Some time ago, a friend visiting us in late Autumn remarked rather negatively on the presence of dead perennial stems in the garden (actually asked why we'd got so many weeds in the borders!). I suppose to many it probably looks very untidy, but notwithstanding the fact that seeds and stems provide food and shelter … Continue reading Frosty Beauty
What a welcome sight - during a brisk walk through the arboretum with Ollie on Sunday morning, I spotted an emerging drift of pearly white snowdrops robustly standing up to the prevailing cold wind. None are flowering as yet in the garden at home, so these were a lovely reminder of the pleasure now just … Continue reading Snowdrops
As the year comes to a wet and drizzly end, I'm indoors in front of a roaring fire, keeping warm and dry (and feeling a little guilty as there there are jobs to be done here in Wales!). I am of course, looking forward to the seasons of 2019, but today I'm also reflecting on … Continue reading 2018 – Top Ten Gardening Highlights
Last week, the bare root eryingeum plants I ordered a couple of months ago arrived, along with 40 free mixed daffodil bulbs. I decided to plant them in the garden in Wales, along the river bank. The weather was quite mild, the ground still soft and there was no sign of water-logging, hopefully good conditions? … Continue reading Daffodil bulbs – too late for next Spring?
I'm keen to make sure my greenhouse is fully utilised over all four seasons and so during October and November, I've been experimenting! Once I'd planted out all the wallflowers, I had space and so I've done some cuttings of tender plants (I know, it was probably rather late) of scented pelargonium, osteospermum, salvia amistad … Continue reading Autumn Experiments!
There comes a moment when you have to act, even though it seems like a travesty at the time. The three standard rosa 'Iceberg' roses gracing the border adjacent to the house have been fabulous this year - with yet another flush well into November. This week, however, strong winds were forecast and the last thing I … Continue reading Pruning necessity!
After a two year break, Tony and Marie Newton opened their stunning, award winning and perfectly named garden 'Four Seasons' under the National Garden Scheme last weekend. The sunny mild weather we experienced was just perfect for the many visitors keen to take pleasure in the vibrantly colourful planting that is a key feature of this … Continue reading Four Seasons Garden – Autumn
A highlight of our visit to Kent & East Sussex deserves a few words and pictures - I'm referring to Rye's natural landscape. We both really loved it. A walk along the nature reserve down to the coast was delightful - the landscape an inspiration for a super garden, surely! The building to the left is … Continue reading Kent & East Sussex – Rye
I've been yearning to visit the gardens at both Sissinghurst Castle and Great Dixter for years, but being too far from our home for a day out we haven't been - until this September. Forward planning by way of researching on the net revealed another garden nearby, Merriments, indeed it's an RHS partner garden and … Continue reading The Gardens of Sissinghurst, Great Dixter & Merriments
No words (almost!), just pictures on a wonderful October afternoon, click for more!
