Wildlife gardening

The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

Categories Autumn garden, Fragrant plants, General comment, Grasses, Hydrangea, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Savill Garden, The Savill Garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

I'm reprising these photos, taken almost exactly a year ago, in The Savill Garden, part of Windsor Great Park, cosseted by Virginia Water. I must return there soon, before the strengthening winds strip the trees bare. I hope these pictures might convince you to put on your wellies and get out there too - or…

Continue reading ➞ The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

Marmite, Poodles and Sunflowers

Categories Architectural Plants, Flower Shows, late summer border, Petersham Nurseries, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on Marmite, Poodles and Sunflowers

A lovely warm September day and the sunflowers in the Cutting Garden at Petersham Nurseries were glowing as I left for the day. Towering above the not insubstantial dahlias, cosmos, lavatera, zinnia, verbena bonariensis, remnants of sweet peas and so much more, there are several varieties planted - I picked out two here, a tawny…

Continue reading ➞ Marmite, Poodles and Sunflowers

A poor old widow in her weeds, Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds, Not too shallow, and not too deep, And down came April drip-drip-drip. Up shone May, like gold, and soon Green as an arbour grew leafy June. And now all Summer she sits and sews Where willow herb, comfrey, bugloss blows, Teasle and tansy, meadowsweet, Campion, toadflax, and rough hawksbit, Brown bee orchid, and Peals of Bells, Clover, burnet, and thyme she smells, Like Oberons meadows her garden is Drowsy from dawn till dusk with bees. Weeps she never, but sometimes sighs, And peeps at her garden with bright brown eyes, A poor old Widow in her weeds.

Categories General comment, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on A poor old widow in her weeds, Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds, Not too shallow, and not too deep, And down came April drip-drip-drip. Up shone May, like gold, and soon Green as an arbour grew leafy June. And now all Summer she sits and sews Where willow herb, comfrey, bugloss blows, Teasle and tansy, meadowsweet, Campion, toadflax, and rough hawksbit, Brown bee orchid, and Peals of Bells, Clover, burnet, and thyme she smells, Like Oberons meadows her garden is Drowsy from dawn till dusk with bees. Weeps she never, but sometimes sighs, And peeps at her garden with bright brown eyes, A poor old Widow in her weeds.

A Widows Weeds Walter De La Mare A poor old widow in her weeds, Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds, Not too shallow, and not too deep, And down came April drip-drip-drip. Up shone May, like gold, and soon Green as an arbour grew leafy June. And now all Summer she sits and sews Where…

Continue reading ➞ A poor old widow in her weeds, Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds, Not too shallow, and not too deep, And down came April drip-drip-drip. Up shone May, like gold, and soon Green as an arbour grew leafy June. And now all Summer she sits and sews Where willow herb, comfrey, bugloss blows, Teasle and tansy, meadowsweet, Campion, toadflax, and rough hawksbit, Brown bee orchid, and Peals of Bells, Clover, burnet, and thyme she smells, Like Oberons meadows her garden is Drowsy from dawn till dusk with bees. Weeps she never, but sometimes sighs, And peeps at her garden with bright brown eyes, A poor old Widow in her weeds.

Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode, The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road. A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire, And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire; A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head. I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire, And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire; But I did bash their baggonets because they came arrayed To straighten out the crooked road an English drunkard made, Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in our hands, The night we went to Glastonbury by way of Goodwin Sands. His sins they were forgiven him; or why do flowers run Behind him; and the hedges all strengthening in the sun? The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which was which, But the wild rose was above him when they found him in the ditch. God pardon us, nor harden us; we did not see so clear The night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier. My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage, Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age, But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth, And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death; For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen, Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

Categories General comment, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode, The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road. A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire, And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire; A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head. I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire, And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire; But I did bash their baggonets because they came arrayed To straighten out the crooked road an English drunkard made, Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in our hands, The night we went to Glastonbury by way of Goodwin Sands. His sins they were forgiven him; or why do flowers run Behind him; and the hedges all strengthening in the sun? The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which was which, But the wild rose was above him when they found him in the ditch. God pardon us, nor harden us; we did not see so clear The night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier. My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage, Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age, But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth, And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death; For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen, Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

Rolling roads there were, to these rolling hills above Muker, deep in the heart of Swaledale. The poem, 'The Rolling English Road' by GK Chesterton http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2011/jun/13/poem-week-g-k-chesterton    

NOT in rich glebe and ripe green garden only Does Summer weave her sweet resistless spells, But in high hills, and moorlands waste and lonely, The vast enchantment of her presence dwells. Wide sky, and sky-wide waste of thyme and heather, Perpetual sleepy hum of golden bees…

Categories General comment, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on NOT in rich glebe and ripe green garden only Does Summer weave her sweet resistless spells, But in high hills, and moorlands waste and lonely, The vast enchantment of her presence dwells. Wide sky, and sky-wide waste of thyme and heather, Perpetual sleepy hum of golden bees…

the cycling references are for Le Tour de France, which recently triumphed through Yorkshire and finally, mad cow, no, though a little eccentric... A break from the strictly horticultural life and out amongst Natural Beauty, this time in the Yorkshire Dales and here, Swaledale in particular. A walk starting in Reeth, taking in Marrick Priory,…

Continue reading ➞ NOT in rich glebe and ripe green garden only Does Summer weave her sweet resistless spells, But in high hills, and moorlands waste and lonely, The vast enchantment of her presence dwells. Wide sky, and sky-wide waste of thyme and heather, Perpetual sleepy hum of golden bees…

There once was an ugly duckling….

Categories Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wildlife gardening4 Comments on There once was an ugly duckling….

Rather a baby Egyptian Goose (the one with the darkly-circled eyes). A family with four young-uns were being fed scraps of bread, some pieces larger than others, requiring contortions and dedication to get them down...

Waterperry Gardens – the Waterperry Obelisk, Alpine Garden, Virgin’s Walk, Plant Centre, a little shopping in the Gallery and a last look at the Delphiniums….

Categories Art in the landscape, General comment, herbaceous, Open to the public, Roses, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind, Wildlife gardening2 Comments on Waterperry Gardens – the Waterperry Obelisk, Alpine Garden, Virgin’s Walk, Plant Centre, a little shopping in the Gallery and a last look at the Delphiniums….

The Waterperry Obelisk Designed and carved by Simon Buchanan, the obelisk is the brainchild of the School of Economic Science who own Waterperry Gardens. They commissioned the work so visitors have a greater understanding of the philosophical principles of the School by expressing a common aim of members. The obelisk is similar to those of…

Continue reading ➞ Waterperry Gardens – the Waterperry Obelisk, Alpine Garden, Virgin’s Walk, Plant Centre, a little shopping in the Gallery and a last look at the Delphiniums….

Waterperry Gardens – formal gardens and something wilder… the Fritillary Meadow, Yew Henge and down to the river bank

Categories Evergreen shrubs, Garden Design, General comment, Open to the public, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on Waterperry Gardens – formal gardens and something wilder… the Fritillary Meadow, Yew Henge and down to the river bank