Welcome to my six. These photos were taken earlier in the week, when it was dry and sunny.

  1. Sarcophagus bed – a view of the underside; the soil is in retreat! I generally add a bag of compost each year but at this rate, the rose and hydrangea will be half buried.

2. North border extension – completed last Saturday and requires at least another 250l of top soil. My plan is to fill it with ferns and hostas and other dry, semi shade lovers.

3. Late bloomers – Surprised and delighted to find this ‘strawberries and cream’ penstemon and delphinium in bloom.

4. New to the herbaceous border – ‘lady in black’ aster that fell into my bag at the RHS Wisley flower show and the thalictrum transplanted from the north border.

5. Sunny south border – Somewhat shaggy; the guaras have flowered continuously all summer despite several prunings. I may do some gentle shuffling so everything gets a little more space. The bright pink salvia bloom in the middle of shot was supposed to be blue…

6. Pergola border – This has already undergone a shuffle. I removed the stipa gigantia, horizontal growth did not meet the brief so off to the compost it went. The bronze fennel is at the back, and the knautia macdonicas have been seperated, the delphinium has a front spot next to the seed-grown eryngiums. There are allium bulbs around the tree. The salvia ‘amistad’ was looking sad and leggy in a pot and I’m hopeful the soil is sufficiently free-draining for it to successfully overwinter. The aeonium is now in the greenhouse.

That’s my six and it could be the last for 2025. Remember to call by Jim’s to catch-up with the rest of the sixers.