A trip out in the sunshine.

22 comments

I spent the afternoon in somebody else’s garden – for a change! We visited a garden which opens for the NGS and the Red Cross at this time of year. It’s only three miles from our house. The house, Fairfield, is an Elizabethan Mansion and it’s open later in the year – I’d like to peek inside!

The garden is a woodland area with carpets of bulbs – the first sight through the gate is of a sea of Anemone blanda. What a sight! I’ve never seen so many in one place before!

Walking round the garden it was amazing to see so many different Narcissi in bloom – all shapes and sizes, different combinations of colours, too. There were Fritillaries in bloom as well.

I saw purple ones and white, too.

Cyclamen coum were spreading themselves happily under the trees. I hope mine get settled like this!

Further on,I was very surprised to see Camellias, Pieris and Rhododendrons. As the garden is so near to where we live, I had assumed that the soil would be similar to mine – but I asked, and it is on the acid side, so these beautiful shrubs will grow there.

It is not a garden for admiring herbaceous borders, but on the way back to the stable yard for a cup of tea, I spotted this beautiful Iris – I don’t know the species, so I shall have to track it down – unless anyone knows?

In a shady corner there was a final surprise waiting – a large patch of Primula denticulata! Wonderful en masse like this, and such huge flower heads!

Did I buy anything from the plant stall?

Did you hesitate before you answered that question… I got an Artemisia vulgaris ‘Oriental Limelight’ and a pink Pulmonaria ‘Dora Bielefeld’ – and I got them planted because of the extra daylight!

The sunshine made it a lovely afternoon out. We both enjoyed it.

29 Mar, 2009
10 likes

Comments

Hollygate

what a lovely way to spend a sunday. and you got new plants as well

29 Mar, 2009

Lincslass

They always look oustanding when allowed to naturalize,I always like to buy something when visiting Spritz and plants don,t need dusting.........

29 Mar, 2009

Dottydaisy2

Its lovely visiting other peoples gardens, so many ideas to take back, beats doing the housework!!

29 Mar, 2009

Raquel

Beautiful garden...the camellias are just beautiful, I wish cyclamen would grow for me (they die in the sun,the get too dry)! Nice trip and new plants as well...!

30 Mar, 2009

Sueb

Lovely Fritillaries~ what a way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We went for a drive in the New Forest after a morning digging the veg plot! :0)

30 Mar, 2009

Blodyn

A nice way to spend an afternoon. I love to see drifts of bulbs especially under trees. Glad you bought something too.

30 Mar, 2009

Wagger

Surprise, surprise - Spritz bought more plants! Looks as if you had a lovely time, glad you enjoyed it.

30 Mar, 2009

Spritzhenry

Well, I was also tempted by some named Narcissi - cream with apricot trumpets - but I decided that I could be patient and buy bulbs next autumn instead of an instant 'fix'. How good was I??

I do wish I'd bought the second Artemisia, though - BUT I know which local Nursery it came from, so all is not lost!

30 Mar, 2009

Hollyeves

Lovely gardens.. I like to see the plants in a natural setting... lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.....

30 Mar, 2009

Clarice

Nice gardens and a nice way to spend a afternoon, i was in my garden alday yesterday

30 Mar, 2009

Wagger

Ooooo - impressed! Have they gone on your wish list? and how long 'til you HAVE to visit that nursery?

30 Mar, 2009

Bonkersbon

Fabulous photos Spritz.Love the carpets of bulbs in drifts,especially the anemone blanda.Glad you enjoyed your visit,and its great to have the extra light in the evenings now !

30 Mar, 2009

Spritzhenry

I thought you might like the Primula denticulata best, BB!!!

Wagger - it's an 'appointment only' small Nursery.
I probably can't get there until next week now. I want that other Artemisia!

30 Mar, 2009

Bonkersbon

Oh Spritz,so nice of you to think of us !Have quite a few years to go before our single speciman leads to a show like that ! Lol

30 Mar, 2009

Spritzhenry

Hey! You have a white one and a mauve one. I am madly jealous.
Do you think they might grow on my stream bank? I have started to clear away the flood debris and see what has survived - I might blog it later. There is space for a couple.

30 Mar, 2009

Bonkersbon

Sure they would love that location Spritz...and just imagine when they do start to spread ! What a picture !

30 Mar, 2009

Andrewr

Hmmm - really like that pink pulmonaria, where can I fit that in my garden?
That 'iris' is hermodactylus tuberosus and is listed under my plants. It needs a very well-drained spot in full sun but has come through the past winter successfully for me and flowered well this year

30 Mar, 2009

Spritzhenry

Andrew - what a star! Thank you. I shall be looking for this now.

The Pulmonaria is really pretty and a clear pink - I''m sure you could squeeeeeeze one in somewhere!

I seemed to have mostly blues and purples apart from the 'Soldiers and Sailors' one, so that's why I got the 'David Ward' and now this one. I wonder who 'Dora Bielefeld' was?

31 Mar, 2009