Hello Gardening Friends,
As you will all know, life has picked up by quite a few paces in the garden as plants and weeds race ahead of us. I have been focussing on getting as much planting done as possible, and this week will be the last of the planting until autumn as I think we will be having a very warm summer.
We’ve added some gorgeous lower growing rhododendrons to the woodland garden by the driveway. These include groups of Rhododendron ‘September Snow’, R. ‘Shamrock’, and one larger growing R. ‘Father Bear’. In another area where we cleared out some rather watery-looking hydrangeas which seemed to have popped up over the years, and which were causing various problems for surrounding plants. We’ve planted three ‘Jacqueline du Pré’ roses, named for the famous cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Underplanting these white roses with reddish-orange stamens, is a collection of fifteen Buxus ‘Koreana’. We have these growing slowly in another part of the garden and I do like their informal shagginess.
A major project in autumn was to resurrect the pond at the side of the garden. It has had its lining replaced, has been levelled with a new wooden edging, and we have a pump system which provides a gentle bubble of water in the pond. All the tall grasses, gunnera, and other plants that edged the pond have been removed. Instead we’ve planted a very low growing fern at much of the water’s edge. The views that have been opened up are stunning.
Photo 1: A new daffodil for me this year is Narcissus ‘Watch Up’. With its long flowering time from August until the end of September, and its delicate fragrance, it’s a winner for me.
Photo 2: Newly planted in our woodland garden by the drive, Exochorda macrantha ‘The Bride’ has started its delicate and fragrant flowering.
As we have a number of fragrant flowering plants in this garden we are going to create a small pathway so that the plants can be enjoyed up close.
Photo 3: The new view looking towards the potager. Grass will be sown to near the water’s edge at the end of October, and these areas will be strimmed as the grass grows. We can now enjoy pond reflections.
Photo 4: Looking across to the gardens which will now be viewed from the other side of the pond. Before, this view was blocked.
Photo 5: Turning back.
I’ll post updates on the pond’s new surroundings as the season progresses
We open for visiting at the end of October and it will be lovely to see some of you again. There is so much on over the next few months and I hope you enjoy your visits to festivals and gardens.
Very best wishes
Margaret
