Feeling a bit 'meh' and some nice things

 You know how sometimes you just have a day/week that is a bit 'meh'?  You can't necessarily say what is wrong, but you just feel out of sorts.  I had one of those last week.  I am usually a fairly content person, but things got to me a bit last week and I was feeling a bit down.  My lovely husband bought me these flowers to cheer me up, which was very thoughtful of him.  Sunflowers, agapanthus, lilies and some foliage.  I have been enjoying seeing the lilies open and although sometimes the scent can be overpowering, this one has a gentle scent, which is just there in the background.

To quote Winnie the Pooh, "Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon" (or flowers!).

I had noticed this self sown foxglove and was watching it grow.  It has surprised me as it is at the front of the house, growing through gravel and a weed suppressing membrane.  However, it seems to be doing well.

Also at the front of the house, in a pot, is this phlox, which is a division from a plant in the back.  I divided it earlier in the year and it had rewarded me with the biggest flowers it has ever had.  I have another division planted in the shadier border in the back garden and that is also starting to flower.  The other division is back in the original pot, but with refreshed compost and is also looking good.  

There are always good things to be grateful for, which is something I need to remember on those 'meh' days!

RHS Chatsworth

 I went to RHS Chatsworth last Saturday on a rather drizzly and windy day.  However, the weather didn't dampen our spirits and we enjoyed the day. Once we had arrived (being delayed for a while thanks to a bicycle race through Chesterfield which closed the road), the weather decided to be kind and didn't rain on us until we got back to the car. Earlier in the week, there had been wind and rain which caused press day to be curtailed.  I was pleased I had taken my wellies though, because we decided the word for the day was 'squelch'!

 The show had a beautiful setting and we felt there was plenty to see.  Our suggestions for next year would be more seating, more tea and proper cake stalls, and more gardening related stalls.  There were lots of stalls but many of them were 'lifestyle' or interiors related, rather than gardening.  The photo above focused on the rather lovely planting in the pot - a mix of wild and cultivated flowers that appealed to me.

 There were show gardens, beautifully planted...

 ...using traditional materials.

 I was surprised by how much I liked this alpine stream garden which was also beautifully planted.

 The area in this photo particularly appealed.

 There were stands with stunning sculptures - one day, when I have a bigger garden, I would really like one of these.

 We went into the inflatable 'greenhouse' several times on our way to and from the floral marquees.

 We also went through the bridge above, enjoying the planting.  I loved the dandelion sculptures too.

 The formality of the hard landscaping reminded me of a monastery garden with cloisters.

I also liked the mix of meadow (with cows) and formal planting.

 The movable garden was a great idea, particularly for people renting a home.

I had seen this display featured in the TV coverage of  Chelsea.  I have many happy memories of a helter-skelter like this at Hunstanton.  I managed to buy what I had on my list (astrantias x three, two little agapanthus and I ordered five camassia bulbs which will arrive in September/October.)  All in all, a good start for RHS Chatsworth.  Are we going next year?  Of course we are!

Visit to Grimsthorpe Castle part 1

I enjoyed a lovely day out last Tuesday, with my friends Katy and Alison.  After a bit of research on where we could go, we plumped for Grimsthorpe Castle, which is about an hour away.  I had visited before, but six years ago, so was very happy to go again and had a two for one voucher, so off we went. I took lots of photos of the gardens, so will split them into two posts.

 The main front of the house is very grand and imposing, designed by Vanbrugh, who also designed Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.  The figures in gold on the coat of arms are a monk on the left and a wild man on the right.

 The house towered above us.  I was intrigued by the massive columns.

 I felt they were an unusual design.  We went in by the front door and were given a very informative and fascinating tour by Beryl, who was extremely knowledgeable and hardly seemed to draw breath!  Photos weren't allowed in the house, but I made up for that outside!

Yes, I do like a view through a door or a gate.  The gold figure here is a saracen.

 The gardens are around the house and are created in different 'rooms'. This is the rose garden.

 The older part of the house can be seen here, with the crenellations.  It reminded me of one of my favourite historic houses, Haddon Hall, near Bakewell.

 Another view from the rose garden showing the older and newer parts of the house.

 We went through to the kitchen garden which was very impressive.  Topiary and pots of agapanthus were used as eye catchers.

 Flowers and vegetables were planted together.

 The onions were drying in the sun.

 Looking down through the vegetable garden.  I particularly liked the agapanthus and decided I needed to put one on my wish list!

Now and again, there was a lovely view of the house.  The garden did give me the feeling of being in Wonderland and I half expected the Queen of Hearts to appear round the corner at any moment and demand a game of croquet!

Looking back into the vegetable garden.  The final arch had raspberries growing up it which was a lovely idea.  Part two of the visit will follow...

Barnsdale Visit (part 2)



Here are some more photos of my visit to Barnsdale Gardens.  I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea - the gardens didn't all look perfect and there were areas which needed weeding, plants which needed cutting back and some places which looked unkempt.  However, these areas made me feel as though the gardens were real, not show gardens, but changing and growing gardens.  (Of course, I am a little protective about them, as I really enjoy visiting, but if you visited, I wouldn't want you to be disappointed!) The photo above is of the Japanese Garden which is not one I usually linger at (not enough flowers), but I can appreciated the meditative qualities it has.  I did think the art work really complemented the garden as it used the same colours and was painted in really thick paint, with whirls and swirls which reminded me of a Van Gogh sky.

 The woodland painting was placed in the perfect location at the end of a garden vista, in front of real woodland.

The painting in the box garden reminded me of an aerial view of a tropical river, such as the Amazon.  The colours really appealed to me too.

 This is a view across the allotment area, through the orchard.

 Another intriguing vista - where does this lead?

 The Ornamental Kitchen Garden was made for the series of the same name and shows how vegetables and flowers can work so well together.  Again, there was companion planting of marigolds.

 Serried ranks of vegetables, from onions up to beans, which created some lovely lines.

 Here were some of the individual plants which caught my eye, from the dainty alpines...

 ...to the giant artichoke (I think).

 This delicate Californian Poppy is from the 'Thai Silk' range and has the most beautiful shading from cream to buttery yellow to blush pink.

 I really liked the combination of the tall stately agapanthus and the swishy, billowing grass which moved like a wave in the breeze.

Finally, to end on a real splash of colour, here is a dahlia, complete with hover fly; the brilliance of the fuchsia pink contrasting with the deep purply green of the foliage.

As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and will not leave it another two and a half years before I go again!

Tatton Park Flower Show (part two)

 There was an amazing stand of agapanthus - a plant I admire but have never managed to grow. 

 Another beautiful display of lilies.  I used to love growing lilies but the pollen affected the cats, so I had to stop growing them. I still love the flowers and the heavy scent.  I had 'Stargazer' in my wedding bouquet (19 years ago) and one of the strongest memories of the day was the scent that hit me when I went into the church.  That fragrance takes me straight back.  

 I liked this little brick path leading to a willow arch and was surprised to see yellow and white tulips, blooming away merrily in July.  (Ah, the wonders of cold storage).

 Another restrained and tranquil garden with limited planting - grasses and agapanthus.  We all decided that it would be a calm and meditative place in which to sit.

 There were some beautifully bright displays of vegetables - despite the rotten growing year so far.

 We saw the Gardeners' World Team (Joe Swift, Monty Don and Carol Klein) doing their end piece to the camera for the Friday night programme.  Carol's wellies had diamante buckles, to add some glamour!

 If money was no object and I had a large garden, I would definitely have one (or two) of these tree fountains.  The one above reminds me of 'The Singing Ringing Tree' - a rather strange foreign children's TV programme that I remember from my childhood.  It was a fairy tale about a beautiful princess who needed to learn a lesson about helping people and not being vain and proud.  There was also a large fish, a wicked dwarf and a prince who had been turned into a bear.  One of the strange programmes that stayed with me.

 These water sculpture trees also reminded me of the willow fountain (or 'squirty tree' as I like to call it) in the gardens at Chatsworth.

Talking about children's programmes, there were gardens made by local schools and they were bright, colourful and clever.  My favourite programme, Bagpuss, was represented by the beautiful garden above, with all the characters - Madeleine, Gabriel, Professor Yaffle, the mice and Bagpuss himself.  The pink and white themed planting worked really well and this garden was 2nd (I can't remember which came 1st, but this one was definitely my favourite). There was also a garden based on The Herbs, but I forgot to take a photo of that one (oops).

Finally, the Magic Roundabout garden, full of colour, happiness and fun.  I really enjoyed my first visit to Tatton Park, despite the grey skies, it was a lovely day.  On a sunny day, I think it would have been even better, but then more people would have been there, so that may have been a disadvantage.  Perhaps another visit next year?