Silent Sunday: leaves

Tags

container planting, Hosta Sum and Substance, shade loving plants, Silent Sunday, veratrum californicum

Silent Sunday: old galvanised tub

Tags

container planting, Erica, Hellebores, ivy, old galvanised tub, Silent Sunday, skimmia, violas

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.

Silent Sunday: variegated Yucca in flower

Tags

architectural plants, container planting, grown by me, in flower, pot grown, Silent Sunday, Spanish dagger, the Chilterns, variegated yucca, yucca

There’s a hole in my wheelbarrow

Tags

container planting, Dryopteris erythrosora, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hosta Big Daddy, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', not so silent thanks to fireworks, Silent Sunday, wheelbarrow

When Brother Dorris emigrated to New Zealand he donated his wheelbarrow. Well said barrow now has a massive hole in it, made from plastic it was not made for real work. I was going to take it to the tip but I couldn’t get it in the mini. Cue Light bulb moment. 

Or is that bulb moment. I split hosta Big Daddy, added ferns Dryopteris erythrosora and filix-mas some Tete-a-Tete.

Eventually I hope the handles will be covered in ivy. 

I will keep you posted. Hope you had a good weekend . 

There’s a hole in my wheelbarrow

Tags

container planting, Dryopteris erythrosora, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hosta Big Daddy, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', not so silent thanks to fireworks, Silent Sunday, wheelbarrow

When Brother Dorris emigrated to New Zealand he donated his wheelbarrow. Well said barrow now has a massive hole in it, made from plastic it was not made for real work. I was going to take it to the tip but I couldn’t get it in the mini. Cue Light bulb moment. 

Or is that bulb moment. I split hosta Big Daddy, added ferns Dryopteris erythrosora and filix-mas some Tete-a-Tete.

Eventually I hope the handles will be covered in ivy. 

I will keep you posted. Hope you had a good weekend .