August 25th Bake Off. Three generations of my family have entered various classes of the village show over the years. From the website “The Village Show has been running since August 1862, when the first Hanley Castle Horticultural and Flower Show was organised by the gentry of Hanley Castle Parish. The aim was “to encourage … Continue reading Journal. From Bake Off to Tulips.
This year has been challenging for the garden open days, both due to personal reasons and unpredictable weather. Family and friends have been very supportive, resulting in a record amount raised for the National Garden Scheme charity. Building on this success, the open dates for next year are booked, with the local British Legion charity … Continue reading Capturing Autumn: A Garden Photo Collection
Summer house and greenhouse tidy up. April 19th. The summer house had it’s spring clean today ready for all the open garden dates when it becomes a ticket office. Also tidied up the Pelargonium Greenhouse Going potty. April 23rd Potted up the tall Cephalaria gigantea ( Giant Scabious ), Tagetes cinnabar, Bronze fennel, Dill and … Continue reading Journal. Preparing Our Garden@19 for an NGS Open Day.
I have decided to try and keep a journal about the Life of Brian in Our Garden@19. Depending on how busy I am will dictate how often it is published, when I do, I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings about life in the garden. Thyme walk. 25th March. I have thought for sometime about … Continue reading Gardening Journal: Life of Brian in Our Garden
With such lovely weather and Spring flowers I decided to take the Canon out for a garden photography tour. In the Spring Bed. Ficaria verna ‘Brazen Hussy’ Vinca diffopmis ‘Jenny Pym’ Mahonia aquifolium ' Apollo ' Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana The Oriental Garden. Magnolia stellata Chaenomeles japonica The White and Green Garden. Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White Spirea 'Arguta' Bridal … Continue reading A Garden Photography Tour: Spring Blooms
Winter is a time when I try to carry out as many of what I call ‘estate maintenance ‘ in the garden. There always are posts that rot off, trellis or fencing falling apart. New fence This year the fence panels in the White and Green garden needed replacing. I can not complain they have … Continue reading Winter Garden Maintenance: Essential Tasks for Our Garden@19
We have two raised beds that edge the patio. I have removed the dahlias to their winter quarters ready to plant the tulips, wallflower and for-get-me-nots I recognize it is an old-fashioned traditional planting Scheme here in the UK, but it works. The raised beds are not much to look at just now. Hopefully they … Continue reading Traditional UK Planting: Tulips and Wallflowers
Many words have been spoken and written regarding the beauty of nature in autumn. Someone once said a picture paints a thousand words so here are some photos from the garden with a few words. Looking through the Blue Border. The pots have been emptied ready for the tulip bulbs. Some of the plants in … Continue reading Exploring Autumn’s Garden Beauty.
The two small greenhouses we have in the garden are now almost full to the brim with tender plants in readiness for the onset of winter. It was a wet windy day when I took these pictures hence all the leaves on the green house roofs. The smallest one contains succulents with cuttings and seeds. … Continue reading Preparing Our Greenhouses for Winter Plant Care.
A tour around the garden enjoying the autumn sunshine and some late flowering plants. One of my favourite plants at this time of year is the Michaelmas Daisy/Aster or Symphyotrichum as many of them have been renamed. I think it partly stems from the huge beautiful clumps we had in our garden where I grew … Continue reading Autumn Garden Jewels: A Tour of Late Blooming Plants.
Following our National Garden Scheme open weekend now is an opportunity to relax and enjoy what are our June garden stars. In the sunny front garden is Dierama pulcherrimum. I am pleased to see this flowering I grew it from seeds I chose from the HPS member's seed scheme. https://hardy-plant.org.uk Dierama thrives in sunny positions … Continue reading June Garden Stars: Dierama pulcherrimum, Dahlias, and More
Spring here in the UK has been very wet and cold although the Met Office tells us the average temperature has been slightly above normal . Enjoy a tour of the garden with me to see what is adding light to the gloomy weather. The Crab apple tree has been spectacular this spring much visited … Continue reading April Tour of Our Garden@19.
The self-sown cherry tree at the rear of the garden was in full flower. I could hear the bees working on it from the potting shed. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day to carry out some spring work in the garden. A new rope swag for clematis and roses to clamber over. A small area … Continue reading A good spring day in the garden.
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.
January has been a wet dull period for most of the month here in the UK with some areas suffering from severe flooding. Fortunately, a tour of the garden can bring some cheer with signs of spring not just flower colour but beautifully patterned leaves. Cyclamen hederifolium Cyclamen Arum italicum subsp. italicum ‘Marmoratum’ Winter aconite … Continue reading January Blues Away.
What was your garden highlights in 2023? Happy New Gardening Year.
I think we should continuously review and question the way we manage our garden. With increasing environmental pressures including changing weather patterns, reduced use of peat and a concern for the loss of wildlife especially I think the insect population which is often an essential part of the food chain, we gardeners have to be … Continue reading GARDEN MANAGEMENT FOR THE FUTURE IN OUR GARDEN@19
This time of year the colours of autumn are a joy whether viewed in the countryside as you drive or walk around or with the more up close views in the garden. I mentioned in my previous post during wet days the bird feeders have been popular this year especially with the Blue Tit family, … Continue reading Autumn Colour in Our Garden@19
July this year has been one of the wettest on record here in some areas of the united kingdom. Last year we were experiencing 40°C heat at this time of year. Learning how to garden with these changing conditions, is going to prove very difficult It must be even more so for the wildlife around … Continue reading Young birds in Our Garden@19.
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.
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.
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.
When I was sitting in the garden yesterday, I was delighted to see the birds were using these pot saucers as a water supply.
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.
A video tour of the roses in Our Garden@19. Please turn your sound on watch on YouTube and select full screen and enjoy. https://youtu.be/stwnwzsu_eI
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
A calendar showing pictures from Our Garden@19 during the year.
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.
Yellow is the 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?
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.
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.
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.
Clematis fusca
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.
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?
From all of us at Our Garden@19.
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.
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!
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.
...........and the bee! The Spider and the Fly, by Mary Howitt. 1828.
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.
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.
Do you have any autumn projects?
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?
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.
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.
What is bringing you July Garden Joy?
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?
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’.
Who is reigning over your garden this spring?
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?
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)
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.
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!
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.
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