A few more alterations have been made recently to the gravel garden at the back, and a few more extras bought to “prettify” it. As you may remember I started altering this area as a place for the undergardener to sit in either the sun or shade, but sadly those plans didn’t come to fruition.
At one time I put this bench under the Pittosporum tree as I like to sit in the shade.
But I found that visitors prefer to sit in the sun. My standard lavender was a present from my daughter and the New Guinea Impatiens is a recent addition.
In the space behind the Ophiopogon, where I had the bench for a short time, I have now planted hardy Fuchsia Delta Sarah, which will fill this space in a couple of years. In the small blue pot is Fuchsia Devon Dumpling which will have to come inside for the winter. I must take some cuttings of this.
Another Fuchsia Delta Sarah has been planted just behind the left side of the bench, to fill that space too. This fuchsia also is in keeping with the colour scheme in this area of blue, purple and silver/ white.
The planting to the left of the entrance to the arbour also has another Heuchera and Astelia Silver Spear.
Now if I need to sit in the shade, on the few days when the sun is just too hot, I go to the original seat under the arbour which now has a pink New Guinea Impatiens for company.
I planted a golden hop many, many years ago, to climb over the arbour, along with a few other plants. This is the first time that the hop has flowered in about 20 yrs! These I think, are the male flowers, I have learnt that male and female flowers are on different plants, so I don’t think I will be going into the brewery business, I would need the female flowers for that!
There are a few additions to the Pittosporum tree, can you see them hanging from the lower leaves?
To catch the sunlight and twinkle when the breeze passes through are first of all, an owl, just because I like owls and we have them in the garden here.
A retriever , to remind me of my lovely old dog Gemma.
And a dolphin, just because I like dolphins!
I must now make an effort to get the shady side of this area up to scratch, hopefully it won’t take me too long, I have quite a few pots just waiting for the right plants to fill them. In the meantime, I will enjoy having my morning coffee in the sunny side of the garden, that is, if the rain ever stops!
You’re all set for any kind of weather. I’ve never solved the seating problem in my own garden, so appreciate seeing how you’re tackling it. Nice sun catchers.
At the moment it is non stop rain Susie, we need to dry out a bit! I have seats around the garden so that I can have morning coffee in one spot, lunch in another and afternoon tea in a third spot. The sun catchers were doing a good job until the rain started, hopefully it won’t be long until I see them twinkling again!
Everything in its place and very tidy! Annuals are so useful this time of year, aren’t they? The New Guinea Impatiens are a nice touch. You have a good mix of textures too, which makes these spaces very appealing.
Just waiting for the sun to shine Marian, then I will be ready! The silver leaved plants wouldn’t survive in our heavy clay soil, even though it has been improved, it stays too wet when we have rain, the pots are an ideal way to grow them.
I wish we had some of your rain right now, we’re going through a heat wave and are getting smoke from wildfires. I need a bench in a shady spot, I definitely don’t have enough. Love your sun catchers with their crystal drops, they’re so pretty! I have a shady area that needs replanting with some more appropriate plants, it has changed from part sun to mostly shady, and now everything there is too leggy.
I would love to send you some of our rain Alison, we have plenty to spare! Shady sitting areas are necessary when the weather is hot, I like to keep out of the sun now that I’m older. There are so many plants that enjoy the shade, I will certainly have plenty to choose from when I plant up the other side of the area.
I love the sunny sitting area’s new color scheme of blue/ purple/silver. It looks so peaceful, as well as beautiful. Also, I have always admired your Pittosporum tree, and I think the ornaments are delightful, especially as each one has meaning for you. I want to steal that idea!
Thank you Deb, I chose the colours because I felt I could relax there, if it had been reds and oranges I don’t think I would sit still for long! Please feel free to decorate your trees, the sun catchers are supposed to be for indoors, so I think i will bring them in for the winter.
The male hop flowers were such a lovely surprise, so delicate and fragile looking. How extraordinary that it’s taken so long yet you have finally have the joy of seeing them flower. What a beautiful seating area you have created, full of inspiring ideas and personal touches.
The hop flowers are so pretty, but no use for making beer Kate! When the wind blows across them, clouds of pollen are released, but unfortunately no female flowers are near here to be pollinated. I’m so pleased you like my new sitting area, I can see me using it a lot, weather permitting!
I think the seating area is just lovely Pauline and I imagine a nice spot to sit and contemplate, though these days I also do most contemplation in the shade! Having different seating areas around the garden is one of my favourite things. Sorry to hear you won’t be going into the brewery business! Could have been useful in the hot weather lol.
Thank you Denise, I’m so glad you like it! The sunny seat is fine for morning coffee, the sun isn’t too hot then, after that I have to move to the shade. I was a bit disapointed when I found the flowers on the hop weren’t the female ones, but apparently you can cook the young shoots the same as asparagus, so you never know, I might make something after all, but it won’t be beer!
I wish I could send you some of my sunshine Pauline, we have far too much! The lovely bright seats are a real invitation of come and sit down. I would be in the shady arbour if I were in your garden.
I’ll join you in the shady arbour today Christina, the sun has come out at last, but just for one day, more rain for tomorrow, all coming from accross the Atlantic!
Your new additions and arrangement are wonderful. I hope you get some dry days to enjoy your morning coffee sitting on that fabulous bench in the sun! Noticing how well-tended your garden is, I don’t imagine you have a lot of time to sit.
Thanks Peter, today is lovely sunshine, so I’m making the most of it, back to rain tomorrow, you must stop sending it across the Atlantic to us! If I had turned around and taken photos facing the other way way, you would have seen lots of weeds. Hopefully they will soon be gone.
Your rain is coming our way tomorrow, so I hope that means you will finally be getting some more sunshine Pauline! The Impatiens is such a lovely shade of pink amd really perks up the seating area in the shade, as well as looking lovely in the sunny spot. 🙂
Lots of sunshine today Cathy, just for one day though, then more rain will arrive! I think I must grow some more annuals for this area next year, they have certainly brightened it all up.
Hi Pauline,
What a lovely place to get away from the sun. I’m enamored with that huge urn! The golden Hops looks like lace…very pretty.
The big urn was bought 26 years ago as a gift to ourselves and the garden to celebrate our Silver Wedding. It is a lovely pot and makes a beautiful focal point from under the shady arbour looking towards the woodland. This is definitely the best year for the hop, I hope it is as good next year.
I’d be delighted to sit in either space, perfect for relaxing with a glass of wine. I just love your suncatchers.xxx
I’ll join you with the glass of wine Dina, thanks for your company! I now have another suncatcher, my daughter lives in Bristol and there is a Balloon Festival each year at this time. My tree now has a beautiful Bristol Blue glass balloon hanging from its branches!
I’m definitely a sit in the shade person. Love the glass trinkets hanging from the Pittosporum. Very nice touch.
I’m so glad I’ll have your company in the shade Jason, while everyone else sits in the sun. I can see the sun catching the “trinkets” from inside the house when they move in the breeze, they add another dimension to that area of the garden.
Haha, nice that you now have a balloon to add to your suncatchers! They add a nice touch to the area and it makes me think I should do more to ‘prettify’ my own garden. It really needs a decent sitting area, not everyone wants to sit on a stone or bucket like I end up doing 🙂
Yes Frank, a lovely blue balloon made from Bristol Blue Glass, courtesy of my daughter. The balloon Festival in Bristol was quite something from her photos with hundreds, if not thousands of different shaped balloons taking off early in the morning and filling the sky. I don’t think I would want to sit on a bucket, but if that is the only seat, then fair enough!
Owls in the garden, lucky you. The weather often seems to be too much of one or the other. Here we have been gasping in the heat almost since late May with way too little rain, wish we could even it out a bit 🙂
We usually hear the tawny owls in the autumn and winter Helle, I’ve only ever seen them 3 times. We could do with swopping some of our weather with yours I think, even today, when there was no rain forecast, we have had a few showers. I wouldn’t mind so much but the Met Office for the whole country is just 5 miles down the road!