Sunday 30 June 2013

Marvellous Minack

Yesterday I had to go down to the Minack Theatre to check it out as a location for a photoshoot. Now, I've been before and knew that it was very impressive, clinging to the cliff-egde, overlooking golden beaches and turquoise sea, what came as a surprise was the planting! The weather wasn't great with a sea mist cutting down the sun and the stunning views, however the planting made up for that creating a colourful, tropical feel that didn't need the sun.

The terraces dripped with Aeoniums with their fabulous whorls of leaves and their spires of yellow flowers, Agaves (which I noticed the snails love to congregate on), carpets of Ice plants or Delosperma with their daisy like flowers in muliple colours and great drifts of brightest orange Californian Poppies or Eschscholzia californica. Together with lots of other things, they created a riot of colours and shapes, just as impressive as the location and theatre itself.




The banks of Agapanthus were full of buds too, so the display will continue and change throughout the summer.

There was a rehearsal in progress for Noel Coward's Present Laughter which opens on 1 July and the performance season runs to the end of September. 
There are also tours dramatising the building and development of the theatre and events for families too.

The Minack is open to visitors all year, and if you gift aid your first admission you get to visit all year for free, a perfect way to check out the next phase of the planting. There's also a cafe and a small plant sales area, so you can take home a little bit of tropical planting for yourself - I'll be going back!


Here's a link - Minack Theatre


Thursday 27 June 2013

Fabulous Philadelphus

On the way around town yesterday I came across this beautiful Philadelphus Belle Etoile. 
It was groaning with blossom and smelt lovely. 

If only the sun had been on it I think it would have been positively overpowering. However the sun seems to be rarely on anything at the moment, so thank goodness for cheery sights like this!

And it wasn't just me that was keen on it, the bees were all over it too. I bet Philadelphus honey is good!

Tuesday 25 June 2013

That's a first!


On a recent trip to lovely Bodmin Herb Farm with a client, perusing plants for scree/gravelly planting, we came across this Sedum like alpine. Our lovely client was keen initially, liked the colour, form, and the way the water droplets sat on the rosettes, but then admitted that looking at it made her feel decidedly queasy! Now I've always seen the garden as an all round sensory experience, but I've never had that response before! I'm sorry I can't give you the exact name of the plant, but as you can understand we moved away rather quickly!

Bodmin Herb Farm have just changed their name to Bodmin Nursery, here's a link:


Monday 24 June 2013

Polgwynne Part Two

So it didn't rain and the sun came out (briefly) on the lovely Polgwynne garden, open yesterday to raise money for NEST (see previous post). The only weather related issue was the wind, which howled around attempting to flatten anything in it's path, happily the garden withstood the onslaught well. 

It looked beautiful, the promised Peonies were spectacular, and the Crambe Cordifolia (although slightly wind tossed) was enormous and frothy

 


 There were lovely combinations of Aliums, Nepetas Hardy Geraniums and Salvias, subtle Astrantias... 

...and blazing Geums.

There were Echiums covered in bees...

...a dark red Jasmine, and a dark red leaved Geranium.

The potager and cutting garden had come on leaps and bounds since April...

...and the border combinations were very varied and interesting.

All in all, a good Sunday afternoons nosing about in someone else's garden - my favourite pastime! 
And the teas, cakes and milkshakes seemed popular too, so here's hoping they raised lots for the charities concerned!








Tuesday 18 June 2013

Wander around a lovely garden and raise money for charity.

In April this year we visited a lovely garden in Feock, near Truro, open as part of the National Gardens Scheme (see previous post - National Garden Scheme - Polgwynne opening). We had an inspirational time admiring the beautiful planting and re-emerging structure of this garden that is the process of renovation.


The owners, the Piercys had such a busy day and such a positive response that they are opening again this Sunday June 23rd from 2-5pm.
This time their chosen charity is the Nephrotic Syndrome Trust, with tea and cakes raising money for World Challenge.

We definitely recommend a visit to Polgwynne, last time we visited we loved the teeming wild flower banks, the potager and fruit garden, the formal lawns, well stocked borders and wandering rills and pools. It will be lovely to see how everything has come on since April. The season is now catching up so there should be plenty to see, I'm particularly looking forward to seeing the enormous Ginko tree in leaf.

Inside information recommends we look out for the Crambe cordifolia or greater sea kale, which has dark green lobed leaves and branching sprays of scented white flowers.  Gorgeous Peonies and Dahlias are also tentatively promised (subject to wind, rain and general weather!), and the younger members of our party last time we visited recommend looking out for (and sampling) the cake! 

All this and it overlooks the sea. Let's just hope for some good weather, see you there!




Sunday 16 June 2013

Another wet Sunday (sorry Dads)!

The only thing good to be said for a wet Sunday is how lovely it looks on the leaves of the Alchemilla Mollis, or Ladies Mantle!

And all those Dads who thought they might sit out appreciating their gardens today - never mind, and Happy Fathers Day anyway.



Friday 14 June 2013

More innovation in the Capital

Back in London this week, we heard of another innovation hard on the heels of the grass-free lawn. Plans are afoot to build a garden bridge over the Thames, linking north to south, Covent Garden to the South Bank. Backed by Boris Johnson, Transport for London and Joanna Lumley the bridge is designed by the architect who designed the cauldron for the Olympics last year, Thomas Heatherwick. The idea is that it will create a new green pathway in the city, perfect for de-stressing (not distressing) commuters, and attracting wildlife. Not much has been said about the planting yet, except that it will include trees, grasses and wild flowers, with the emphasis on indigenous species.





The scheme is remeniscent of New York's Highline the planting of which was consulted by garden designer of the moment Piet Oudolf. Green spaces in the city must be encouraged and are what make city life live-able, so we're all for this plan and look forward to seeing it finished in 2016.
Right, all they need to do now is get planning permission from two councils and raise £60 million of private investment to finance it - job done!


New York's Highline

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Who could resist?

I found this picture and couldn't resist making it the basis for a post. These baby hedgehogs, known as hoglets, are very sweet and most people would love to think of them living in their garden. But they are not just a sweet ornamental addition to your patch, they are the gardeners friend. The hedgehogs diet is made up of slugs, caterpillars, worms, beetles and other insects. Now any help with my slug problem is gratefully received and plant-wise I'm not that keen on caterpillars either, so hedgehogs are welcome in my garden. 

There are, however, a couple of things we need to know about our prickly friends. Most people know that we shouldn't put out saucers of milk for them, meaty pet food is much better, but also make sure you leave water out for them to drink. 

Slug pellets are the hedgehogs enemy, as are the poisoned slugs left behind. So if you have hedgehogs or want them, avoid slug pellets or put them in places that they can't get to - under paving stones, in pipes and crevices, and remove any slug victims promptly.

Ponds and pools can be a hazard too. Make sure you have a gentle slop at the side so any accidental swimmers can crawl out, or hang chicken wire over the edge so that they can use it as a scramble net.

The best news is - to create the perfect habitat for the spiny suckers you have to make sure your garden is not too tidy, so my garden should be over-run with them! Twig piles, dead leaves, nooks and crannies and wild areas will give hedgehogs somewhere to shelter and even hibernate. And don't forget always check these areas carefully before disturbing, just in case you have a resident prickly snoozer!

If you find a hedgehog in distress then you can call 
The Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801
or go online for advice and help

Hedgehog Preservation Society

If you want to provide some extra comfort for the 'furze-pig' in your life then Ark Wildlife do a range of hedgehog houses and other accessories.

Arkwildlife


Tuesday 11 June 2013

World's first grass-free lawn in a public park

There was a good news gardening story on the news this morning! A West London park has become the first public space to have a grass-free lawn. Incorporating, amongst other things, Camomile, Corsican Mint, Thyme, Clover, Daisies, the lawn uses herbs, native and ornamental plants to create a patchwork to appeal to all the senses. Put together as part of a PHD study the lawn has been researched and developed by Reading Uni and the local council. The lawn is not in a heavy traffic area but can be walked on and people will be encouraged to sit and picnic on it apparently. 
Let's hope the idea spreads nation wide, it looks great and is fantastic for wildlife, so a winner all round. There's even a specially bred four leaf clover to help it along!

Sounds (and smells) lovely to us.




Friday 7 June 2013

Fragrant Friday

This is our final post from the big smoke this week, so we thought we'd make it appeal to all the senses. This Jasmine was stunning, tumbling down the front of a house, covered in white starry flowers and great clusters of pink buds. The fragrance spread about three or four doors up and down the street, and the sound of the extremely enthusiastic bees likewise! The strength of the sun glowing off the brightest white petals made photographing it really quite a challenge as you can see.

Jasmine has the whole package, it has the smell, the sound and the look of summer.



And the weekend looks set fair to be a beautiful one, perfect for gardening, BBQing or just lounging around appreciating your garden. Keep an eye on recently planted pots and veg though - they'll be needing a good water.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Thursday's Favourite

Brightening up Thursday morning was a lovely Cytisus, or Red Broom. With pinky red fronds full of flowers, it's loved by bees and perfect for the full sun we're having this week. It's also good for the coastal garden, so ideal for Cornwall. I've got one in my garden which looks just like this!

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Midweek Mauves

The front gardens of London were just too full of lovliness this morning to choose just one plant for Wednesday so we've chosen a colour range instead - mauves and purples.
So here is what the gardeners of South London had to offer:

Amazing Allium Christophii...

..gorgeous perennial Geraniums and swaying Erysimum...

Cheerful Chives - pretty and useful...

...and spectacular Scabious.

Well done Brixton!

Tuesday 4 June 2013

Tuesday's Treat

Todays plant is the Rose - they are fabulous at the moment, big, blousey and vibrant in the bright sun. Enough to cheer up any walk to work!