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Round the garden part 1.

65 comments


Well, I said I’d take you for a tour of my garden, but when I took a set of photos yesterday, there were so many I thought it might be better to do it in sections.

So – please come in! You can use the pedestrian gate past a new rose – ‘Alibaba’, and walk along the path – but do look at the plants in the narrow border next to it! That Diascia has survived three winters now. Heucherellas, Campanulas and Geraniums do well here, and an annual grass called ‘Briza maxima’ which seeds itself.

Rosa ‘Alibaba’

The other way of getting in is to go through the 5-bar gate into the carpark – I like having plants growing in the gravel.

The Osteospermum have crept through from their original bed – and I love them.

You walk past the rose trellis and down two steps onto the path to the house. You have to go under the branches of the older weeping ash tree – we think it’s about 200 years old.

Right in front of you is a bed of Geranium x magnificum. They look wonderful at this time of year, but their disadvantage is that they only flower once.

If you look to your left, you’ll see a large area of lawn with trees planted at intervals. There’s a copper beech, another (younger) weeping ash, a Cedrus deodara, a magnolia, a tall silver birch and three young ones we planted close together to create a multi-trunked tree – eventually! Right at the end of the lawn is my shaded border which has flowering shrubs in it -underplanted with plenty of shade-loving plants, of course!

The three tall poplars are by the boundary fence in the shaded border. The ash trees are always the last to leaf up!

The wooden steps go down to another grassed area – the lowest part of the garden. This is right next to the stream, and gets flooded when we’ve had a lot of rain. The Gunnera enjoys having damp ‘feet’!

Let’s go closer to the house.
You have to cross the stream by walking over an ancient stone bridge. Look to your left again to see the stream. (the second one is an older photo – the Juniper is still on the stream bank!)

On top of the bridge, the soil is very shallow, so I have a scree bed. The focal point is a piece of driftwood which OH got for me.

On either side of the path are small lawns with flowerbeds round them. Here’s the one to the right – at the far end is my gravel garden.

The wire stock fence was put there by our neighbours – I’ve done my best to disguise it with a border of flowers – that’s where the dwarf Hebes are planted.

Hebe ‘Hagley Park’

part of fence border

gravel garden

I took photos from my bedroom window so you can see the whole of the other small lawned area, and the steps to the stream, too. The large Aucuba to the right is a pleasure – its colour is so sunny! It also gives shade for my Hellebores that grow next to the wall there.

If you stand on the path across the front of the house, this is the view across the front garden.

From upstairs, you can peek over the wall past the roses and Clematis clambering up the house and there’s the side garden waiting for part 2 another day!

Just to finish this blog of the front garden, this is my favourite photo.

I hope you enjoyed the tour! I couldn’t show you everything of course, but I hope it gives you an idea of the largest part of this section of the garden.

More blog posts by spritzhenry

Previous post: Exciting boxes!

Next post: Round the garden part 2.



Comments

 

What an amazing garden! It must be like a dream! A lot of hard work I can see but to have a stream and so much space must be quite incredible. A different view from every angle and sooooo many lovely plants, do you ever come inside or stay away from your windows?

3 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you for sharing your lovely garden another beautiful walk with my morning cup of tea!

3 Jun, 2012

 

Really amazing garden, yes like Sticki says think I'd spend all day wondering round or looking out the windows, paradise............

3 Jun, 2012

 

Hmmm...Too much work to do to sit for too long! I try, but spot a weed or something that needs attention, so I go off and deal with it. It's lucky I enjoy working in the garden, isn't it! Lol.

I'm glad you enjoyed the tour. :-))

3 Jun, 2012

 

What can I say? It's my dream garden. What an achievement, Spritz. It must do you good just to look at it.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Oh, thats a beautiful garden you have there,it`s a credit to you...lovely...thank you for sharing it with us.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Just beautiful,Spritz...I so enjoyed this tour..and love your new Rose..everything looks pristine and lush..and I'm so glad you are finally able to tend your garden,as I know you will have missed it so much..great therapy,and it will aid your recovery ,I'm sure..one step at a time..:o) x

3 Jun, 2012

 

Such a beautiful garden

3 Jun, 2012

 

Brilliant tour Barbara . . thank you! And I do believe that it was on 2nd June last year that we met, and I was lucky enough to walk round your garden admiring everything and smiling at your beautiful plants. :))

3 Jun, 2012

 

Always love to look round your garden, its so beautiful.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you all - I was feeling a bit 'down' because, as Sheila says, the garden should have been open this week. I was so sad that it wasn't possible. It's lovely to be able to welcome GoYers 'virtually' though. :-))

3 Jun, 2012

 

I always find those dates when something is happening that I would've liked to have been doing, but can't, the most difficult too. But your virtual tour certainly brightened up my day, so thank you :)

3 Jun, 2012

 

Your virtual tour of your lovely garden is probably the next best thing to actually being able to wander around it - having you as our guide! Lovely! :-)) Now looking forward to part ll.

Look after yourself & do take it easy, however difficult that will be.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Very nice.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks - I won't post part 2 too soon. I've taken loads of photos though!! Mind you, the light wasn't too good, so I might take them again on a better day.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Oh how I envy you with the stream and space and you have made your garden a delight to view.

3 Jun, 2012

 

Very nice Spritz. A lovely tour of your beautiful garden and I really enjoyed it, thanks

3 Jun, 2012

 

Great photos of a wonderful garden. Hope you are able to open it again next year spritz

3 Jun, 2012

 

What a fabulous garden spritz, so much going on there. How on earth do you ever tear yourself away from it.

3 Jun, 2012

 

There is very little that I can say that hasn't been said above. Heaven!!! :)

3 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks for the lovely tour.
I see you are still able to keep your Diascias. I remember your blog about them last year. I bought a lovely bronzy coloured one recently, and am hoping it will survive for next year now.
I'm pleased you are improving now after your operation ...

4 Jun, 2012

 

you have a wonderful garden.Thank you for sharing,great pictures:))))

4 Jun, 2012

 

Like Sheilabub I too met you and enjoyed my visit last year. It was lovely to meet you and OH and Henry who was a wonderful host. Also Sheilabub and Tetrarch and their OH's. I had the grandchildren in tow and they had a whale of a time and I had threatened to come by myself this year but as it happens I am still at home. Its great to see it all looking so good in spite of your enforced rest. Your girl will be serving a wonderful apprenticeship. I hope she knows how lucky she is to have landed in so beautiful a garden with so knowledgeable owner. You take care and we will hope to put you in the diary for next year.

4 Jun, 2012

 

What lovely comments! Thank you all. I do indeed hope (and expect!) to open the garden again in 2013, so I hope to see GOY friends there, if possible.

My 'girl' told me last week that she was enjoying working here. It was such a nice thing to hear. Without her efforts, I'd have been really struggling. She keeps asking me the names of some of my rarer plants. :-D)

4 Jun, 2012

 

Wonderful garden, thanks for sharing

4 Jun, 2012

 

What a wonderful garden, so glad you are able to be back out there :-)

4 Jun, 2012

 

Yes, so am I, although what I am allowed to do is limited. I have big plans though! :-))

I sat and snipped the grass edge along my new lavender border - with scissors! It's a bit frustrating when I can't just run the shears along, but never mind.

5 Jun, 2012

 

Breathtaking, absolutely fabulous. How do you kepit looking so lovely? You must spend every waking hour there! But with such a lovely garden, that wouldn't be a hardship!

6 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you!

Under normal circumstances, yes, I'm out there most of every day. This year, I've only been able to do limited things, which is why I found a gardener to help me on a temporary basis.

I have to say I'd prefer to do it myself, but needs must. <sigh>.

7 Jun, 2012

 

I'm glad the gardener is working out for you. Sounds like you are an ideal mentor for someone wanting to expand their knowledge of plants but then you have had lots of practise on us lol.

7 Jun, 2012

 

She does ask about some plants, and told me she was learning new ones (to her). :-)

7 Jun, 2012

 

I knew your garden would be amazing Spitz - lovely to see how it all connects up. What a great view from your bedroom.

8 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden.

8 Jun, 2012

 

I know what she means Spritz. I thought I knew a fair bit about plants before I joined Goy but the world of plants has opened up dramatically since then in no small part due to yourself.

8 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you! What a lovely compliment. :-D)

Hallo Annelise and Sixpence! :-)

8 Jun, 2012

 

lost for words - amazing, stunning, so beautiful. you must really have invested so much time and care in all this bounty

12 Jun, 2012

 

Well, up until I got ill, yes...every possible moment. That's what makes me feel so frustrated now, but I'm doing more out there, and hope to be allowed to use my shears etc soon.

12 Jun, 2012

 

You should print this blog out as a guide for visitors so they do not miss anything. I'm putting it in favourites so I can look at it before I next visit hopefully on your Open Day next year.

12 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks for the idea - but don't forget that I stand in the garden and answer lots of questions! It would be really expensive to print guides in colour, too. Not sure what OH would say about that...

12 Jun, 2012

 

Like the idea of the blog as a guide. As you say would be really expensive to print individual guides for people, but how about either laminating sections or putting them in plastic wallets and displaying in the garden?

Oooh getting to use you shears again, hope you can soon. I bet your going barmy being so restricted in what you can do. Really glad your on the mend though.

12 Jun, 2012

 

Just thought, the printed information could be a nice way of showing either how the garden has changed over x period of time or to show plants that aren't in flower yet or have finished flowering. Saying that it could also be quite a lot of work and as you said your on hand to answer questions :) much more personal that way.

12 Jun, 2012

 

I did not think about the cost which would be ridiculous. You are on hand to answer questions as you say. If any of the goy members plan to visit, and let you know, you can direct them to this blog and the other/s you are planning, so they can remember what it is they must look at when they come along. I like Samjp s idea but I don't think people really want to read when there is such a feast in front of them. I remember you asking about labelling plants after last years open day. Did you come to any conclusions from the answers given? I hope you are not suffering from flooding in your area.

12 Jun, 2012

 

if yoiu have a laptop that can be nailed down to prevent its going walkabout, use that for virtual tours?

12 Jun, 2012

 

I do have a laptop, but the NGS say we should lock all doors and close the curtains. Their insurance covers the garden and public liability, but I'm not too sure about house contents if anyone did get in and take a fancy to anything!

I was talking to a lady who opened her garden for her village, and then was burgled. Her insurance company has refused to allow her to open it again. :-o

13 Jun, 2012

 

I did not notice anybody not enjoying themselves last year so I know you do a great job. Mine was a daft suggestion on cost alone but its not a problem to have a suggestion squashed when reason prevails.

13 Jun, 2012

 

Good points Scotsgran, who would want to be reading a board when they can be looking at such a beautiful garden.

How horrible Spritz, do you know if they ever caught the burglars?

13 Jun, 2012

 

No idea, I'm afraid. :-((

Last year we did have a couple of explanatory signs in the garden - one to explain the holes in the lawn (badgers!) and one on the doomed Hebe so people knew it was going to be removed and replaced. I didn't like it, but it seemed necessary. I wouldn't have chosen to have them there normally.

14 Jun, 2012

 

What a beautiful garden you have, its amazing just love the bridge and stream area, I can apprectiate how much time, effort and love that goes into making it such a heavenly place;0))

14 Jun, 2012

 

It certainly does! The most often asked question from visitors is "do you have help". Well, OH cuts the grass...

You know that I've had to get a gardener in since my op. but she can only do 2 hours a week. :-((

14 Jun, 2012

 

:) no local kids or youth organisations that might be interested in learning more about nature? it'd be more work for you to explain everything, but it might pay didvidends later, for you and them both.

15 Jun, 2012

 

No - we live in such a rural place that there aren't any around...too far for travelling here, as well, with no public transport.

16 Jun, 2012

 

ahhh, right. lol importa few and hide 'em in the garden???

16 Jun, 2012

 

Good thinking, but Henry would find them and bark his head off. No hiding places when he's around! ;-)

18 Jun, 2012

 

So glad we were able to take the virtual tour! It's an amazing and beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing it with us - Looking forward to Part 2! :o)

24 Jun, 2012

 

I posted it a few days ago, Petaltracey, and thank you. :-) I hope you enjoy that part of the tour, as well.

25 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks - I'll have a wander around... :)

25 Jun, 2012

 

Enjoy! :-)

25 Jun, 2012

 

Absolutely gorgeous.

1 Aug, 2012

 

Thank you. You're not that far away from us - we hope the garden will be open again next year! :-)

2 Aug, 2012

 

Ooh whereabouts are you? I'd love to look round your garden 'in the flesh'.:-))

2 Aug, 2012

 

The coast side of Bridgwater, in Somerset. :-)) I think we'll probably stick to the first two Thursdays in June for the Open Days.

2 Aug, 2012

 

lol I'm waiting for "Spritz's garden - the movie" to come out on DVD! Can I preorder a copy?

2 Aug, 2012

 

Certainly. As long as I get all the profits! LOL.

3 Aug, 2012

 

who else???

3 Aug, 2012

 

;-D)

3 Aug, 2012

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