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.

Saturday smile: mingling

Tags

cytisus battandieri, David Austin Roses, Rose "Lark Ascending", Sambucus Nigra, Saturday smile, Sweet cicely, Thalictrum Elin

All together, mingling.

Thalictrum, pineapple broom, black leaf elder, Roses, sweet cicely.

Saturday smile: 19/5/18

Tags

golden rain tree, here comes the summer, Japanese maples, laburnum, May, pot grown Acers, Saturday smile, small trees, yellow

There may be a wedding going on, there may be a special footy match on but my smile is from pictures I took yesterday.

Pot grown Acers.

Golden rain tree, Laburnum

I hope your day is full of smiles. D.

Saturday smile: chaenomeles X superba

Tags

April, chaenomeles x superba Jet Trail, clematis armandii, Japanese quince, Saturday smile, spring in my garden

Planted only last year this little quince is covered in white flowers.

Aptly named Jet Trail this Japanese quince has a trailing habit and is suitable as ground cover.

I have used it to plant under Clematis armandii a white with white spring display.

An evergreen clematis with oodles of flowers in spring. I do like green with white.

Right I am going to try to give the lawn its first cut. Enjoy your weekend. D.

Saturday smile: blushing.

Tags

blushing, camellia, Easter, March, pink buds, Saturday smile, white flowers

You may possibly remember me showing you a fat pink bud from my camellia? in a vase? No? oh do please pay attention.

I should love to be able to tell you that the bud has opened to reveal its white centre. Alas not. After two weeks the bud had fattened up, then almost over night it just gave up and browned on the edges. Disappointing.

Outside however, despite the onslaught of the Beast from the east and incessant rain, this has revealed itself:

Somehow the pink buds have begun to open revealing this, a white flower, blushing.

Happy Easter to you, wherever you may be. D.

Saturday smile: six bishops

Tags

bishop of llandaff, bishop of Oxford, bishop of York, Dahlias, March, Saturday smile, Woottens of Wenhaston

It is not often that you get six bishops under one roof at the same time, well certainly not in my house. There is perhaps a joke in there somewhere. Anyway.

These are my bishops: bishop of Llandaff, bishop of Oxford and bishop of York. Purchased from Woottens.

The bishops arrived safe and sound in net bags, sadly plastic but I shall reuse them in the winter when I lift the dahlias for safe store.

They were provided with clearly labelled plastic labels, useful whilst in pots but unlikely to be refused.

Each tuber resembles a weird bunch of desiccated brown bananas. Dry and firm they are ready for immediate planting.

I have gently placed the tubers in some fresh compost in plastic pots, making sure the stalk from last season is just poking above the compost. A little water and that’s it. Pop them under glass and wait.

Hey presto.

Well actually a bit more is needed to be done but it is simple. Keep them frost free, that’s essential.

Keep them warm and damp, not sopping wet.

Once the risk of frost has gone, plant them out in good garden compost, in a sunny spot. Stake them, feed them with a general garden fertiliser and Bob’s your uncle.

Lots of fab flowers until the end of Autumn.

Worth waiting for. Do give them a go if you have never grown them before. D.

Saturday smile: yellow

Tags

daffodils, March, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', Saturday smile, Spring flowers, yellow

Spring flowers are some of the most delightful, don’t you think? Perhaps it is because they signal better weather, and longer daylight hours. They show us that Winter is finally weakening its grip.

It is so much warmer here than of late, there are lambs appearing in the fields, lambs and daffodils. Bright and brassy yellow daffodils. These are Tête-à-tête the little short ones which, in some ways, I prefer as they tend not to get broken by the vagaries of the weather.

Tough-little-cookies could have been an alternative suitable name. A Saturday smile for you. D.

Saturday smile

Tags

Drew Charlton, March, morso, Norfolk basket co, Saturday smile, snow, storm Emma, the beast from the east, weather, willow fencing

The snow is the dominant topic of conversation, how could it not be, after all, we are in the grip of the so called ‘Beast from the East’ and ‘Storm Emma’. I have no idea why weather is in need of a moniker, it’s just weather after all.

Yet this weather has been severe and disruptive and for some life threatening and frightening. Here we have got off lightly: it has been bitterly cold with just some snow.

The lane is peaceful save for the creaking sound of snow underfoot.

The willow fencing is dusted with snow and the detail is somewhat more noticeable.

The fire is lit.

A quiet Saturday. I intend to enjoy it before the dirty great slush begins. Now where’s my coat, I had better take the dog out. D.

Saturday smile: blooming

Tags

amaryllis, bulb, Hippeastrum, January, Saturday smile, white

I spent £2.50 on a pleasingly fat, brown, papery bulb before Christmas. I knocked the compost off and sat it on top of a Vase of water allowing the roots to reach the water.

The shoots grew and grew until a flower bud formed and today they opened.

I love the waxy white clean flower heads. Each of the two stems has three trumpet like flowers. Stonking value for money I reckon.

Enjoy your evening. D.

Saturday smile: last night

Tags

November, Red sky at night, Saturday smile, shepherds delight and mine!, sunset

Did you see that lovely sky last night? Stunning. This snap was taken on my phone and looking at it this morning I am surprised at how colourful it was.