We visited the first National Garden Scheme, http://ngs.org.uk open garden in Worcestershire on Sunday. The garden, Brockamin, includes Plant Heritage National Collections of Asters and some hardy Geraniums. It opens for Snowdrops in February, Daffodils in March and Asters in September.
The 1.5 acre informal garden contains mixed borders planted with hardy perennials and shrubs, several of which were in flower or adding stem colour.
Lonicera fragrantissima & Iris reticulata
Hellebores, Crocus with an early Narcissi adding to the colour.
N. Bowles Early Sulphur.Crocus protected from visitors feet.and swathes of Eranthus Hyemalis
Then of course the snowdrops, all labeled for identification.
G. Wendy’s Gold
Tea and cakes along with plants for sale were there to tempt us. Was I tempted I hear you ask, lets just say I have always been attracted to gold!
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.
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 flower, although it is not looking too cheerful due to its habit of retaining all the old leaves.
The golden bamboo always adds a cheerful glow in the corner.
Two of the Cornus are brightening up the back of this border, reminding me that the fence panels could do with re-staining!
Cornus Alba ‘Westonbirt’ syn C. alba ‘Sibirica’
Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire
In the White and Green garden the Viburnum f ‘candidissimum’ is in flower, this wonderful shrub flowers all through the winter…
…the Mohonia has grown through the trellis to add a splash of yellow to this ‘carefully’ colour co-ordinated garden…
Mahonia Bealii
…the standard holly is an attractive centre piece here.
Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Margenata’ Standard
In the Blue Border the ornamental grasses provide an interesting straw coloured contrast to the Thuja occ. ‘Smaragd’…
…where the Rose ‘Charlotte’ has a rain drop covered bud surviving.
Rose ‘Charlotte’ Std.
The bark of the Prunus is always very attractive this time of year.
Prunus serrula
The winter jasmine and the clematis are providing a splash of yellow, with the clematis climbing through the wisteria.
Jasminum nudiflorumClematis cirrhosa balearica
The skimmia’s are also a welcome sight with ‘Rubella’ very popular with the flower arrangers at Christmas.
Skimmia HermaphroditeSkimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
‘The Holly and The Ivy’, with a cloud pruned conifer by the entrance to the Oriental Garden…
Ilex × meserveae ‘Blue Angel’
… with moss appropriately growing in the crux of an acer tree.
Hydrangea flower heads, in December, make wonderful flower arrangements and photographs.
The title of December Rain is best illustrated with this picture of pine needles with jewel like rain drops, especially the close-up one below.
Reflections on the year!
I hope you have good reflections of 2018. Sadly we had to say goodbye to our faithful companion Murphy.
On a happier note our youngest daughter, Mary is joining her partner James on the 22nd in their first home together. It will all seem a little quiet around here. The Hanley Swan NGS open gardens had another successful year, with totals raised since we started four years ago reaching £8,500. Looking forward to the new year, we have a new garden opening with us along with ‘plans’ for our garden.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year from all of us at Our Garden@19: brimfields.com
What is giving you joy in your gardening world?
Happy Memories and New Year.
