I would like to share some of the highlights of this busy, busy (some might say completely bonkers) time of the horticultural year.
Spring bulbs ~ Fritillaria meleagris at a local Wiltshire Wildlife Reserve. A vintage year.
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival. Wonderful show gardens, champagne and I won an olive tree. Best birthday present ever!
Tulips ~ this is 'China Pink'. Given the right conditions this variety will keep on coming back year after year. Such good value.
Working in new gardens. I love the colour of this cottage. What a great backdrop for this wisteria and Rose 'Golden Celebration'. I so enjoy getting to know new gardens ~ a real highlight of my work.
Stunning peonies at a special and rare plant sale near Cirencester. WARNING: give yourself a strict budget before entering .......and be prepared to exceed your budget because some plants are just too tempting.
Growing new types of old friends. I would usually grow huge amounts of frothy, white Cosmos 'Purity' but I was tempted (see previous photo) by yellow Cosmos 'Xanthos' this year and it is rather gorgeous. Not as effusively space-filling as 'Purity' but an attractive and welcome addition nonetheless.
Reaping the rewards of hard winter work ~ extensive border rejuvenation in the off-season makes for fresh and exciting Spring, Summer and Autumn borders. If I could explain one thing to non-gardeners (and I do .....but it often falls upon deaf ears) it is that gardening does not stop in the colder months and, in fact, this is when the majority of the planning and reorganisation should be achieved.
Taking time out to learn from the experts ~ a day spent with Chris Beardshaw is never a day wasted. The award winning garden designer and broadcaster is incredibly eloquent and inspirational. I made a promise to myself at the beginning of 2016 that I would take more time to build upon my horticultural education. I am aware that I could very well become set in my ways and stagnant unless I seek out opportunities to meet with and really listen to leading horticulturalists.
Making and crafting ~ I get an enormous thrill from making new things for the garden. This is a climbing plant support made from many woven willow hoops and set on a hazel pole frame. It is working wonderfully well as a sweet pea support and I will be making more of the same in the future.
John Sales ~ I felt like the luckiest horticulturalist in the world last weekend when I had the chance to visit the private garden of the former head of all National Trust Gardens. John Sales is an eminent and highly regarded horticulturalist and, as I found out, a fabulous host. His obvious passion for his plot in deepest, darkest Gloucestershire is thrilling. His garden is picture perfect and loaded with unusual plants. The interesting plants are expertly placed so that they mingle rather than stand out in this, the most expertly effortless garden I have visited for many years.
Topiary ~ summer only truly starts for me when I make that first clip with my shears. The smell of the freshly cut box takes me straight back to happy teenage summers at Highgrove.
In summery ~ an exciting Spring has become a pleasing summer in all of my gardens. Winter slog has paid off and I have had some wonderful opportunities to meet interesting new people and new plants......and I may even have the time to post a new blog every now and then!
Happy summer 2016 to all ☀️
