Sandpaper and Brillo pads courtesy of nature.

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Pauline

Thought you might be interested in a really ancient plant that is here in the garden, in my pond. Not ancient because it was planted here 20 yrs ago when we came – but ancient because it was growing on this planet when the dinosaurs were wandering about. And they would have been wandering here, we are very near to the Jurassic Coast ! I am talking about Equisetum hyemale – and before you all throw your hands up in horror at having such an invasive plant in the garden, let me assure you that it is safely corralled in a pot !!

Equesetum hyemale

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Another Prima Donna.

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Pauline

I don’t know what the male equivalent is of  “prima donna” , but Crocosmia “Lucifer” is certainly it ! I can’t go anywhere in the garden without it looking as if it is jumping up and down and shouting ” me, me, me – look at me !”

Lucifer

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Agapanthus – you are beautiful.

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Pauline

My fickle heart turns to other flowers once all my lovely meconopsis have stopped flowering, and at the moment, in a deeper shade of blue are the wonderfully beautiful agapanthus.

Agapanthus

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All the Blues

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Pauline

As you may have guessed, blue is my favourite colour, so I try to have a fair proportion of blue flowers out as much as possible during the year.This clematis which has been out now for some time is C. “Blue Angel”, it is on a trellis disguising the huge water butt that we have there.

Blue Angel

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Perfection in Zantedeschia aethiopica.

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Pauline

During last winter I happened to look at our clump of Zantedeschia and saw that the rhizome was looking rather mushy. Fearing that I would lose it in the frost and snow, I covered it with horticultural fleece, cardboard and conifer clippings. Eventually when all danger of frost has passed and protection removed, up came one shoot, followed by another and another. It seemed that all I was going to have were lots of leaves this year, never mind , at least it was still alive. Suddenly, a week ago, up came this one flower spike, absolutely beautiful.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

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Surely not a Pink Dandelion !

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Pauline

Years ago, when I was first making this garden, I was given a small pot with what looked like a dandelion in it and told that it was very special.

Crepis incana

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Abundance.

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Pauline

When we got back from our holiday, the garden had gone into overdrive. There had been lots of rain while we were away and what a difference it made to the fruit and flowers. Everything had grown to almost twice the height and the fruit was almost bursting on the branches, the blackcurrants were as large as grapes.

Blackcurrants

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A week at Aigas.

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Pauline

Following on from the previous post about our journey through England and Scotland, which took 4 days as there was so much to see – this post is about our 7 days at Aigas looking at wildflowers and gardens in the N.E and N.W of Scotland.

Aigas

This, as you know from the previous post, is Aigas House where we ate our meals in the baronial hall and had lectures, talks etc.

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The journey to Aigas.

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Pauline

As soon as our Open Garden weekend was over we went away for a well earned rest and have just returned from a fabulous holiday in the north of Scotland, staying at the Aigas Field Centre, www.aigas.co.uk   for a week on their wildflowers and gardens course.

Aigas

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Rosa mulligani and Rosa glauca.

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Pauline

Two roses which always cause comment when we have visitors to the garden, are the huge “mulligani” which is climbing up the dead oak and the dainty “glauca” which has lovely coloured leaves. Rosa mulligani is the same as the one trained beautifully over the arbour in the white garden at Sissinghurst, and that is where we first saw it many years ago. Ours is a rampant monster which is allowed to do its own thing and the dead oak forms a wonderfully strong support.

mulligani with deadoak

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