Six on Saturday: some faves

Tags

Aesculus hippocastanum, Anthriscus sylvestris, California poppy, cow parsley, Eschscholzia californica, harts tongue fern, horse chestnut trees, house leeks, papaver patty’s plum, sempervivums, six on saturday

May is possibly the most exciting time in the garden. So much is happening. You can almost hear the growing. The ferns are unfurling and that is where I shall start.

1.

Harts tongue Asplenium scolopendrium

This is a plant which came to me from Rambling Cathy a couple of years ago and how established it looks now. The freshness of the green is strong and those tongues look at their most interesting as they uncurl.

2.

Horse chestnut trees Aesculus hippocastanum

There were 5 of these in 2015 and I took the decision to have two of them removed to enable these room to grow. They are looking at their most majestic now. Growing below them, in the dry shade is my number 3

I know it is a weed, I know it may make a bid for total control but I love it. I shall cut it back hard and remove some of it next week.

Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris

4. From green and white to hot orange, these are self sown orange Californian poppies.

Eschscholzia Californica

Today is overcast and they haven’t fully opened but their vibrancy is working hard to brighten the sky.

5. More poppies

Another poppy trying to brighten the skies.

The centre seems so bright and yet the outer petals live up to its name Papaver Patty’s Plum. I love the fat hairy buds on perennial poppies.

6. House leeks

Newly potted sempervivums. I love these plants, so many variations, all beautiful.

My six favourites today to share with you and our host The Propagator .

Do share your six with us or if you haven’t got time at least take a few minutes to scroll through some other bloggers joining this popular meme.

Enjoy the weekend. D.

Six on Saturday: Trentham Gardens

Tags

Amy Wight, Capability Brown, Charles Barry, garden visit, Nigel Dunnet, Piet Oudolf, sculpture, Stoke-on-Trent, Tom Stuart-Smith, Trentham Estate

Hello. This week I took a couple of days out to visit the Malvern Show and Trentham Gardens. I wrote a quick post about Malvern Here.

Trentham in Stoke-on-Trent is a magnificent green space with a mile long lake created by Lancelot Capability Brown. There are new meadow schemes by Nigel Dunnet and the original Italian gardens by Charles Barry have had a contemporary makeover by Tom Stuart – Smith. In addition there is a floral labyrinth created by Piet Oudolf.

According to James Alexander Sinclair Trentham is “the garden makeover of the decade” and certainly some of the best names in horticulture and design have been involved.

Highlights of my visit are my Six on Saturday, joining The Propagator .

1.

Balustrades and boats on Trentham lake.

I loved how they had filled the boats with tulips and floated them out.

2. Bulbs. There were the most magnificent pots of tulips, violas, pansies and muscari, primroses, grasses and heuchera.

Arrangements on steps and around benches. It surprised me how far behind they were compared to mine which have all finished.

3.

Scale. The scale of the gardens is very impressive. Looking across the Italian gardens towards the lake.

4.

Colour. Stuart-Smiths use of colour is fabulous. Orange, blue and lime.

The blue is from Camassias.

lime and orange from Euphorbias

5. Columns

I really admired the decision to give the Irish yew columns a flat top cut. This has the effect of stopping the eye from travelling up and up their height. They punctuate the frothy colourful planting rather like columns of a building. 6. Sculpture

Garden sculpture is a key addition to the gardens. From intricate willow woven into vast floral or animal forms

This is a dragon of living willow along the riverside walk.

Leaping bronze deer in the stumpery area of the lakeside walk.

My favourite were these fabulous gigantic dandelions by Amy Wight. These were literally blowing in the wind.

If you have the chance to visit Trentham, just do it. Enjoy your weekend. D.

Garden Visit: The Malvern Show

Tags

BBC coverage, Gabriella Pill, garden design, garden shows, garden visit, Jessica Makins, May, No 30 Design Studio, plant shopping, RHS Malvern Show, Sunray Plants, young designers

Yesterday I visited the Malvern Show. RHS members day, we arrived just after the show opened.

The weather was inhospitable but we gardeners have the right gear for all weathers. Undeterred, we headed in!

Gabriella Pill Mediterranean Terrace

Defiance by Sara Edwards at No 30 Design Studio

An artists studio at home. Jessica Makins Garden Design and Hartwyn Natural Builds.

These are garden buildings created from old shipping containers. Brilliant. The gardens all made use of raised beds and vertical structure which included a framework for climbers or shade. A sense of enclosure. Coordinated planting. These garden creations could be adapted or copied for new build houses with small plots and city gardens/ courtyards . Inspired creativity on more modest scale.

Alas the BBC coverage on Gardeners World this evening did not see fit to interview the youngsters who created these gems. A lost opportunity. Trying to attract young gardeners? Not sure I believe the RHS knows how.

In the floral marquee, the plant exhibitors were top quality.

Chrysanthemums

Succulents. A few of the spectacular exhibits.

My favourite plant vendor was this chap

Sunray Plants, selling a wonderful selection of sempervivums.

The Malvern show was really very enjoyable, despite the weather. If you are in the area or have time to travel to the show, it is a good day out with some inspiring gardens and top rate vendors.

Coverage by the BBC may have missed an opportunity for some fresh faces but the highly respected Carol Klein and Adam Frost were there.

The Malvern Show is on all weekend. Details at http://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk

Six on Saturday: pulling away

Tags

Brunnera macro Dawson’s white, carpinus betula, cerinthe major purpurascens, euphorbia griffithii Dixter, Hornbeam, philadelphus coronarius aureus, six on saturday, Tulip Ballerina, tulip Brown Sugar

After some time away I am looking at the garden afresh. So much has pulled away thanks to the light and warmer temperatures. My favourite six to share with you and The Propagator this week are these.

1.

Fresh foliage doesn’t come much fresher looking than Philadelphus coronarius aureus. Catching the sunshine it is luminous.

2.

Euphorbias are such good plants somehow always interesting looking. This is Euphorbia griffithii Dixter showing its orange bracts to the sunshine.

3

Cerinthe major purpurascens

These are self sown from last year. I like the glaucous, slightly fleshy leaves and drooping purple heads. They make a good cut flower.

4.

‘ Pleats please’ of the Hornbeam, Carpinus betula variety rather than the Issey Miyake creation. Such neat foliage.

5

A new combination for me Brunnera macro Dawson’s white ( yes I know the flowers are blue but the foliage is white) Tulips. I cannot find the note I will have made, somewhere, with the names of these two varieties. Sorry about that. So annoying when that happens.

And 6.

More tulips. These are the scented ones I had in my vase here this week. They are in a raised bed to help the bulbs keep out of the thick clay. It seems to work well as these are last years bulbs. In the foreground are Tulip Brown sugar and Ballerina.

Thank you for looking at my Six for this Saturday. Enjoy the long Easter weekend and some warm weather, perfect to enjoy the garden. D.

Japan

Tags

cherry blossom, Garden Visits, Japan, pink, Sakura, street signs, Tokyo

I have just come back from a holiday in Japan, timed perfectly for the blossom season. Japan is a place I have always wanted to visit, perhaps thanks to anecdotes from Dad Dorris about his business trips in the early 1980s and certainly due to the gardens and a dash of ‘Lost in Translation’ as well.

We started in Tokyo Shinjuku-Ku district (above) where it was bitterly cold and grey. A smart district, clean and high rise. No street eating, drinking or smoking allowed. There’s a good idea Mrs May. We then moved to Kyoto for ten days. Further south, we used Kyoto as our base to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima. We then returned to a different area of Tokyo, Ikebukuro before returning home.

Before we set off my sister and I thought we might need to book a guide to help us navigate the city but in practice it was not needed at all. Destination signs on the metro and train network are helpfully translated into English and announcements are also given in English. At various times locals stopped to ask if they could help us find our way, one lady even leaving her place in the bus queue to help guide us. Without exception the locals were friendly, polite and happy to help.

We used taxis, metro, buses, trams, a ferry, the bullet and our feet, walking over 75!miles and it was fantastic. The bits we saw were fascinating. I can only describe the trip as like a weekend city break but for much longer, so not relaxing but completely absorbing and delightful and very exhausting!

You may not be surprised to learn that I have rather a lot of photographs of blossom and I have posted some of these Here already.

One thing I hadn’t anticipated was how much the Japanese embrace the blossom season. They party under the trees and merchandise is blossom themed.

Stationary, worthy of a post in its own right, food and sweet products, cola bottles, entrances to shops, all distinctly blossom themed.

The cleaning team waiting to go through the bullet train before departure. Actually this could be their uniform all the time but, you see my point.

Even the cars are blossom coloured. Ok may be I am getting carried away.

There are castles, temples and shrines to see and enjoy. The cities are densely built and high rise, full of convenience stores and vending machines and sushi bars and restaurants. There are neon lights, millions of people and I loved it all. Tokyo National Museum was fabulous, full of exquisite treasures, beautifully displayed. As I am no travel guide I do not intend to talk about any of these in detail other than to say that they are very interesting and fascinating and I wished I had time to see it all.

I shall share some pictures of the gardens another time but here are just a couple of the signs which amused me.

And finally

On that note, I shall sign off here. Thanks for reading. D.

In a vase on Monday: tulip mania

Tags

April, Avignon Parrot, Ballerina, Brown Sugar, cerinthe major purpurascens, in a vase on Monday, Japan, la Belle Époque, marmalade, origami, Queen of the Night, tulips

When I left for my trip away, the tulips were just beginning to bud. Two and a half weeks later they are in glorious technicolour.

Delicious marmalade colours in an old Dundee marmalade jar.

Cathy our host of IAVOM always manages to find props to accompany her vases which I rarely do. Today however I have added some origami swans, yes they are swans! The colours compliment the tulip colours and indicate where my trip was to.

Back to the flowers, the tulips are Ballerina, Brown sugar, Avignon Parrot all of which are scented. Belle Époque is the soft smoky pink one. Queen of the Night is the dark one.

Cerinthe has self sown and is flowering beautifully, such an accommodating flower, mixing well with the tulips.

That’s it for me today. Enjoy the short working week if you are lucky enough to have the Easter weekend off. D.

Six On Saturday: Sakura

Tags

blossom time, Japan, Sakura, six on saturday, spring 2019

It is cherry blossom time in Japan. It is wonderful. These are my favourite views so far. I do not know the varieties and I have not grown these but I love them and hope you will enjoy me sharing them with The Propagator and you too.

A potted tree outside a doorway in Kyoto.

Not actually cherry at all but flowering and celebrated at the same time. Japanese quince.

Against a blue sky in Kyoto. Pink and dreamy.

At the Golden Pavilion these had just opened. Such a strong pink.

The florists are selling stems or twigs of blossoms. This arrangement was in a shop entrance.

White blossoms against freshly opened Acer foliage.

Imagine how gorgeous the blossoms are and then know that the Japanese have blossoms on all their products including cola, stationary, sweets.

Joyful.

Have a great week. D.

Six on Saturday: 2/3/19

Tags

Anemanthele lessoniana, chaenomeles x superba Jet Trail, clematis armandii, Dwarf narcissi Tete-a-Tete, green hellebore, Hellebores, Japanese quince, Magnolia soulangeana, March, nest making, Pheasant's tail grass, six on saturday, Stipa arundinacea

It seems that February is finished for 2019 and what a February.  Record breaking temperatures here in England gave us all something to smile about, something to distract us from the politicial shenanigans. The weather gave me and you I trust, the opportunity to cut back all the perennials, prune the roses and lightly weed over the borders, frankly incredible, compared to this time last year, when we were under the white stuff thanks to the beast.  This Saturday I have another six to share with you and the Propagator.

1. This is Clematis armandii.  An evergreen climber which flowers in early spring.  Scented, with petals which appear rather waxy.  It is a favourite clematis of mine and is smothered in buds which is very pleasing.
2. Japanese quince Chaenomeles X superba Jet trail.  This is a dwarf shrub growing to no more than 1 meter tall.  It is located against the same stretch of fence as the Clematis above and I chose it for its white flowers.
3. Hellebore.  This one is a double which comes through as a slightly green/white tinged pink.  Very pretty it seems to like the raised bed next to the tiny Tete a tete daffodils.  Raised beds work well for Hellebores as we can see their faces without having to lie on the ground. Thats my top tip for today.
4. The birds certainly seem to think that spring is here and I spotted this nest up amongst the fat buds of my friends splendid Magnolia tree.

5. This is my green Hellebore. It came from a divided piece from my last garden. I am unsure if it’s name but I enjoy its contrast to the pink and white Hellebores. A fresh green, don’t you think.

6. This is a small Pheasant tail grass, Anemanthele lessonia, previously known as Stipa arundinacea. It is relatively short lived but self seeds freely around. If you fail to strip the seed heads it can be a nuisance in paths. Anyway I like its colouring and its nomadic spirit.

So that’s my six for today. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are. D.

Six on Saturday: 23/2/19

Tags

crocus, Euphorbia, Euphorbia amygdaloides pupurea, Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae, euphorbia rigida, February, Primula silver Lace, Rosemary, six on saturday

February, the new May? Possibly.

Today has reached a yummy 17 degrees, a truly beautiful day.  I think that it is fair to say that most of us feel that Spring is on its way, certainly the garden and the birds think so.   Hold up, not so fast, last year we had snowfall on 1 March.  Hopefully there will not be a repeat this year but you never know, Winter is not over yet.

Looking around I have these six to share with you and Six on Saturday

1. Crocus growing in the lawn are beginning to increase in number.  My favourites are probably the white ones for the purple markings on the petals.  Sweet.
2. RosemaryI love Rosemary for its evergreen form, evocative aroma and pale blue flowers, early in Spring.  Very early this year.
3. Primrose

Primula silver lace is eye-catching and although I prefer the common primrose for its gentle shade of yellow there is something about the black petals that appeal to me.

4. Euphorbia

This is Euphorbia rigida which I love for its blue toned foliage, pointy shaped with yellow flowers in Spring. It is more upright growing than E. Myrsinties.

5. Euphorbia (this is not a repeat)

This is the purple woodland spurge with the not catchy name of Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ I like this plant for its dark foliage and red tones.

6. Euphorbia, I repeat, this is not a repeat.

 

Finally another woodland spurge this is Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae

This is as tough as old boots and will tolerate most soil and positions. Loving all the Euphorbias today it seems.

Take a look at the Propagator blog for a super selection of sixes.  Have a good weekend out there. D.

Six on Saturday: Oxford Botanic Garden

Tags

Agave, container planting, garden visit, Oxford Botanic Garden, Pavonia, Saturday smile, six on saturday

Hello, my Six on Saturday this week are from a garden visit to the Oxford Botanic Garden on January 20th. The gardens are the oldest in the UK ( founded in 1621) with nearly 6,000 types of plants.

What strikes you about this first picture? The enviable dark brown soil or the vivid green grass? Or what about the bright blue sky, it was January after all. Then there is the obelisk, look at its height. All quite remarkable but what really struck me was the incredibly straight edges to the borders, so very crisp and smart.

2. The straight edges are a strong feature of this part of the gardens, dictated perhaps by the garden wall. It may appear as if there is little to see in January and clearly it does looks rather bare, where are those 6,000 plants I hear you thinking, yet I really enjoyed seeing the crisp form of the space.

3. On closer inspection there are things happening in the borders. Witch Hazels, Willow, salix and Rainbow Chard. There are also these willow structures shaped as apples here.

There were masses of snowdrops but I am no Galanthophile hence my next pictures are of the container planting.

4.

The combination of ferns and primula with Skimmia is lovely for Winter container planting. I especially liked the addition of birch which adds height, colour and catkins.

5. In the glasshouses the relief from the cold was very welcome and necessary for this exquisite beauty

Pavonia. Simply stunning.

6. I love cacti’s and succulents and always enjoy seeing the Agave.

This one is a beautiful specimen.

That’s it, my Six on Saturday about my garden visit to the immaculate Oxford Botanic Garden.

The propagator blog is our host for Six on Saturday. If you would like to join in please be sure to include a link to his blog. If you find yourself near Oxford I recommend a visit to the botanical gardens, an historical and beautiful space to walk around.

Have a good weekend. D.