Category: Our Garden@19

John Brookes MBE and the Blue Border in Our Garden@19.

John Brookes MBE has designed and built well over 1000 gardens, here and overseas, during a career spanning 50 years. Based at Denmans, his acclaimed world-famous garden in West Sussex, he is best known for his ability to create gardens that relate to their environment, designing gardens that fit into the wider landscape; that best … Continue reading John Brookes MBE and the Blue Border in Our Garden@19. →

Redesigning the White and Green garden.

I have been reviewing Our garden@19 with an emphasis on reducing the need for watering which I wrote about here: Drought tolerant planting and secondly looking to reduce the work in maintaining the garden without losing its appeal. With this second aim in mind, I decided last winter to redesign the White and Green garden … Continue reading Redesigning the White and Green garden. →

Open Gardens & The Four Seasons Video of Our Garden@19.

The open garden season is now getting into its stride here in the Uk. We are opening again this year along with other gardens within the village for the Church on April 29th, 30th and May 1st and for The National Garden Scheme on the 10th and 11th of June. This movie will take you … Continue reading Open Gardens & The Four Seasons Video of Our Garden@19. →

Drought Tolerant Planting in Our Garden@19.

During the heat wave in July, I wrote about drought-tolerant gardens: Here I have for two years been working towards a more drought-tolerant planting scheme for both the south-facing front border and the Blue Border the priority here was to remove the requirement to water during the summer.The front border is south facing, in full … Continue reading Drought Tolerant Planting in Our Garden@19. →

Autumn planting, Spring colour.

This year there is a new planting plan for the raised beds bordering the patio. This will be the first year I have not planted tulips here instead there are Wallflowers Persian Carpet, Digitalis Suttons Apricot and Forget-me-nots’. These have all been grown from seed a considerable saving on plants along with not buying tulip … Continue reading Autumn planting, Spring colour. →

Preparing Pelargoniums for Winter.

One of the gardening jobs that has concentrated my mind this autumn has been preparing the growing pelargonium collection for the winter. I have been following the Pelargonium Society's Website Here. advice on reducing the size of the plants so that they will fit into the space available. They recommend to reduce the risk of … Continue reading Preparing Pelargoniums for Winter. →

Drought Busters in Our Garden@19.

Very few plants in our gardens can survive these temperatures let alone flower. These are the few exceptions here. Inula magnifica Hollyhock Apple Blossom Echinops ritro is loved by the bees. I was once told I would regret planting this in my garden because it can be invasive. In our free draining soil, I am … Continue reading Drought Busters in Our Garden@19. →

Thank you.

On June the 4th and 5th six gardens in the village of Hanley Swan opened in aid of the National Garden scheme. Thank you to all the supporters who baked cakes, helped with serving the teas and selling plants in support of Saint Richards Hospice, especially the garden owners who put a lot of work … Continue reading Thank you. →

Open Gardens and Flower Festival.

This bank holiday we joined in with 16 others in the village for the Open Gardens and Flower Festival. Some of the tulips had gone over however the Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Heaven’ were just beginning to open. Their true beauty can be really appreciated when photographed up close. I created a short video of the … Continue reading Open Gardens and Flower Festival. →

In The beginning, Seed Sowing.

I guess, if you asked any gardener how to sow seeds, you would receive a different answer from each one.  I recently gave a zoom presentation to the Worcestershire Careers Association gardening group on seed sowing. These are my thoughts. Containers. There is a wide range of pots and containers for seed sowing, generally, I … Continue reading In The beginning, Seed Sowing. →

Mind the Gap!

I have been thinking for some time that the wooden bridge crossing the dry river in the Japanese garden would soon need replacing. It had developed a certain amount of spring when crossing! It gave way the other day as I was crossing to the shelter, so the decision was made for me as to … Continue reading Mind the Gap! →

Japanese Gardens.

Following my post 'Peace and Tranquility' I thought it would be interesting to post some pictures, as slide shows, of Japanese gardens we have visited here in the UK. Tatton Park. From their website: "The Japanese Garden was almost certainly the result of Alan de Tatton’s visit to the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition at the White City … Continue reading Japanese Gardens. →

Peace and Tranquility in the Garden.

It has been said many times during the pandemic how important gardens and outdoor spaces have become to people from all walks of life.Whether walking in the city parks or exploring the countryside everyone feels a benefit.Those of us with gardens have also found them sanctuaries either to sit in enjoying a beverage of your … Continue reading Peace and Tranquility in the Garden. →

Winter Stems, Leaves and Flowers.

Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire  Hydrangea quercifolia Burgundy Vinca diffopmis ‘Jenny Pym’ Three plants bringing colour and joy into our garden this January. What is bringing colour and joy into your garden?

A Frosty Morning Workout.

Every January I wait for a frosty morning to pollard the Acer negundo Flamingo. Without the cold weather, even in January, the sap will pour from the cut wounds, which could over time weaken the tree. The branches provide a lovely winter grey blue colour. This is done to maintain the beautiful leaf colours, otherwise … Continue reading A Frosty Morning Workout. →

Trees for the small garden.

With encouragement from the Government and countryside organisations such as the RHS and NT there is an increasing interest in planting trees and the benefits to the environment of doing so. While most of these reported on are on a large scale, if chosen correctly there are some wonderful ornamental and fruitful trees for even … Continue reading Trees for the small garden. →

Autumn Up Close.

Trees and Leaves. Acer griseum Malus Golden HornetHydrangea quercifolia BurgundyVitis ' Spetchley red ' Cotoneaster horizontalisRhus hirta Staghorn sumac.Viburnum sargentii 'Onondaga'Ricinus communis var. gibsonii SeedRicinus communis var. gibsoniiLiquidamber slyraciflua 'Stella' seed.Liquidamber slyraciflua 'Stella'Cherry Tree from an upstairs window.Cherry Tree upclose. Betula utilis Jacquemontii (syn Dorrenbos) Seed Heads. Echinops ritroEryngium planumEryngium Giganteum (Miss Willmotts Ghost) Flowers. Fuchsia … Continue reading Autumn Up Close. →

Wildlife in Our Garden and Autumn Colour.

Goldfinches feeding on sunflower hearts. Vitis ' Spetchley red '  Fuchia 'Mrs Popple’ Malus Golden Hornet and Tithonia ‘Torch’ The Alpine Boxes and pots. Nerine Bowdenii Please select Watch on YouTube then full screen for video. https://youtu.be/ShCKEqdnLeQ What is giving you Autumn Joy in the garden or countryside?

Our Garden@19 in September.

September is one of my favourite months in the garden, it could be nostalgia because we always had a wonderful show of Michaelmas Daises (Asters/Symphyotrichum) in our cottage garden at home. Many other plants also provide interest at this time of year, the annuals such as dahlias, late flowering perennials, trees and shrubs with changing … Continue reading Our Garden@19 in September. →

Thank You.

Along with many garden owners, we originally decided not to open our garden this year due to the pandemic. However, with the improving situation, we have now held popup openings in June and September supporting the charity National garden Scheme. ngs.org.uk During these days we have also sold plants for St Richards Hospice and at … Continue reading Thank You. →

Exotics in September.

We have decided to hold another pop-up opening for the National Garden Scheme charity. The exotics are looking good, I am hoping the Michaelmas Daisies will soon start to join them. And in the greenhouse. We hope for a sunny day so that visitors can enjoy the garden with tea and cake!

Double value.

Three plants in the garden offering attractive foliage as well as flowers. Galtonia candicans has white bell flowers with lance like blue green striped leaves. The Pholx are just starting to flower here, this is Phlox paniculate ‘Harlequin', variegated leaves with a touch of pink. This is the first time Colocasia ‘Black Dragon’ has flowered … Continue reading Double value. →

A colourful garden visitor.

This is the first time this colourful garden visitor has been seen this year. These markings are of a juvenile, thankfully it stayed feeding long enough for me to fetch my camera.

Some July Specials.

Thalictrum flavum subsp.glaucum and Campanula lactiflora 'Prichard's Variety' Clematis 'Perle d'Azur and Dianthus carthusianorum Geranium Johnson's Blue and Lychnis chalcedonica Who would have thought a runner bean flower could be so beautiful? In the raised beds edging the patio Runner Bean White Emergo With Sweet pea Air Warden. And Self-seeded Poppy. On the Patio. Do … Continue reading Some July Specials. →

Pellies on Parade.

UnKown.Pelargonium ‘Red Gables’P. Contrast.Pelargonium Attar of RosesPelargonium Frank Hedley AGMPelargonium Frank Hedley AGMP. Merlot. I think my favourite is 'Merlot', I love the colour and the wine! Do you grow Pellies and do you have a favourite?

Wisteria, Iris, Cornus kousa, Clematis, Alliums and Alliums in early June.

A video tour of Our Garden@19 in early June. Please select Watch on YouTube and select full screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKDYjP67AfQ We are opening our garden for the National Garden Scheme on the 28th June, whilst some of these will be over the climbing roses among others should be in full swing.

Under The Veranda in May.

The plants in the new planter I built in April have settled in well and are starting to grow. As this is on the North side of the house I selected shade loving plants. These are plants I already had in pots except for a new Trachelospermum jasminoides which I hope will eventually provide an … Continue reading Under The Veranda in May. →

Greenhouses and Raised Beds in May.

A tour of the greenhouses in May, the cold winds and frosty nights dictate that tender plants have to remain inside. This time of year is always over crowded greenhouse time! The tomato, Amateur, new to me this year, Amelia from https://afrenchgarden.wordpress.com mentioned it as a favourite of her fathers. I was attracted to it … Continue reading Greenhouses and Raised Beds in May. →

Tulips and Blossom.

I have begun an experiment with tulips this year, following an article I read by Fergus Garrett from Great Dixter regarding which tulips they found to be perennial. The most reliable ones being the Darwin Hybrids, I planted three varieties in November, two in pots and one in the borders.The real test will be next … Continue reading Tulips and Blossom. →

Spring (ing) into action!

This winter in Our Garden@19 has been busy with 'Estate Maintenance'. I previously posted about replacing the trellis and fence in the white and green garden, then as now my brother Derek has been my right hand man. Replacing the entrance to the propagation area was the simplest of our recent efforts. We gave it … Continue reading Spring (ing) into action! →

A seasonal delight – in winter.

Guest Publisher Leonie Creighton. Leonie is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic gardener she is the minutes secretary to the Black Pear Gardening Club. I have invited her as guest publisher for this seasonally appropriate article she wrote for the club newsletter. IRIS UNGUICULARIS. One of my favourite plants at this time of year is IRIS UNGUICULARIS … Continue reading A seasonal delight – in winter. →

Happy New Year.

Winter visited Our Garden@19 towards the end of 2020. Flowering in the house and keeping warm is the Christmas Cactus. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) From the bathroom window we can see the snow-capped Malvern Hills. Snow boot painted by the Grandchildren as a Christmas present. A snowy video tour of the garden wishing you a Happy … Continue reading Happy New Year. →

December 2020

This December has so far been very mild here in Our Garden@19 with only one frost. The cannas and dahlias are all lifted..... ....safely stored in the garden shed with fleece covering for the cold nights. The tender plants are divided between the two greenhouses... Two small areas have been planted with Tulips also Foxgloves, … Continue reading December 2020 →

Autumn Colours, Music and Poetry.

A video of the changing autumn colours in Our Garden@19 and some borrowed landscape. I filmed this over a two week period to record the changing colours. Please watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/Sm6GP9IrGng What is providing you with Autumn colour? With the requirement in most countries to wear a face mask due to the Covid19 pandemic … Continue reading Autumn Colours, Music and Poetry. →

Ivy and the Bees.

Why you should allow some ivy to grow in your garden. https://youtu.be/Ct2GOuKMFlI I do grow some cultivated variegated forms, ivy does not produce any flowers until their adult growth stage when the leaf shape changes, usually at around 10years. They can be kept pruned to their juvenile stage and leaf shape when they will at … Continue reading Ivy and the Bees. →

Virtual meetings, the Garden in July and Plant Sales.

The Covid-19 restrictions have inevitably prevented any meetings of our club, The Black Pear Gardening Club..blackpeargc.org.uk Our family has been using Skype for keeping in touch so I decided to try and hold a trial meeting for the club with the opportunity for members to say hello, I then presented pictures from our garden with … Continue reading Virtual meetings, the Garden in July and Plant Sales. →

The May Garden Video Tour.

"April Showers Bring May Flowers". While we did not have many April showers the May flowers have, like us, enjoyed the sunshine. Please join me on a video tour of Our Garden@19 to see our May flowers. Turn up the volume, click on the link below and select full screen, play and enjoy. https://youtu.be/_4jq9P11_CI

Worcestershire Apples and a Fruit Blossom Video Trail.

Orchards have long been a feature of the Worcestershire Countryside, apples for cider, eating and cooking and similar with pears and plums. The Vale of Evesham has a popular fruit blossom trail and because we are unable to visit it this year, I have created this blog post about the development of apple varieties in … Continue reading Worcestershire Apples and a Fruit Blossom Video Trail. →

Tulip Video Tour.

Every year since 2011 our village church has held open gardens over this bank holiday weekend, we have taken part every year bar one. This year, along with all open gardens it has had to be cancelled. With the public unable to come to the garden, this weekend, I have produced a tulip video tour … Continue reading Tulip Video Tour. →

Spring Video Tour 2

This tour takes us around Our Garden@19 to see what is adding colour and interest in late March-early April. Happy Easter, stay well and enjoy. Brian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns13CPfXwvo

Doddington Hall Garden Visit and Growing Bearded Iris.

In August 2019 Irene and I were invited to a family event near Lincoln, this provided the perfect opportunity to visit a garden that has long been on my wish list ever since reading about their technique for growing Bearded Iris. Sadly when we visited the iris were over, however, as with all good gardens, … Continue reading Doddington Hall Garden Visit and Growing Bearded Iris. →

March Tour.

Despite the awful weather this winter, it has been a busy one here in our garden@19, see: (A Winter Project and a Wildlife-Friendly Experiment.) following on from several autumn projects. With all the depressing news from around the world, just an hour working in the garden is welcome, ending with a quick photo tour accompanied by … Continue reading March Tour. →

Some Colourful Relief.

With all the terrible weather, gales and floods that the UK has recently experienced,     I hope some spring colour will help to bring some relief. (Fortunately whilst we live close to Upton upon Severn, currently Upton in Severn, we are away from the floods).   Here's wishing for a sunny, dry spring.

A Winter Project and a Wildlife Friendly Experiment.

When we purchased the house, I designed the garden and the rear of the main border, now named the blue border, was planted with climbing roses, trained to rope swags. Unfortunately, the rope soon rotted and was replaced with trellis. Now several years later the trellis along with some of the posts required replacing this … Continue reading A Winter Project and a Wildlife Friendly Experiment. →

Winter Shapes and Silhouettes.

A winter tour, with the camera, around Our Garden@19 to capture some of the season's shapes and silhouettes. This is an evergreen and topiary time of year, black and white pictures add to the wintery appearance.   Do you have a favourite winter shape in your garden?

Flower of the Month. December 2019.

I caught sight of this Vinca flower in the spring border. Vinca difformis is similar to Vinca major, differing most significantly in its habit of flowering right from Autumn, through mild Winter spells to Spring.   Such a welcome cheering sight to find in the garden at this time of year, especially after all the rain … Continue reading Flower of the Month. December 2019. →

Tulips, Pots and Saucers.

The beginning of November saw the planting of pots with, crocus, iris, narcissus and species rock tulips. Old hanging baskets used to keep the squirrels away.Two large pots either side of the banana bench were planted with Tulip 'Abu Hassan', Siberian Wallflowers and Forget-me-Nots. When the rain finally eased I managed to complete planting my … Continue reading Tulips, Pots and Saucers. →

Autumn Project 4, Unexpected!

Banana Bench & Boston Ivy, Autumn 2018. This year I noticed that the Parthenocissus Tri. Veitch, Boston Ivy, behind the banana bench, had been almost completely replaced with wild Ivy. Now while I like Ivy in the garden for its benefit to wildlife, here I would prefer to see a more colourful plant. I decided … Continue reading Autumn Project 4, Unexpected! →

Autumn Project 3 Completed.

I have long held the view that autumn is the beginning of the gardening year, preparing the garden and the plants for their winter rest before the explosion of spring and summer glory. The main autumn project, this year, has been to move plants into their correct positions! I am sure many of you can … Continue reading Autumn Project 3 Completed. →

Plant of the month.

Asters, Michaelmas Daisies or Symphyotrichum, as some of them have now been renamed, are one of the autumn garden flowers I have always loved to see. This is probably because of the wonderful stand that grew in my parents and grandparents gardens. There are many to choose from, for October's plant of the month, in … Continue reading Plant of the month. →

Autumn Project 2 Completed.

I have to confess to watching many of the gardening programs on television along with reading gardening magazines, books and of course blogs, for inspiration in planting and design. One programme featured, what I thought was a good structural design for supporting climbing plants. When I had finished building my version, I thought it looked … Continue reading Autumn Project 2 Completed. →

Plant of the month.

Visiting RHS Chatsworth Show in June this year, one of the bulb stands had Zantedeschia Contor on display, and in flower. Talking to the owner he reassured me the tubers would flower this summer. He was right! I am linking with Noelle who has posted her plant of the month. Do you have one?

Plant of the month.

Fig leaf Holly Hocks are my choice, in August, for plant of the month in our garden@19. I love the delicate colours of this one. The seed was sent to me probably two years ago by Gill Heavens after admiring pictures of them on her blog. This is their first flowering. Do you have an … Continue reading Plant of the month. →

Plant of the month.

Choosing a plant of the month at this time of year is a little like choosing your favourite child. Daucus carota, the wild annual carrot, flowering in the blue border mainly from self sown plants is my choice. I grew it two years ago from seed, there was none in the garden last year, now … Continue reading Plant of the month. →

May Joy.

Our garden@19, in May, was cloaked in the joy of May flowers, starting with the Wisteria floribunda 'Alba' ... Clematis 'Nelly Moser' Allium ‘Beau Regard’ Allium Mount Everest with White Honesty. The Blue Border with Allium ‘Purple Sensation ‘. Iris ‘Alcazar’. Hesperis matronalis 'White' Prunus ‘serrula’ our mug tree. These pictures were taken just before … Continue reading May Joy. →

There’s a Buzz in the air!

Prunus serrula is an all year round favourite tree in Our Garden@19. However at this time of year it is also popular with the bees, especially the honey bees. The flowers are quite small and insignificant compared to the bark. Standing under the canopy when in flower it is a buzz with bees. You will … Continue reading There’s a Buzz in the air! →

April Top Ten.

A quick tour around Our Garden@19 to capture my Top Ten, joining Chloris at The Blooming Garden. The Lego inspired Bug Hotel with Roof Garden. You can see more April Top Ten by visiting The Blooming Garden Do you have a favourite or a top ten of your own?

Vinca.

Vinca have a bad reputation with gardeners as being very invasive. This is more true of ‘major’, the smaller ‘minor’, known as the Lesser Periwinkle is, I think, an excellent plant for dry, shady areas. It is not often considered for planters, although it can look particularly good in urns or large pots, trailing over … Continue reading Vinca. →

‘Brazen Hussy’.

The plant family, Ranunculus, includes buttercups and lesser celandine, plants that most gardeners would not welcome into their garden. However with these looks and the name of 'Brazen Hussy', I have made an exception. It was discovered and named by Christopher Lloyd growing in the woods at Great Dixter. Here, enjoying the sunshine, it has … Continue reading ‘Brazen Hussy’. →

A feeding frenzy in the rain.

I have observed over the years that the birds visit our feeders in greater numbers on a wet day, more than any other weather, except snow. These pictures were taken on Friday through the dining room window with the flash turned off. The Goldfinches were joined by a pair of Siskins and a Bluetit during … Continue reading A feeding frenzy in the rain. →

A Christmas gift that keeps giving.

A Christmas gift of Hippeastrum first flowered with six blooms, now on its second flourish with five blooms. Plants can provide not only pleasure, also optimism with a feeling of wellbeing, very welcome during the dark days of January. What is giving you joy in your gardening world?

Remembrance.

Christmas and New Year are often a time for remembering lost loved ones. Imagine my surprise at seeing the rosemary in flower in our garden@19 this morning following a night of -2* frost. Happy Memories and New Year. (Photos taken with iPhone)

December Rain.

In the Garden, December 2018 T'is the season to be merry, of turkey, tinsel and snow with visits to Santa's Grotto. I cannot promise you any of the above, we can though visit Our Garden@19 following a rain shower, looking for some winter cheer and colour. In the Oriental Garden the Witch Hazel is in … Continue reading December Rain. →

November Sunshine.

Blogging has had to take a back seat recently with a wedding, holiday, a kitchen refit and decorating taking precedent.  I lifted all the Dahlias from the raised beds last week, replacing them with tulips, also filling all the tulip pots. With the sun shining, I took a quick tour of the garden with the … Continue reading November Sunshine. →

Autumn Colour in Our Garden@19

    The National Garden Scheme has posted this quote on their website. "Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile." William Cullen Bryant (1794 - 1878) You can view their Autumn Smile here What is making you smile this Autumn?

Murphy—?—26th July 2018.

Rescued by Mary from the Dogs Trust at approximately 18 months old, Murphy has been our friend, companion and protector here at Our Garden@19. His contribution to the team can be read in 'The Garden - Garden Team'.                               He was … Continue reading Murphy—?—26th July 2018. →

Drought Busters July 2018.

Those of you living and gardening in the UK do not need me to tell you that we are 'enjoying' one of the hottest June/July periods for some time, with day time temperatures reaching 30c. Whilst for many of you reading this in other parts of the world this may not be unusual, but here … Continue reading Drought Busters July 2018. →

NGS Open Weekend 2018.

We were blessed with prefect weather for the Hanley Swan NGS Group open weekend this year. This encouraged 244 visitors to came through the open garden gates during the weekend....     including a group from Gorsley Garden Club, on the following Monday, all helping to raise £2280 for the Charity. Thanks must go to … Continue reading NGS Open Weekend 2018. →

May Blooms.

The month of May has seen Our Garden@19 blessed with high temperatures by day, cool nights and thunderstorms. The surviving flowers have put on a wonderful show. Hopefully some of these will continue to flower for our NGS opening on June the 9th and 10th, to be joined by more still to come. Please click … Continue reading May Blooms. →

‘The Mad Month of May.’

March is usually considered to be the 'mad' month of the year. Here at Brimfields.com, May qualifies due to so many 'events' taking place. This weekend the Hanley Open Gardens takes place over the three days of the bank holiday weekend. Our Garden@19 will be open on the Sunday and Monday. (Spit and polish between … Continue reading ‘The Mad Month of May.’ →

Daffodil delights & Narcissus narcissism.

Narcissi are one of the delights of spring. Here are some that brightened the spring in Our garden@19, from the smallest... ...to the weird. To the big and blowsy... The next few pictures are of unknown varieties. To seeing double. I don't know where this one came from, it could have been among plants that … Continue reading Daffodil delights & Narcissus narcissism. →

Top Ten for March.

Weather lore says: "March, in like a lion out like a lamb." March is a month of transition, a much used word of late. In a gardening context I think emergence is a more suitable label. The garden and plants are emerging from winter into spring. It was traditionally the month for planting spring crops, mainly … Continue reading Top Ten for March. →

Hats, Gloves, Scarves & Muddy Boots.

On Wednesday we replaced our Hats, Gloves, Scarves and Muddy Boots with our 'Wednesday Best' to attend the Worcestershire County National Garden Scheme AGM and lunch. ( This being a charity, garden owners have to pay for their lunch). With the Chief Executive, George Plumptre, of the NGS in attendance, Our County Chairman, David Morgan … Continue reading Hats, Gloves, Scarves & Muddy Boots. →

Ten February Favourite Blooms.

Chloris at The Blooming Garden encourages us garden bloggers to venture out into the garden in all winds and weathers to take pictures of our favourite ten blooms each month. My ten include the inevitable Snowdrops, of which I have the grand total of three varieties,  (Chloris is the one to visit to enjoy a Galanthus … Continue reading Ten February Favourite Blooms. →

New Visitors.

I along with many fellow bloggers enjoy watching and feeding the birds that visit our gardens throughout the year.  New visitors to our garden@19 this winter have been, a fleeting glimpse of a Gold Crest, a male Bullfinch and on the niger seed feeder, the male and female Siskin. They are sometimes referred to as … Continue reading New Visitors. →

In the February Sunshine.

These winter months are the time of year I try to carry out any ‘estate’ maintenance along with completing the pruning of the climbing/rambling roses, wisteria, vines, the apples and pear trees. These all require the use of a ladder, which in the past has involved balancing on the top of a rather unsteady step … Continue reading In the February Sunshine. →

The Birds and the Bees…

Today (Friday) was the first day of sunshine here and after too many days of rain, it does bring a song into your heart. I ventured out into the garden to finish pruning the climbing roses, before I began, I decided to do a tour with the camera. The gardener's friend, was as usual, keeping … Continue reading The Birds and the Bees… →

Merry Christmas.

Mary usually decorates our mantlepiece for Christmas. This years theme is felted robins and holly leaves she has made, all on a snow dusted Yule Log. (From the Prunus serrula in ourgarden@19). Wishing you all an enjoyable, peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for following, reading and commenting on brimfields.com throughout this first … Continue reading Merry Christmas. →

Tulips. (From Hanley Swan).

I am, sadly, old enough to remember Max Bygraves singing the cheerful song 'Tulips from Amsterdam'. Tulips along with Dahlias are a vital element to providing year round cheer and colour here in Our Garden@19 The dahlias are all now lifted and safely stored in the small greenhouse, this one is kept frost free. There … Continue reading Tulips. (From Hanley Swan). →

Ten Top for November.

I am joining Chloris and her many followers in posting my Top Ten for November, please visit The Blooming Garden to see what their Top Ten are. Number one, the seed heads of the Lunaria, which provides a silvery shine in the low November sunlight. This plant provides interest through out the whole year, from the young … Continue reading Ten Top for November. →

November Sunshine.

November unfairly receives a bad press, often refered to as dark, gloomy, foggy and dismal. This I think stems mainly from the days when coal fires were the norm, polluting the atmosphere.  "Guns N Roses" even performed a song entitled 'November Rain', which I don't mind listening to (They are an American Hard Rock Band!) … Continue reading November Sunshine. →

November Shadows.

  I took these pictures with my iPhone, on a beautiful sunny November afternoon, while raking up the leaves in the garden, intending to publish them with this title on Wordless Wednesday. Events here during the night of Friday 11th overtook every thing else, nine garden sheds and out buildings in our cul-de-sac were burgled. … Continue reading November Shadows. →

Top Ten for October.

Choosing my Top Ten flowers in Our garden@19 is difficult at any time of year, however one for October has to be the Michaelmas Daisy. (Aster/ Symphyotrichum.) This white one appeared in the garden two years ago. I think it may have come in with another plant. It is a runner (ie.invasive) by the appearance … Continue reading Top Ten for October. →

Ten Favourites for September.

Just in the nick of time I am joining Chloris at The Blooming Garden with my Ten Favourites for September. You can see what others have posted by visiting Chloris Here  Number one in Our Garden@19 is a flower on the Ginger Lilly, I have been waiting two years since I was given them for one … Continue reading Ten Favourites for September. →

A ‘Charm’ in the rain.

On Thursday here in sunny Worcestershire the day turned into a very wet one. One thing I have observed over the years feeding birds in Our Garden@19 is the feeding frenzy that develops during wet weather. I predominantly feed sunflower hearts, which all species of birds enjoy... I also feed Niger seeds especially for the … Continue reading A ‘Charm’ in the rain. →

Signs of Autumn.

Walking around Our Garden@19 the other evening there were some notable signs of autumn, not least in the temperture. Some of the plants are starting to develop their seasonal colours. Please join me on a short walk through the garden. The first to catch your eye is the flowering cherry tree between the patio and … Continue reading Signs of Autumn. →

Dahlias.

Growing  Dahlias has become popular again within the last 15 years or so, some credit the late Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter with their revival. I grew up next door to my maternal grand parents and there was a large garden producing almost all of our food. A vegetable garden and orchard with chickens, pigs … Continue reading Dahlias. →

Ten favourite plants for August 2017

It is often said that August is a poor time for English gardens, if you visit Chloris  At The Blooming Garden. you will see how wrong that statement can be. I am joining in with Chloris and all the other garden bloggers with my ten favourite Plants for August. In no particular order of preference, the … Continue reading Ten favourite plants for August 2017 →

Five favourite flowers for July.

Chloris at the blooming garden    has been posting her 10 favourite flowers for July while encouraging others to join in. I along with several others, am posting my five favourite flowers for July. Star of the month is this, name unknown, Phlox which also features in the picture above, it came from my Great Aunt's garden, … Continue reading Five favourite flowers for July. →

Mugs.

In my previous post here I showed the mug tree our grandchildren helped create in the garden ready for our NGS open gardens. The mugs were a collection from them, their friends and some we had. My favourite was the one below, (I don't know why), but it does amuse me. More mugs can be viewed … Continue reading Mugs. →

Catching up!

One problem for a gardener who chooses to go away on holiday in May is the work preparing to go away and then to catch up on your return. This is especially so when you have an open garden date looming in June. This also applies to catching up on reading and writing blogs. Here … Continue reading Catching up! →

Tulip Time Plans 2017

Our village of Hanley Swan has for the last few years held an open gardens during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. I usually plant tulips in the garden and pots to provide colour and interest during the weekend. This year it looks as if my plans are in jeopardy due to the early spring weather. … Continue reading Tulip Time Plans 2017 →

I have built a wall!

  I have been thinking about my Hosta plants... We have a north facing corner against the house... Where I grow shade lovers including Epimedium x Rubrum, Ferns, Buxus and Hosta in pots. Looking good eh! Yet for how long? Now I am very fond of Hosta, although as all gardener's know so are... I … Continue reading I have built a wall! →

Spring is in the air.

In Our Garden@19   While enjoying the early signs of spring the head gardener has been preparing for the summer drought. The garden benefits from the borrowed landscape of the neighbours trees in the autumn, the downside is the amount of water required by such large trees. Partial soaker hose irrigation was installed when we … Continue reading Spring is in the air. →

New Year – New Blog.

Welcome to brimfields.com, thank you for visiting. This is my new blog covering two interests in The Life of Brian, photography and gardening. I recently started to develop a blog about my photography alongside my other blog Our Garden@19, which I first published two years ago. These two have now been merged into brimfields.com The pages, … Continue reading New Year – New Blog. →

2016 In Close Up.

This is the time of year when we think about the new year and reflect on the old one. The pictures below are some of the close up photographs from Our garden@19 taken during 2016. The new years come, the old years go, We know we dream, we dream we know. We rise up laughing … Continue reading 2016 In Close Up. →