is soon enough, don't you worry about that. Pic taken May 22, 2018