May 2025
Dear Garden Friends,
After a disturbingly wet week for many people we are now enjoying gentle autumn days where colours change and blend seamlessly while leaves drop gently in soft sounds.
I have had the most enjoyable time as gardening friend Jenny Cooper from Blue House, Amberley, has taken an exciting collection of photos in my garden. Excitement because she has captured the essence of things here; something that I have worked hard to achieve over the past thirty three years.
Many of you will know Jenny and her garden. Whether you have visited or not, it's time to go, or go again to Blue House, Amberley. If you are in a Garden Club or group that is planning its programme for the forthcoming year, it could be incorporated into your year's programme. www.bluehouseamberley.nz Thank you Jenny for helping me communicate my message to my readers.
Attached are a few of the photos that Jenny has taken.
Something that I often find with photos is that I see things differently to how they appear with the naked eye. Sometimes changes are made from observations I’ve made from photos.
I have been having an ongoing conversation with myself in the garden as I wasn't sure whether it was the plant or me that was confused. The plant is the shrub Osmanthus heterophyllus. 'Purpureus'. We have a number of these well established shrubs throughout the gardens and they have been pruned with much care to let light through. I noticed recently that they were flowering abundantly with heaps of fragrance, but I was wondering “why now?” when they should be flowering in spring. I would have known in spring if I hadn’t checked on it now. O. heterophyllus ‘Purpureus’ has dark maroon, almost purple new growth in spring, and I once had these as a low hedge near the front door. So there’s a tip: it makes an excellent hedge and was moved when I felt like a change. O. ‘Burkwoodii’ has evergreen leaves with new green leaf growth and flowers in spring. The flowers are white, sweetly fragrant, and can be sensed from quite a distance. It would also be good placed randomly or hedged.
I am about to start reading André Dupont written by my friend and correspondent Vincent Derkenne. Quoting from Vincent’s covering letter to me when he sent me a copy of his book, written in French:
“I am pleased to bring you some news about André Dupont (1742 – 1817), the forerunner in Roses, the first rose grower known in France. He is at the origin of the transition of the Rose from the botanical to the horticultural world in France …”
For nearly fourteen years Vincent researched and wrote his book. What an enduring legacy to leave to lovers of old roses.
Very best wishes to you all,
Margaret
