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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?
Hot!
12 Sunday Aug 2018
Posted in Gardening, Our Garden@19, Photography, Plantlife
Tag Archives: Plants
Drought Busters July 2018.
05 Thursday Jul 2018
Posted in Gardening, Our Garden@19, Photography, Plantlife
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 it is , testing both the gardener and their plants.
These plants featured are the drought busters in Our Garden@19. Interestingly I originally grew them all from seed, except for the allium, also some of them have since self seeded around the garden.
The wild chicory towers above almost every thing in the garden, here in the herb bed, growing through the standard gooseberry. It is a beautiful shade of light blue.
Cichorium intybus. Wild Chicory.
Also towering above everything else are the teasels, this is the first year I have grown them. Listening to a talk by Fergus Garrett inspired me to plant them and they allow them to self seed around Great Dixter. They are good for wild life especially the pollinators and the seeds are said to be loved by Goldfinches in winter. I have only planted two in the garden, they can dominate if left to their own devices.
Dipsacus fullonum Common Teasel.
Dipsacus fullonum
Common Teasel.
The ‘thistle-like’ plants always do well in dry conditions, here Echinops ritro, is yet to bloom…
Echinops ritro.
…also ‘Miss Willmotts Ghost’, I do like this spiky plant. It is I think, a little like the lady it was named after. Especially if you worked for her.
Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmotts Ghost’.
Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmotts Ghost’.
The wild carrot has seeded itself around the garden including here between two paving slabs, thus preventing anyone from sitting on this chair!
Daucus carota ‘Dara’.
Daucus carota ‘Dara’.
Daucus carota ‘Dara’.
Similarly the Lychnis of both colours have seeded in the gravel…
Lychnis coronaria alba.
Lychnis coronaria alba.
Lychnis coronaria alba.
Lychnis coronaria
…and the Linaria seeds around everywhere!
Linaria purpurea.
Linaria purpurea.
In a sunny spot by the banana bench and in the alpine boxes on the south side of the house, is Dianthus carthusianorum, with its clusters of diminutive deep pink flowers.
Dianthus carthusianorum.
Dianthus carthusianorum.
I am ending with this single Allium ‘Red Mohican’. I wish I had more!
Allium ‘Red Mohican’.
An interesting fact about these plants is that several of them were for sale during our open weekend and very few of them sold, because, I guess, they were not in flower at that time.
I wonder if they would sell now?
Do you have any ‘Drought Busters’ in your garden?
The National Botanic Garden of Wales.
11 Sunday Mar 2018
Posted in Gardening, General Interest, Landscapes, Photography, Plantlife, Travel
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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 Gate House.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales was opened to the public on the 24th May 2000. We first visited in 2005.
The double walled vegetable garden was not open then, you could however view it from a platform. It has now been rebuilt from a ruin.
The double walled vegetable garden in 2005.
Our next visit was in 2013.
The Broad Walk
The Broad-Walk.
The 220m long avenue which divides the Garden is known as the Broad-walk.
One of the longest herbaceous borders in Britain, from spring to winter, this Garden provides a colourful welcome.
It begins at the Gatehouse, passing this water sculpture called Scaladaqua Tonda.
Scaladaqua Tonda
The Rill.
I particularly love this rill, it runs the full length of the Broad Walk, vanishing into pools along the way, starting at this dragon topped mirror pool.
This feeds water down into The Rill,
a meandering stream that flows down the Broadwalk with a shape and course that is inspired by Carmarthenshire’s Towy Valley river.
It then disappears into the Circle of Decision, a fountain shaped like the cross section of an ammonite,
The great glasshouse.
Designed by Foster and Partners, is the largest structure of its kind in the world. The structure is (312 ft) long and (180 ft) wide, with a roof containing 785 panes of glass.
The great glasshouse.
The plants are divided into sections from Chile, Western Australia, South Africa, California, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.
The Japanese Garden.
Designed by professor Fukuhara for the 2001 Chelsea flower show, it won a gold medal and best in show, after which it was recreated here.
“It is named Sui Ou Tei, a reflection of the national flowers of Japan and Wales – the cherry tree and daffodil. It consists of three traditional Japanese gardens – the Stream and Lake Garden, the Gravel Garden and the Tea Garden. Filled with symbolism and guided by Zen philosophy, this is a lovely place to sit and contemplate.”
The Japanese Garden.
The Aqualab.
This is a place of learning, perched upon stilts this wooden building is full of microscopes and study aids, here schoolchildren can get the opportunity to explore the wonders of nature.
The Aqualab,
The Tropical House.
Situated in the Walled garden.
The Tropical House.
It was designed by the world-renowned Welsh architect John Belle, celebrated for his restoration of some of the most famous landmarks in the USA. It is home to tropical plants and a butterfly house.
The Double Walled Garden.
When it was built 200 years ago, the Double Walled Garden, at over three acres, could provide enough fresh fruit and vegetables for a household of 30 people, and employed 12 full- time gardeners.
The double walled vegetable garden in 2013.
The two walls, one brick, one stone, provided shelter from animals and the harsher elements, and created important microclimates where tender plants could grow. It is divided into four quadrants, each with its own distinctive pathway. Part of the vegetable garden is given over to local School Allotments, where the schools have built a plastic bottle greenhouse.
The Bee Garden.
You can end your exploration at the Stable Block, this houses the Seasons Restaurant, Gift Shop and Oriel Yr Ardd Gallery.
The Stable Block Restaurant.
If you are planning to visit Wales during the year, we would recommend a visit to the Botanic Garden of Wales, there is much more to see than I have shown.
It also ties in well with a visit to Aberglasney Gardens, another favourite with us.
The Birds and the Bees…
28 Sunday Jan 2018
Posted in Gardening, Our Garden@19, Photography, Plantlife, Wildlife
Tags
Bees, clematis, Galanthus, Hamamelis, Hedra, Hellebore, Ilex, Mahonia, Myrtle, Plants, Prunus serrula, Sarcococca, Skimmia, Thuja, tulips, Vinca, Wildlife
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 an eye on me while providing his own welcome tune.
The Mohonia in full flower, with the sunshine, brought the honey bees out from their hives.
Mahonia Bealii
They were also visiting the Clematis which scrambles all over it.
Clematis cirrhosa balearica
The Flowers and the Trees.
By the front door there are pots planted up for a seasonal display with Carex, Ferns, Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’, Erica x darleyensis ‘Phoebe’, Thuja ‘Goldy and the…
…Snowdrop elwesii…
Galanthus elwesii
…and a hellebore.
Another pot contains the Sarcococca ‘Winter Gem’.
Sarcococca ‘Winter Gem’
On the other side of the door an Euonymus is trained against the wall with Sarcococca confusa in front…
Sarcococca confusa
…the powerful scent from the Sacococca ( Christmas Box) fills the house every time the door is opened.
Sarcococca confusa with Euonymus Emerald & Gold
In the Oriental garden the Hamamelis is in full flower, I have mentioned before I would not recommend this variety, because it holds on to its dead leaves. I removed them all before taking this picture.
Hamamelis Moll Pallida (Witch Hazel)
The sunshine was highlighting the Erica ‘Albert’s Gold’ by the entrance to the White and Green garden and the standard variegated Holly, Ilex ‘Argentea Margenata’ at the back.
Around the Holly are planters with variegated Myrtle, Tulips just starting to show and Vinca minor ‘Alba’
Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea Margenata’ & Myrtus Communis Variegata
The snowdrops are beginning to open around the garden, especially where the sun reaches…
Galanthus nivalis
…the common double, which was given to me by a friend, are clumping up well, ready to divide later on…
Galanthus ‘Flore Pleno’.
…as is the winter aconite, although more slowly.
Eranthus hyemalis
The Prunus Serrula always looks wonderful with the sunlight on its bark, its mug decorations ( Mug Tree) have so far survived the winter.
Prunus serrula
Around its roots is a Skimmia and variegated Ivy. Many gardeners fear ivy in the garden, I like to see it, the variegated forms are not so vigorous, while providing some colour to lighten a dark area of the garden along with being good for wildlife.
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ & Variegated Hedra.
It is easy to ignore plants such as Skimmia when everything else is in full flower, however at this time of year they make a welcome contribution to the garden and this one below is a little more unusual than most.
Skimmia Hermaphrodite
The House Sparrows are gathering in the top of a Viburnum before diving down on to the ground feeders.
What ‘Birds and Bees, Flowers and Trees’ are making you sing in your garden?
