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.
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.
What was your garden highlights in 2023? Happy New Gardening Year.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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?
Now that its raining I thought I would post pictures of the 'Hot' plants in Our Garden@19. Which plants have been matching the summer weather in your garden?
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.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is one of our favourite places to visit in Wales. “It is a charity dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity, to sustainability, lifelong learning and the enjoyment of the visitor.” The National Botanic Garden of Wales was opened to the public on the 24th May 2000. … Continue reading The National Botanic Garden of Wales.
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…
We enjoy visiting gardens, it usually features in any holiday plans, besides giving pleasure they provide material for the blog and my garden presentations. In March 2017 we visited Oxford University Botanic Gardens. The river Cherwell runs along the one side. Growing on the bank is this lovely multi stemed silver birch. The garden was … Continue reading Oxford Botanic Gardens.
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.
brimfields.com 