Six on Saturday: 5/9/20

05 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by digwithdorris in six on saturday, Uncategorized

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Aeonium atropurpureum cristata, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster, crimson glory vine, Geranium 'Ann folkard', molinia Transparent, ornamental gourds, rose a shropshire lad, Sedum Autumn joy, so x on saturday, stipa tenuissima, Vitis coignetiae

I have had little time in my garden of late, for various reasons including the inclement weather. I had moved my Aeoniums and species pelargoniums out of the worst of the weather into the shelter of the summer house but had not had opportunity to move them back out into the open. In just a couple of weeks the foliage has changed. My six to share with you and The Propagator include these.

It fascinates me how the lower light levels quickly change the black foliage back to green. Plants are so cool. If you look at the tiny rosettes of Aeonium atropurpureum cristata, front right above and centre below you will see how the once almost completely black rosettes are now green with black edges. Hopefully they will have time to revert to black before they come in the house for Winter.

Foliage is beginning to show seasonal change. This is my small blossom tree

Showing distinct Autumnal foliage matching last nights sky.

The foliage of Crimson Glory vine is not crimson yet but it is definitely turning.

Thoughtful colleagues have dropped a trug of produce to me . These squashes are grown from seed and are ornamental gourds. Stunning in this mornings light.

September is when the grasses come into their own. Calamagrostis, stipas, Molinias all have a place in my garden.

These all tolerate my very exposed garden and do not need staking. They capture the low level autumn light unlike any other plant. If you don’t have any grasses, I highly recommend them.

Finally, flowers. Flowers still going are roses, dahlias, rudbeckias and Seseli as well as Asters and the reddening flowers of ice plant, formerly known as Sedum.

Geraniums were cut back hard about a month ago and are flowering again.

These are my six this evening. Have a good weekend wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: who are you calling ugly?

04 Saturday Apr 2020

Posted by digwithdorris in six on saturday, Uncategorized

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Daylesford Garden seeds, Gardens Illustrated seeds, goodbye concrete, Jekkas Herb Farm seeds, manure and tree compost, new project, packets of seeds, recycling, Sarah Raven seeds, seed sowing, so x on saturday, Suffolk Herbs seeds

I could clean them, I have in the past believe it or not. Anyway I thought I would take them up and create a new planting area.

I added a bucket of manure and a load of tree and shrub compost. The big lumps of brick and and cement were removed.

Initially my plan was to order in some box edging, a large urn perhaps or some topiary to be mixed with colour themed annuals and seasonal bedding in the form of bulbs and annuals.

For now I shall make do with seed sowing.

To this bunch I shall add squash, spinach and dahlias.

It will be a riot of colour and certainly a whole lot prettier than previously. I will keep you posted.

So these are my six to share with you and The Propagator . ‘Hold up!’ I hear you say, there’s only five there. That’s right, I owe you one.

Strange times. Stay safe wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.

Six on Saturday: my book list for garden lovers

29 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by digwithdorris in six on saturday, Uncategorized

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book list, favourite garden books, reading list, so x on saturday

As we move through November most of us begin to think about Christmas gifts for loved ones. As Mother Dorris has her birthday at the end of November, all talk of Christmas in my family is not allowed until after that date. Secretly we are beginning to think about what to give and for many of us a good book is one of the best gifts to receive ( surely only beaten by champagne or good jewellery).

My six on Saturday is a list of my favourite garden books that I recommend.

1. A beautiful book by Sarah Raven

Made even better by the addition of stunning photographs by Jonathan Buckley. It is helpfully divided into eight types eg Chalk Down & Limestone Dale or Water & Wetlands. The narrative is factual and clear and includes Ravens personal view of the colour or form the plant takes, which adds to the appreciation of each little flower or leaf.

There are glossaries for family or species names, botanical terms and helpfully there is index by petal colour, common name, Latin name or Family name. This is my go to book for any wildflower I see and do not recognise. Certainly not a pocket book but a fabulous reference book adorned with exquisite images. I received this as a gift and absolutely love it.

2. This next book was a gift in 2000 and introduced me to the glorious planting of Piet Oudolf. Written in collaboration with Noel Kingsbury ‘Designing with Plants’

I love how plants are divided into Form, think buttons and globes, plumes, umbels, daisies, screens and curtains.

Colour is split into hot, cool, sweet, sombre and earthy.

Chapters deal with designing schemes, moods and year -round planting ( birth, life, death).

This book perhaps has been the most influential in my planting taste.

3. Another strong influence on me has been by the relatively local garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith. His own garden is open for the National Garden Scheme, usually in June and I have visited numerous times over the years.

This book, simply entitled The Barn Garden is a record of his own personal garden. His tall planting is glorious and he is of course a world renowned designer having completed beautiful gardens around the UK and beyond. This book is full of dreamy planting schemes throughout the year. A real documentary of how he and his wife Sue created their stunningly beautiful garden.

4. The late Sir Christopher Lloyd was a prolific garden writer and his personal style of written word remains a delight. Great Dixter is my personal all time favourite garden, now under the brilliant hands of Fergus Garrett. This next book is a snapshot of the garden in the year 1999. Month by month his writings are set out in sub chapters such as February: Combining colour, ordering seed, the February Workload, consistently Good Performers, Garden Worries.

The years may have passed but the issues he debates and discusses are still pertinent to the garden and gardener today.

It is worth adding here that the other must-have Christopher Lloyd book is his gardening classic The Well-Tempered Garden. I would not be without either. Sorry that’s probably cheating the S on S rules.

5. A paperback next, Beth Chatto’s Garden Notebook by the late Beth Chatto.

This is written by possibly the greatest plantswoman. Beth was an author, multi times winner at Chelsea Flower Show and creator of a wonderful garden near Colchester, a must see garden. It was Beth who gave us “The right plant, in the right place”.

An old fashioned book, no photographs, just black and white sketches drawn by Beth to accompany her garden year, month by month. I refer to this regularly and Instagram readers can follow this online thanks to her staff who link to this book each month. @bethchattogardens

6. I haven’t got room to include favourites by Monty Don (The Ivington Diaries) Dan Pearson (Home Ground: Sanctuary in the City). Instead, for design reference, I have to include John Brookes’ Garden Design Book.

First published in 1991 this is good clear design advice, accompanied by somewhat dated looking photographs and drawings. No matter its date, this book is a most excellent reference book for anyone starting out in garden design.