Guy and Mary's Garden in July

It is the season for garden butterflies and we have been particularly overjoyed to see Red Admirals, Peacocks & European commas - and the odd Meadow Brown which has strayed in. 

They seem to seek out one class of plant, then move on to another, Nepeta & then onto the bonariensis & Salvias. We have tried to buy bee friendly species of plants like open flat Dahlias & Roses & white Pinks , Haytor but as yet these have not been visited much.

The Cannas are making a statement but no flowers yet. The lilies are coming well and have been planted with Fuschias that we saw at the Sage outing to Woolbedding , there they had them in pots with flat corymbs of flowers - I have forgotten their name.

Pots of Agapanthus are particularly good at present. Having such a small garden, I feel colour teaming is all important. At the moment I have some pots of white, some of pale blue and some of more strident blue. Next year I plan to have all white along the path, which I think would look better with the blues going in pots at the side of the house.

I'm managing to source the " right colour of Dahlias to tone with the Salvias particularly the strident bright pink " cerroposti" & the tall Hadspen.

I had some Gladiolus bulbs I brought from the old house " atom " they are sort of orangery with white edges but are not quite right! 

Already the catalogues for Autumn are coming in so for next year I am planning to grow Ammi Majus for Spring/ early summer to be replaced by Nicotiana, Whispermix and some night scented ones for moths as fillers in the front.

Mary's Streptocarpus are settling well in the kitchen bay widow.

 

The joys of this tiny garden, I can tinker and plan better.!!

Happy Gardening

Guy

20200726 Saffrons garden in Steyning

I visited Saffrons last Sunday when it opened for the NGS.  The imposing house is on the outskirts of Steyning.  I was reminded what an attractive village Steyning is as I drove through.   

Saffrons in on the south side of the town and we were led through the front garden which was primarily laid to grass with what I think were two cherry trees  taking centre stage on each side of the entrance path.   

The garden is about 3/4 of an acre (so I was told) and a large part of it is lawn (in very good condition), with shrubs and imposing trees under planted with ferns,  hellebores and some grasses.   

Then (and as you see immediately you enter the garden) on the far side of the garden there are four striking flower beds, plus the fruit and vegetable area.    The four flower beds are coloured themed and are beautifully stocked with dahlias, large clumps of echinacea, thalictrum, hemerocallis, lots of salvias and much much more.    One of the most dramatic was the red and white bed with gladioli papilio  Ruby (which i have grown this year) and very tall oriental lilies "LaVerne Freeman" and "Lesley Woodriff";  it was a great combination (there is a plant list of the four beds).  

The fruit and vegetables were looking good and in particular the asparagus bed looked to have had a good year.        

Whilst it does not form a large part of the garden, it is very elegant and interesting.    

The owners are particularly concerned to help the charities supported by the NGS because of their much reduced income as a result of the COVID lockdown and as they had a full house last Sunday, they are opening again next Sunday.  If you are interested, you can book through the NGS website.  

Best wishes

Rosemary     

Visit to Russell and Susie's Garden

I am sure many of you will have visited Russell and Suzie's garden last week.  These photos are from Sarah and Mike and show the colourful garden full of variety, both plants and vegetables.   

I certainly had "bean" envy as I have failed again to produce decent beans but Russell and Suzie's beans were climbing  high up the poles and were already full of beans ready to eat with plenty more to come. 

As you can see from Sarah's photos, there is lots of colour, provided by a great variety of plants, clematis, dahlias, salvias and many many more. 

There was also a great display of lilies in pots, one of Russel's signature plants.   

Everything looked very healthy and well watered and Russell explained how he constructed an underground water tank to take all the rain water from the roofs which slightly surprisingly is still half full despite the lack of rain over the last few months, 

It is a lovely garden and one in which you can feel at home.  

Many thanks to Russell and Suzie for giving members the opportunity to visit the garden and provide further support  for AMR. 

Best wishes and thanks to Sarah & Mike for the photos,

Rosemary

Thakeham Farm Place

I visited Thakeham Farm Place in the week and would definitely recommend it for a SAGE visit next year;   it is the first time it has been open for the NGS, although it is regularly open for the Thakeham Village Garden Event which takes place every other year at the end of July (next event in 2022).   

The gardens to the front of the house are graceful and peaceful and as you venture round the side, there are beds of hydrangea annabelle which was looking very good;  the owner advised that they should be cut down to the ground in February as they bloom on this year's growth.   

You are then shaken out of the tranquility by the "bold and brilliant" border which is very colourful and dramatic;   bookended by stipa gigantea, it features the burgundy coloured smoke bush, absent the smoke, heleniums, dahlias and day lilies, crocosmia and bright yellow achillea as well as tall spires of the yellow verbascam.   

The other side of the large lawn (which had been taken down several feet from the previous level by the owners) was quieter and featured perovskia, lilac  asters (not quite out) and euphorbia.

A third border featured very dark buddleia and some grasses. 

  

The courtyard area included two statuesque variegated hollies clipped into lollipops as well as pots of agapanthus and lilies.  

It was a really spectacular garden.

Best wishes,

Rosemary

Visit to Lynne's garden Southlands

I have loved all my many visits to Southlands, near Billingshurst since Lynne and Ricky moved there nearly 6 years ago. The garden was very much a blank canvas and it has been a joy to see Lynne’s ideas take shape. On one perimeter there is a beautiful old south facing wall where Lynne is creating a lovely herbaceous border ideally suited to climbers and where a fig tree is now producing deliciously sweet fruits. 

Lynne’s garden planning is very much with wildlife in mind with two wildlife ponds, a large wild flower area and a lawn sprinkled with clover and birds foot trefoil.  

Several mature oak trees bring food and shelter for a variety of woodland birds and a deer family visit regularly for a meal of fat rosebuds and vegetable crops!! 

The patio area is now well established surrounded by a range grasses, lavender, alliums, scabious and salvias to name a few.

A long pergola had been built linking the patio area to the south facing borders and this is under planted with herbaceous plants with wisteria, roses and clematis becoming well established to create a beautiful scented and shady walk way. 

The herb garden and raised beds for vegetables and salad crops are combined with annuals and sun loving plants such as Echinacea and Canna’s. 

Currently the Agapanthus are putting on a stunning display growing in pots within a sheltered seating area by the house. 

Best wishes

Sarah

Arundel Castle Garden

Arundel Castle Garden is now open although advance booking is essential.  It is very easy to book through their website.  

We were encouraged to visit the stew ponds, which have been the subject of a lot of work and it was interesting to see  how they had edged the ponds and to feel the cool of the water and shade in that area.  

It certainly appears that the normal activities of the garden have continued during lockdown because it was looking very well kept and colourful. Those who have been before will remember the Bannerman section which is full of agapanthus in big pots (already out) and pink or blue scaevola. I only came across scaevola recently as it appeared in Sarah Raven's catalogue where she mentioned that she had seen it in pots in the Collector Earl's garden in Arundel. It is in light pink in her catalogue but at Arundel this year, they have it in a gorgeous blue as well. It is apparently perennial and originates from Australia so is sun and drought tolerant. I think it is a great find for beds and pots.  

In this courtyard the Indian Bean trees (which are neither Indian nor of the bean family so I was told) were in flower.

Moving through you come to the hot borders which were looking very dramatic with the sky high echiums and deep brown canna leaves interspersed with dahlias, penstemons and various yellow daisies.  

Then into the stumpery which at this time of year houses a number of dierama, the delicate angel's fishing rods.  

Into the more open section of the garden, there is a large bed of an annual wild flower mix (complete with thatched shelter), lots of fruit and vegetables, dahlias and further beds of mixed clary.    

The clematis were in full bloom and one archway also included sweet peas and a rather pretty climbing campanula.    

Don't miss it, there is still plenty to see and the Collector Earl's Garden and the hot garden will certainly be looking good for some time to come.

Best wishes

Rosemary