Creating a Desert Oasis in East Ruston | Garden Design

The Old Vicarage East Ruston. This garden was for a long time high on my wish list to visit. We toured gardens of East Anglia in August 2012 When Alan Gray and Graham Robeson first came to the old vicarage there was no garden whatsoever, it was a blank canvas. Every garden was designed entirely … Continue reading Creating a Desert Oasis in East Ruston | Garden Design →

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. →

Birds water source.

When I was sitting in the garden yesterday, I was delighted to see the birds were using these pot saucers as a water supply.

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. →

Drought Tolerant Gardens 2

RHS Hyde Hall. In 1955 when Dr and Mrs Robinson came to Hyde Hall in 1955 there were only six trees on the top of a windswept hill and no garden. They donated the 42-acre garden, Hyde Hall, to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. We visited there in August 2012 during our garden tour … Continue reading Drought Tolerant Gardens 2 →

Drought Tolerant Gardens.

With the heat wave currently restricting me to the shade of my office and cooling fan, I thought it provided an ideal opportunity to write about drought-tolerant gardens. We spent a week in August 2012 visiting gardens in Essex and East Anglia, one of the driest areas of the UK. The first one we visited … Continue reading Drought Tolerant Gardens. →

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. →

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. →