Higgledy Garden - seeds

 I was looking at a blog I follow and found this lovely post about a seed grower from Cornwall whose business is called Higgledy Garden.  Being of a naturally curious disposition, especially where anything about gardens is concerned, I went to explore.  Of course, I was seduced by the beautiful annual plants Benjamin Ranyard grows and loved the way he wrote - he is so passionate about what he does.  So, I ordered some annuals for next year.  Two days later, they arrived, and with great excitement, I opened the envelope.  Here's what arrived:

Gorgeous stamped seed packets and a handwritten note from Benjamin himself.  He has also included some Dahlia seed free for me to try!  So what did I buy?  Here's what they should look like next year:

Nicotiana 'Lime Glow', Cerinthe, Tithonia 'Fiesta', Calendula 'Art Shades', Phacelia, Corncockle and the free Dahlias.  (Mosaic made from photos from the Higgledy Garden website and using PicMonkey).  I now need to buy some verbena bonariensis seeds and some Stipa Tenuissima seeds and then I am all set for next year.  Can't wait! Incidentally, if you wanted to order any seeds from Higgledy Garden this weekend, you'll get some free Rudbeckia seeds.   It is great to support a UK business and get some lovely things too and I haven't been asked to advertise, but I was impressed by the business and wanted to share my excitement!

Late Summer Colour

 To cheer us up after these rather dull, grey and definitely autumnal last few days, here is a nice burst of colour from the garden.  I must admit that I took these photos last weekend, when the light was better, but the flowers are all still going, though looking a little more bedraggled now.  Above is an annual dahlia, grown from seed, which I shoved in a pot and put outside the front door.  As it turned out, this is the best plant because the ones in the back garden have been decimated by snails!

 White cosmos, again grown from seed, also in the pot at the front door.

 A geranium versicolour showing beautiful veining.

 Rose Mary Rose, with the slowly opening buds of caryopteris.

 Crocosmia 'Honey Angels' with a shot of yellow to enliven the border.  This is a great plant, not too tall and it has come through the last winter or two beautifully.  I have ordered a couple more of these.

 A sugar pink phlox flower, bought as part of a a bare root collection earlier this year.

 My favourite geranium, Rozanne, which has been voted plant of the century by the RHS members. (I voted for it too!)

 Another cosmos, in a pot in the back garden.

 Clematis Crystal Fountain, showing the stages of the flowers.  I like the pom pom left after the petals have fallen.

 Hydrangea Endless Summer 'The Bride'.

 A pretty fuchsia 'Thamar', which is also in a pot and which came through last winter.

 A recent addition bought from Barnsdale; Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday' which is a compact variety, again in a pot. 

Beautiful rusty red flowers.

 More hydrangeas - Endless Summer 'Pink'.

A relatively new hydrangea, with blue flowers but no name.  I'm not sure how hardy this will be, but I couldn't resist the delicate blue/purple flowers.
The colours have definitely brightened my day and I hope you have enjoyed them too.

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!

A new garden (part 2)

Chris and I were both stopped in our tracks by the amazing steely colour of the display of cabbages at The Garden House. They looked really sculptural and beautiful. I could imagine a giant cabbage sculpture on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square - now that would cause some comments!

A close up of the lovely Acidanthera flower which is both elegant and graceful, and which looked wonderful planted en masse at Saxby.

There were views of enticing areas wherever you looked and the eye catcher here, right in the centre of the photo, was a wall sculpture of an Elizabethan man clutching a spade.

There was a circle of orange and yellow dahlias with dark foliage that made an exciting colour contrast.

Just a two minute walk away from all the colour and exuberance of the garden, was St Helen's Church. The current building dates from 1775 and was a chapel and mausoleum for the Earl of Scarborough and family. The building had just had its interior restored when in 2008, there was a earthquake which caused a lot of damage. Luckily, the church has been restored again and the interior is the most calm and tranquil space. It added yet another wonderful memory to our afternoon.