Now, only one thing in gardening on a par to checking out the plants at a garden centre and that is nosing around other people's gardens and that is exactly what we did today. For several hours, Luke, Luke's Mum, Gayle and I pottered around, smelling the scents, guessing the plants and marvelling in the design. Quite close to where we live there were five gardens opening their gates for the National Garden Scheme and, along with about fifty other people in the time we were there, we delighted in the clever planting and designs.
Garden One.
There was a higgedly piggedly Mr McGregor's vegetable patch in just-raised beds using old sleepers as retainers with a of myriad bees buzzing around their Winnie the Poo design beehive.We chuckled when the guide told us to be careful by the bees and Luke asked if they were friendly bees (it's amazing how different bees can be; some aggressive and some very docile). The lady raised an eyebrow and carefully asked, "Have you ever met a friendly bee?" Well, actually we have.
The first garden we visited was massive and they had made the most of the slope and the huge amount of stones they dug out of the ground. They had made many stone wall retainers for the borders and even a few snug seats moulded into the walled bank.
There were lots of little areas including a woody pass and some bamboo and acers reaching up out of gravel as well as the most enormous monkey puzzle tree reaching up into the sky.
GARDEN TWO.
The next garden was obviously designed with lots of money available. There was a mock little chapel and a Hansel and Gretal cedar house, all planted up with lots of annuals and a huge artichoke plant as a silvery backdrop to a beautiful pink paeony. We also saw a huge Angelica which made me thrilled for the one we have in our wild flower area. Even though we had dreadful weather yesterday the gardens were all looking lovely today. After a leisurely half hour sipping tea and eating cake (it's an arduous business, nosing around other people's designs) we purchased a couple of plants and then wandered onto the next garden.
All this was at the top of the steep garden, they had really made an interesting garden out of a difficult area. More power to them!
GARDEN FOUR.
The next garden was an ex council house plot and these gardens are known for the generous amount of garden they have. This of course was for vegetable and fruit planting back in the mid twentieth century. I bumped into a friend whilst we were there just as I was "ohhing" over the burnished poppy and ruby astrantia that was planted up in a luscious bed.
This garden has given me inspiration. I was going to work on clear blue flowers but this plum scheme is wonderful, I think.
As we carried on into the top of the garden that ended with a very sharp corner we saw the chickens in their run. Although the run was built over concrete it was carpeted with a thick layer of sawdust. There was also a large statue of a naked lady in the end of their run - it had been in that corner from the off and the owners said 'she' was too heavy to shift so she is now a perch for the hens.
GARDEN FIVE.
The last house was a mixture of kitsch grotto and exuberant planting. I liked the fact that the owner wasn't sniffy about weeds. He said he liked the flower of bindweed (although he used the name, Convulvulus) so when it popped up in his garden he threaded it through the other plants. Whilst it might end up strangling all other companions he does have a point. Whilst it fills me with dread, knowing how it can spread, it is an attractive flower. As they say, a plant in the wrong place is a weed but once it's in the right place - if you love it then keep it. This was the neatest part of the garden. All impressive stuff.
We got home, let our hens out and enjoyed watching our little bundles of feathers dash around the place. It's now started to rain again so I'm pleased we got to 'make hay whilst the sun shone'.My garden may not be a patch on these National Garden Scheme beauties but I love it.., and there is always room for improvement.
Garden One.
This pond was dug out when the owners removed all the stones and rocks which they used for retaining walls.
Luke's Mum and I contemplating 'a bridge too far'.
There was a higgedly piggedly Mr McGregor's vegetable patch in just-raised beds using old sleepers as retainers with a of myriad bees buzzing around their Winnie the Poo design beehive.We chuckled when the guide told us to be careful by the bees and Luke asked if they were friendly bees (it's amazing how different bees can be; some aggressive and some very docile). The lady raised an eyebrow and carefully asked, "Have you ever met a friendly bee?" Well, actually we have.
GARDEN TWO.
The next garden was obviously designed with lots of money available. There was a mock little chapel and a Hansel and Gretal cedar house, all planted up with lots of annuals and a huge artichoke plant as a silvery backdrop to a beautiful pink paeony. We also saw a huge Angelica which made me thrilled for the one we have in our wild flower area. Even though we had dreadful weather yesterday the gardens were all looking lovely today. After a leisurely half hour sipping tea and eating cake (it's an arduous business, nosing around other people's designs) we purchased a couple of plants and then wandered onto the next garden.
Now onto their plants. This paeony is a beauty, isn't it?
Something has to be bought.
GARDEN THREE.
The first two houses were very beautiful and obviously very well tended in a prestigious area. The next one was on a modern housing estate but showed what could be done in a small modern plot. The owner had used her love of roses and clematis to grow upwards. There wasn't much room so every inch counted and the five wrought iron arches that were clustered in blooms were lovely. They weren't so crowded that they broke up the view and the under planting of Centurea was a super idea. As the owners had only finished the water feature and the pathway six days ago it all looked very good.
The next garden was an ex council house plot and these gardens are known for the generous amount of garden they have. This of course was for vegetable and fruit planting back in the mid twentieth century. I bumped into a friend whilst we were there just as I was "ohhing" over the burnished poppy and ruby astrantia that was planted up in a luscious bed.
As we carried on into the top of the garden that ended with a very sharp corner we saw the chickens in their run. Although the run was built over concrete it was carpeted with a thick layer of sawdust. There was also a large statue of a naked lady in the end of their run - it had been in that corner from the off and the owners said 'she' was too heavy to shift so she is now a perch for the hens.
GARDEN FIVE.
The last house was a mixture of kitsch grotto and exuberant planting. I liked the fact that the owner wasn't sniffy about weeds. He said he liked the flower of bindweed (although he used the name, Convulvulus) so when it popped up in his garden he threaded it through the other plants. Whilst it might end up strangling all other companions he does have a point. Whilst it fills me with dread, knowing how it can spread, it is an attractive flower. As they say, a plant in the wrong place is a weed but once it's in the right place - if you love it then keep it. This was the neatest part of the garden. All impressive stuff.
We got home, let our hens out and enjoyed watching our little bundles of feathers dash around the place. It's now started to rain again so I'm pleased we got to 'make hay whilst the sun shone'.My garden may not be a patch on these National Garden Scheme beauties but I love it.., and there is always room for improvement.
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