21 Monday Jan 2019
Posted in Gardening, Our Garden@19, Plantlife
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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?
12 Sunday Aug 2018
Posted in Gardening, Our Garden@19, Photography, Plantlife
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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?
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!
Similarly the Lychnis of both colours have seeded in the gravel…
…and the Linaria seeds around everywhere!
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?
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 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
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,
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
