Garden,Flowers,and Rain

The Shiny black ended bee leaving the white flowers in the Alba Garden, a green and white garden with black iron wrought fencing, black marble shiny floor, and white planting scheme.

Inspired by a friends mother who died from Mesothelioma. Caused by Asbestos.

I will Blog it properly when I come back from Cheltenham after my week off at Mums. Alba was another one of my Favourite Back to Back gardens...

Hope to get some gardening done to Mums new house. It is an undeveloped garden I hope.

Traveling with me to Cheltenham are two module booklets from the RHS course, A book about famous TV gardeners and their own homes gardens, two RHS magazines called "The Garden", and Joanne Harris "The Lollipop Shoes", the follow up to Chocolat.

From the news parts of Gloucestershire are still flooded from the heavy rainfall. Tewksbury, Gloucester, Moreton in the Marsh.

My gardening blood is raised from Gloucestershire soil, a largely Rural County. The strangeness of no running water, blue Bowsers, and bottled water await me.

I have a train to catch in the morning. Mums telephone line was cut off when the floods worsened last weekend. I need to check the weather report for Cheltenham.

My camera is coming with me too to photograph my Home town, and Mums garden. I dont know if she has internet access. It will be words only and swiped images as I cant upload my camera on her computer. There are or were a few internet cafes.

It will be my first holiday away for a while. Gardens, flowers, and maybe some rain await :)

Herbal Tea Garden

The cool rainbow bird in the Herbal Tea Party garden. This back to back garden was one of my favourites with the bird, the pergola with tea chests, and brewing equipment to make perfect herbal tea. Rosemary, lavender, and sage, mint, bergamot, and marigolds grow alongside Dandelions, fruit trees, and a climbing jasmine.

I saw this on Gardeners World with Rachel De Caen sampling a freshly infused herb tea.This garden appealed to me with its mixture of Oriental tea room, and traditional cottage garden.I loved the bird too :)

Edible Works of Art

I had to Blog W.Robinson and Son seeds and plants. In the Floral Marquee they were the only ones selling vegetables.

http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/

Their display was outstanding. The freshly grown veg was immaculately displayed, polished, and selected.

I bought two lots of Chilli seeds, Jalapeno and Friars Hat. This deserved its own post.

They are art work like the display vegetables :)

My Favourite Show Garden 3

The Suttons "growing for Health" Garden was promoting family health through growing fruit and vegetables. I loved the Sunflowers, lemon tree, and zig zagged raised beds.

The scarecrow with a crow sat on his head appealed to me. It showed a variety of veg that can be grown in raised beds, up pergolas, and in small pots. It had a small water feature, the ball with bubbling water.

A Barbeque at the back had a box with herbs and veg ready to be cooked.

A selection of the Show gardens have been blogged now.I was hard pressed to pick three, but those had the most photos taken of them.

I dont know whether to blog more from Tatton. I have my favourite back to back gardens, where there were 33 to choose from!

I will be back to one of the major flower shows, either Chelsea, Hampton Court, or Tatton Park.The ideas and masses of plants for sale and on display is amazing.

I cant imagine anyone who loves gardening not being moved by the displays here.

Favourite Show Garden 2

The Gold medal winning Bubble garden by the Anthony Nolan trust celebrates the UK's most successfull bone marrow register. It was inspired by a photo of the young Anthony Nolan and his mother blowing bubbles. This website explains the beginning of the trust:

http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/index.php?location=1.2

It was packed with people and very hard to photograph well. The design is a bubble chair and Anthonys favourite flowers Daisys in a protective circle, with a modern day moat.

The water bubbles, with fountains rising and falling, and a stream of bubbles being blown out. These bubbles were rising high up into the air, so you could see them from a distance.

The areas surrounding the moat had areas of grass, with flower globes hovering above the wispy grasses. The box balls was clipped into circles, the trees cut to look like childlike versions of trees as drawn by a young boy.

Agapanthus in whites and blues, Liatris like lightbulb filaments, unknown purple globe flowers, crocosmias were dotted around the back of the garden.

The bubble chair is partially visible in one photo.I loved the planting, the bubbles, and the fizzing water. The sun was shining, the bee's buzzing around the display.

My joint Favourite Show garden from last sunday :)

Favourite Show Garden 1

The Princes Trust Garden was done by the Princes trust, Cheshire fire and rescue Service, and the Thorn Cross HM young offenders Institution. It symbolises the journey the youngsters take when accepting help from the princes trust. From the chaotic beginnings at the start, to a set path, with more structured signifying the development of the individual. The back of the garden is for socialising and reflection.

The red colours represent passion and energy tempered by the cool blues and purples at the start of the garden.

I liked the planting against the hard structures. The sun was shining, the wind blowing the grasses, purple/blue star shaped flowers (dont know what they are), and the Verbena Bonarensis.

The side borders were bright and mixture of colours. I thought the whole design was great and striking, hence its one of my favourite show gardens from Tatton.

The Garden is being rebuilt at the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Winsford.

Show Gardens from Tatton

Into the Light was designed by John Everiss in the memory of his sister who gave him advice. It has a curved pathway leading to a curved pergola, with stone path, and a waterfall at the back. It is designed to make use of light and shade, and large plants specimins. I liked the stonework and the Diconsia plants..

My suprise Show garden was the Cater Allen Private Bank Garden described as a garden to compliment a hotel suite where a couple could spend romantic time together.A sofa is on the deck surrounded by a pergola. The planting around the edges was very Gertrude Jekyll with massed planting of many colours.The water looked spectacular rushing from below the deck forming a clear waterfall. I thought this garden looked awful on paper but was struck how good it looked on the day. Lifes full of suprises..

Tetrad. The book calls it a striking dramatic Sculptural garden.The planting is good against the hard structure of the bricks and cascading water dissapears beneath the seating area. I love the colours within the four sides of the garden.It is a reflective, calming garden, even with its strange looking structure.

The Forest Fusion garden. Combining natural planting with hard grey concrete and chippings, with the glass pod to sit in. I love the Dickonsia one of the most popular show garden plants.

It shows how planting can disguise the environment,based on a temperate forest scheme.

The Brewin Dolphin garden designed for making people feel well, in the Sun. I like the contrast between the still water and the fountains. The sponsors blue logo reflects in the dark shimmering water. It looks like an old fashioned classical garden with the straight lines, and balanced planting of trees and clipped Box.

Dragon Dance. A show feature but still one of my highlights.The Chinese dragon done by the British protected ornamental association. It was done to highlight the use of bedding plants and carpet bedding. You can be creative and adventurous with plants..

The Water Garden looks like a great place to relax with the textured plants moving in the wind, and the soothing sound of the mini waterfall. The seated area is raised above it so you can see the water and plants..

The Life begins at garden by Russell Watkinson.I like the design of bricks, cobbles, and stone features. It is a reminder of us buying plants and trees for an event or milestone in our life.I like the champagne and glasses in the recessed bit between the clipped topiary.

National Flower bed Competition

Conwys coucils theme was their North Wales coastline ,which runs from east to west along the Irish sea. I love the leaping dolphins.

This Stockport council flowerbed represents the river Mersey flowing from Stockport to the sea. I loved the canoeist and the leaping Salmon.

Cheshire county council used Samuel Egerton's (the founder of Tatton Park) grand tour of Venice as their inspiration. A traditional gondola with the love marigold lined posts, and the art picture of Venice.

Stoke on Trent Council display was celebrating its brightly coloured pottery..

Darlingtons borough coucil celebrates its regal looking Peacocks, a major attraction in its parks.

Newcastle-Under-Lyme has had a market since 1280 in its current site, and this traditional market stall celebrates this.

The Northern brewer celebrates 200 years of a Blackburn brewery in the borough.

My favourite flower bed won a Gold medal.It was designed by a residents association who live in Naseby Avenue. They are amateurs and borrowed greenhouses and compost to grow their plants.The flower bed commemerates the English civil war Battle of Naseby in 1645. A roundhead and Cavalier face off astride cannons either side of the battlefield.

The other entrys mostly came from councils, with professional designs and planting.The stories behind each entry are interesting too. It shows you can have meaningful displays even with bedding plants.The colours were vibrant and had crowds admiring them up and down all day.

Here flowers truly were used like paint on the standard seven metre by four metre bed.I admired all of them in the sun.

Floral Marquee Colour

A wasp getting into the Action on a purple cone flower. I have used the Catalogue Hils gave me and my memory to name the Suppliers of the plants photographed. Some free advertising for them, because the whole marquee was ablaze with colour and form.

A gorgeous Ladyslipper orchid from Dave Stead Orchids..

Begonias in a variety of colours from bright to pastel shades. The flowers are amazingly delicate looking. Like a more relaxed rose. From Blackmore and Langdon.

The Sumptuous Orange Mamma Mia rose (who doesnt love Abba?) from Fryer Nurseries.

The Display from Dibelys with Begonias, Coleus, and its world famous Streptocarpus.I have two more Streps now, plug plants that were encased in muslin cloth and a clear bag.

A stunning arrangement of my fav Peruvian lillies, Alstromeria from Phillip Tivey and son..

Look at the gorgeous Oriental lillys from Harts Nurserys. I saw the woman who bought the display on the left hand side carrying it away at 4pm yesterday. She must love the smell of Stargazer lillys.

High Park Nurserys Beautiful Carnations..

The Gold medal certificate given out by the RHS judges.

The Venus fly traps and Pitcher plants won a gold medal for Hampshire carniverous plants.

Hostas and Ferns from Mary Green in a naturalistic display..

An Orchid from the Gold medal winning display from Dave Parkinsons plants.

The aircraft hanger sized marquee with masses of plants, people, and light..

Some lovely Ornamental grasses from Foxglove plants with a Best display Gold Medal proudly on show.

Tatton Park 2007

The Sun was actually shining yesterday as we went around the 2007 RHS flowers show at Tatton Park.

There are 1000 acres of parkland for the deer alone, so we were somewhere in the estate.

It had the largest floral Marquee where eighty or so nurserys and plant growers displayed their wares artistically.

Some of the most gorgeous vegetables were on display, amongst the flowers, plants, grasses, cactus, and orchids to name a few.

The flower show had three seperate garden competitions which I looked around.

Fifteen large Show gardens, arranged in a circle in the middle of the show ground. 19 flower bedding displays by councils and community groups, and 33 back to back gardens in a variety of styles and inspiration. There were also thirteen show features where the exhibits were open to designers.

I left the four little birds (Hils, Fran, Angela, and Julia) for a number of times to try and photograph and look at all 78 garden displays.By the end my legs had done some walking and I have 270 photos from yesterday.

There were shops and stalls set up selling everything related to gardening, or country living.It is a show boast to try and leave empty handed!

Surround me with tens of thousands of plants and flowers and I soon gave in and bought some plants and seeds.

The girls bought jewelry, floral girly wellington boots (more about the mud later), show Hats, plants, sausages, floral watercolour cards, etc.

Country life magasine had a pavillion set up with numerous stalls selling inside it.I did not see inside the tent.

http://www.ipcmedia.com/brands/countrylife

Gardening is a great denominator, so people from all classes were there yesterday to admire the beautiful displays, flowers, and designs.

I cannot blog all 78 gardens, so I will show some of my favourites.The RHS website has pictures of all the entrys in the gardens competition.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/tatton/2007/index.asp

Tatton Park Tomorrow

One day to go before I go to Tatton Park RHS flower show. Im looking forward to it, despite the constant rain thats fallen over the past few days.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/tatton/2007/index.asp

There has been more flooding down south and my Hometown Train station was under water yesterday (Cheltenham).

I braved the weather outside this morning to snap the Buddeleja. Its one of my plants of 2007, as in I keep seeing it everywhere. Car parks, the edges of building sites, railway lines, peoples weedy gardens, and wasteland seem full of the purple flowers. I have two varieties growing in the flat.

My gravel pulled volunteer is looking a bit ropey.I will see if it revives or whether the shock of moving it has damaged the roots.

The council display one is doing not too bad.The rooting hormone dipped stems had the lower leaves removed and have been anchored in compost.They appear to be growing with no signs of transpiration induced Shock!

The butterfly bush shown is growing in the carpark, between a twenty foot high stone wall and the side of the Brewery.Its roots must be in some dirt above the concrete.It has been battered by the rain and has tipped over.I rescued a big flower head to sit on my windowsill whilst I decide what it smells like.

The purple/lilac flowers have beautiful orange centres, with the nectar stashed at the end of the tube i guess. Butterflies have long probiscus so thats how they get at the nectar. They can probably smell it and it drives them mad.

My flower head has been rain splattered probably lessening the scent.I will see when its dried off a bit.

The Camera is coming to Tatton Park with me for the final day (Sunday 22nd July), and will be around my neck for the whole day.I watched the TV coverage (first TV i have watched in a few months) and it looked gorgeous. With show gardens, bedding displays, Floral Marquee, plant Creche, and queues of people everywhere.

I will post afterwards from the last big RHS flower show of the year. My first time ever going to one although I watched Chelsea flower show before.

Need to do some research about the Gardens I want to see, if they have survived the rain that has fallen.

Hope you are all having good weekends, and that your gardens are growing :)

More Bee Videos

A bee on the Lavender in the Lutyens-Jekyll Garden at Harlow Carr....

A few more video reports lifted from the BBC news website. One about the Colony collapse disorder, and one from the far north of England, Chilly Northumbria.
Two strands from opposite sides of the Atlantic but with a common theme.I just heard that the Honey Bee's in the USA were introduced in 1622.
385 years ago, and untill the spring of 2007 things must have been okay.The researchers are doing bee autopsys trying to find out the cause of death. From Florida, to the Dakotas, to California.
Here is the first link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6710000/newsid_6713600/6713675.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&nol_storyid=6713675&news=1

and the second Northumbria link (notice the long running joke about the North/South divide prevelant in England. Historical and still current.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6250000/newsid_6255700/6255740.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&nol_storyid=6255740&news=1
I dont know if these links will work for USA bloggers. Tell me if they dont :(
A day of honey bee's and videos. Thanks to KQED for emailing me videolinks and starting my mini research into Bees and pollination.

Bee's from Harrogate to California

I got an email from a Lady in California who works for a Public broadcasting company in San Fransisco.They do lots of videos, radio shows, and reports about the environment in California.
They have done interesting broadcasts about honey bee's and wild bee's in California. The problems they have had with the vast amount of agriculture they relys on pollinators to make the crop fruit.
The farmers fields are huge, and the death of millions of colonys of bees threatened the Agricultural backbone.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6438373.stm
They report on the short term measures put in place which have helped the crops, and ongoing research.
I will embed the videos and I hope they are watchable, as i have struggled this morning to get them working. But they did last night!


Better Bees: Super Bee and Wild Bee


Attract Native Bees to Your Garden

The UK has the same problem with Declining bee populations. The gardening leaders here advocate planting wildflowers, and traditional plants that can attract bee's and butterflys.A rich, diversely planted garden will create the best environment for wildlife to visit your garden.
The great thing about this here in the UK, and in the USA is people can do things in their own backyards. They dont have to travel anywhere. Its like a bottom layer up movement, to protect traditional plants, and to save the bee's that pollinated plants rely on, to provide fruit and flowers, and to ensure a good genetic mix of the next generation of plants.
I also love Bee's and can spend hours watching them and photographing them. Natures own black and yellow garden spirits. They fly around me but sense I am no danger.Even when i have disturbed one deeply embedded in a flower they just alight, and fly to the next nectar rich flower.

Grass Tears

The Sisyrinchium with tears or jewels on the grass ends.I noticed the sunlight shining through and catching the light.

My RHS course material finally arrived yesterday.It looks sooo complex, and much work to do for me.Its deciding where to start, and how much research to do.The lessons start about seeds, the structure of them.

I want to do it though.I never realised there are practical exams too, oops.I need to find some kindly nursery man or woman somewhere to get the practical skills to go with the academic side.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. :)

Some Colours from the flat

The white flower of the Impatiens.From the ones I have grown from seed before the rarest colour is White.Most of mine seem to be red, and pink.

The Bougainvillea in all its pink bract glory. It is lovely, but how long it will last in the flat is not certain.The first one dropped all its flower buds, then all its leaves.It is a stick with a few growing tips along the wood. :(

It might be a greenhouse plant I think.I did a post before about it.I liked the photo i saw where it grew down an American freeway in California. A wall of green and red, growing wild.

Mortuary Plants

After being evacuated from my Flat yesterday by the Police due to a Prison bomb scare I went plant shopping...

I listened to gardeners question time and one of the panelist said she loved to see what plants were on the mortuary shelf. That were dried up or wilting, and needed some TLC to bring them back to their glorious state.

I smiled because I love plant bargains, and the urge to tend sick plants back into health is fun.

The plants I got yesterday from Hampsons mortuary trolley were five Celosia which looked wilted and sad, and a white flowering Impatiens.

Hils also let me stock up from her garden and greenhouse plants and house plants for the Indoor greenhouse challenge nurturing them to health.

I bought Two Canna's unknown variety,a Sisyrinchium Californicum Brachypus, and a Parahebe Catarractae. Hampsons has the most enormous Alpine section, with hundreds of varieties some single ones for the alpine garden with spreading plants and delicate flowers.

Growing Alpines in a Belfast sink like Fran is a good idea, as it brings the plants up to eye level so you can admire the detail and flowers at close range.

From the plant sale Hils had some of my flat grown plants. They were well developed in her greenhouse the busylizzies, Viola midnight runner had flowered, and a few clary with purple leaf tips. What a difference it makes growing these in a greenhouse with light from all sides and not one side only...

Nestled next to one Clary was a seedling that I thought I'd killed off for this year.. A germinated Datura Ballerina mix. Germinated in the greenhouse in a pot with Clary in it. These has come back to the Flat.

Joining the Mortuary plants, Canna's, and Alpines were a trailing Dancing flame Fuschia with the most giant pink flowers, Four slug eaten Dahlias needing some TLC, A sickly looking Bird of Paradise twice the size of mine, A zebra plant with Yellow four sided Bracts, A Stomanthe which looks poorly, A gorgeous Bouganvillea in flower, and two Auriculas.

The Flat is bursting again with the green leaves of many plants..I am waiting in for my RHS course material to be delivered still.This flat is hard for parcel force and business post to find :(

I hope to start the Studying soon when the stuff finally arrives.

Growing today

The lovely textures spikey looking leaves of Eryngium Variifolium. A perennial Sea Holly that likes dry or well drained soil, full sunshine, and is best planted in a rock garden.I saw some magic Eryngiums at Harlow Carr including an agave with spikey flowers.

The flower is developing at the centre, and will have white ruffles around the green/blue flower.They are not as sharp as they look though.

It is on the front room windowsill, near to the Passionflower. It will be photographed more im sure soon when it flowers.

An English Summer

... has gone according to the weathermen for this year. On Saint Swithins day (Last Sunday) it rained, so the rhyme goes it will rain for fourty days.

The Gardeners World magazine is full of drought beating plants, and water saving ideas's. They publish it a full month before the Calender Date on the cover though.

Are they more Hopeful than realistic the editors of GW magazine to hope it will be a long, Hot summer?

I virtually slept through most of yesterday after the seven nights.

This week I want to start my Horticulture advanced certificate. I am flower and plant mad so expanding my knowledge, and using my academic skills (rusty after six years post grad) will be good. I can apply the course to gardens and helping people with theirs. I am still an intinerant Gardener!

I had to photograph the Fireweed with its pink flowers, and poetical name. Fran wandered why it was called that, and was suprised about the Ontario forest fires and colonisation by the same Fireweed.

It is growing above on the edge of the NHS supplies centre, and building site. One house I walk past has a derelict garden that has eight Fireweed plants in flower. I wander if you can grow it from seeds? It is suprisingly ornamental for a weed :)

Sunday rest

Unknown flower from Harlow Carr. The BBC website said the rest of the British summer will be wet with more rain forecast. What the odds on it raining next weekend at Tatton Park?
I love the blazing colours here with fiery orange, red, and yellowy green. Whatever it is I want some in my future Garden!
One more night left then I can catch up with other blogs, leave comments, and tend my indoor greenhouse plants.
Coffee and Frys Turkish delight before bed...

Calystegia Sepium

From the long causeway, hanging down from the hedgerow.One petal torn slightly by the wind.These beautiful flower belongs to a pernicous weed.If you had them left them you would see these white flowers with the slight scent like a petunia.
Only two more nights to go. Then I will go gardening next week I hope..

Fifth Nightshift photo: Butterfly Bush

The Long Purple, scented flower of a Buddleja growing across the Long causeway on the way home this morning. This wood shrub stretches over a seven foot fence, and drapes if flowers downward onto the Alley.
For an invasive plant it is pretty flowered.I have seen it in public displays, in building sites, and derelict Carparks.
The indoor greenhouse has two growing versions of the Butterfly bush.I hope to have a garden soon to plant them for attracting Butterflies and Bee's.
They can be cut back hard in the Spring, when they will regrow vigerously, and flower on the new Growth. My two cuttings seem to have rooted easily and are growing now :)
Hope your Friday the 13th is Lucky, and not too many black cats cross your path.

Thursday Post

Sunrise this morning before the rain came and fell again. Im in the middle of night shifts. The hump night (fourth of seven) is tonight. I am thinking about Tatton Park.The RHS flower show in Cheshire. Have tickets for the final Sunday of the Show. Five little birds will go in Hils Car to see the flowers, show gardens, and exhibitors.

I got some more plants too on these set of nightshifts :)

I was brought in a Lupin, A blue Geranium, A climbing Fuschia, and a baby Hydrangea plant. I also Acquired a Buddleja volunteer from the gravel outside the Ward. I took some cuttings last week of another Buddleja too. I have two growing now. They look different so maybe there are various cultivars available.

Either that or I have brought back and potted up a weed!The indoor greenhouse is green, and the plants are chilling to Classic FM at night when im at work.The Chinese ground orchids are doing well now.The three pots were reduced to one big pot of them.They have been quite slow growing.

The Jewel Orchid has revived and is growing another stem.It lost its lower older leaves which turned limp then red. A new growing stem will hopefully bear some more holographic leafs to encourage the plant to grow on again.

I hope some flowers will come soon on the indoor plants.Geraniums, Fuschias, Busy lizzies, the passionflower, and the Lobelia red all have flower buds on...

Harlow Carr winged Beasties

As the day progressed I photographed lots of insects..Bee's, Butterflies, little beetles, flys, and even some Harlow Carr snails dozing on Hosta leaves after a full meal. This is a collection of them together. Harlow Carr was buzzing to the sound of many insect helpers showing the wildlife the gardens nurture. They are harder to capture on photos but some were more posing than others.

Flag Iris

This is the least battered of all the Flag Iris.I like the lemon yellow petals with the speckled patterns on them.Thier longevity in growing since Anglo Saxon times. They grow quite vigerously.I think they have got one side of the Queen Mothers Lake.I need to go next time when they are in full bloom!

More post Tomorrow. Time for work soon.....

waterl lillys 2

Water Lilly

No wander Monet loved these delicate floating flowers. Like Jewels on top of a mirror.This is one of my favourite photos of all the Harlow Carr ones.
These were just Leaves before on my last visit. They are gorgeous, and on my wishlist If I ever build a medium sized pond.

Queen Mothers Lake photos

On the Northside of the lake there was this stately looking tree, aged and with a label on it.I need to go back to read the label.The waterfall is to the Left of the tree.

I found this Beauty as I walked to the waterfall to take the photo below.It reminded me of a ladyslipper flower. I dont know what it is, but the sunlight reflected off the flower, and caught the raindrops that had just fallen briefly earlier.

The Excess Lake water cascades down a Waterfall into Harlow Beck. I can see the Harlow Carr Candelabra Primulas and a red field poppy. It is very green and lush after all the rain..

Queen Mothers Lake

After four days of posting I am nearly at the end of my Harlow Carr photos. I think I have done a fair job of photographing sections of it as interesting blog posts. My memory is good that I can piece together the day from the images stored on the computer, as the camera puts them on in time order. I have been tagged by Michelle about seven Random things which I will do when im not on nights.

This time around the Queen Mothers Lake I was interested in the light, reflections, and water lillys. I only photographed a few flowers. Flowers and water make great photos. You can feel the serenity with the still water.

We saw a fish rise to the surface and gobble up a juicy bug from the lake surface.In an instant it had come up then plopped back under the water.

The Ducks had gone off somewhere, so it was just flys, bee's, and the gentle rippling waters reflecting the sun that had just come out.

My Flag Iris had come to the end of the flowering. There were only a handful to photograph. The plants that i associate with Harlow Carr are the Flag Iris, and the Candelabra Primulas, in June and July anyway.

Looking at the Blog post titles down my side bar you can see the variety of areas. Im sure there are undiscovered areas still to be found, and new finds. The builders were constructing a new building in the Woods area by the tall skinny trunked pines, and building a new path that runs alongside the north bank of the Streamside. The last photo from Streamside shows the dry stone wall that were being built.

The main entrance was having a stepped terrace built, but the torrential rain had temporarily stopped that construction. The Whale/mermaid photos show that how the paths had been damaged, and repairs were ongoing to make them walkable again.

It comes down to the ethos of working with the prevailing conditions, growing what can survive, and running with it. Forcing plants that are not suited to the local conditions will end in failure.

It is a spectacular Garden though. You might get the impression I like it after taking nearly 500 photos in two visits...I will come back there again. Maybe once a month...untill I have my own garden. Then I can take inspiration from there.

The Doric columns that I didnt see have a connection to me. They were taken from a Victorian house called the Cheltenham Spa house. My hometown is Cheltenham...from Cheltenham to Harlow Carr... and a connection between the gardens and my hometown.

Streamside

I took this first picture of the Astilbe, before I realised that there was running water behind it.The Streamside is so densely planted with marginal plants that at some points you cannot see it.I think it is one of the largest streamside gardens in the country. Harlow Beck that dissects the valley in half runs the length of the garden, from all the streams that feed into it, and the queen mothers lake. There are hostas, Astilbes, Gunneras, Bergenia, Flag Iris, and more I could not identify. This will be a quick selection before i go to sleep after my night shift...

Wildflower Meadows

An overall shot showing how the meadows grew tall around the paths, there were guide ropes keeping you from trampling the meadows. I had to cross it though a few times to get my wildflower shots. I guess they let nature have her way, growing flowering, letting them set seed, and in the spring start all over again.
In times past wildflower meadows were common before we started building on them, or putting roads through them. Now you have to plan a wildflower meadows, a funny oxymoron that.
It was spectacular though seeing all the flowers and grasses, wild roses, and brambles with blackberrys growing on them. The bird hide was in this area, and an Apiary.There were bee's all over Harlow Carr.They will get their own post soon...

A pretty little blue flower, like a hidden gem.Blink and you'd miss it.I have not been able to identify it yet..

The Dandelion, my wildflower to make wine with with a fly having a rest on its golden petals..

The Heal All or Prunella Vulgaris..thanks for somebody identifying it in earlier post.I have never heard of it or seen it before last friday.

A thistle looking flower, I dont know the name :(

Bee's and Butterflys flew around the meadows from flower to flower, fliting between the waving grass. I wanted a brightly coloured butterfly but knowing how hard they are to photograph I settled for this. Drinking deeply on the Thistle..

Like a Torch glowing in the overcast conditions, a buttercup flower with its melted butter glow to the petals and golden centre.

Someone did a macro shot before of Red Clover.It is a thing of beauty even at close range with the reds,pink, and white tinged petals. Awesome!

Red Clover, and a Field Buttercup..

A Cranesbill Geranium, love the blue tissue paper petals delicately catching the sunlight, and blowing in the breeze.

This was growing in several places in the long meadow grasses. I photographed it then stumbled on it on a wildflowers of Britain website. It is a Common Spotted Orchid! After all my Ghost orchid posts, Jewel Orchid, Chinese ground Orchid, and Moth Orchid. The second wildflower I shot in the meadows was an Orchid. The British ones are not as showy as the exotic ones, but it is still a thing of beauty. There are maybe 50 British Orchids.. I have seen one of them :)

This has been called Fireweed, as it appears after forest fires. A true coloniser species of willowherb. It is the State flower of the Yukon. Connie identified it for me. I have photographed it on my way to work, growing on the edge of a building site. The tall green stem bearing pink flowers with white stamens. What a poetic name :)

Woodland

The Essence of Harlow Carr is the woodland. It was originally woodland, which have been cleared and managed properly to open up woodland glades for imaginative underplanting. I need a lot more knowledge about types of tree's. These will be a selection of photos. Last time we managed to get to the Edge of the Harlow Carr woods before the rain drove us back.

I loved the stillness under the tree's, the ferns and lillys..the woods surround where the wildflower meadows are, the bird hide, and the Apiary.

From the Entrance to Harlow Carr the tree line dominates as a back drop. It posted last time the Log rolls, tree sculptures, and wildlife habitats put within the forest setting.

The birds were singing as we walked around the tracks. There was more to see im sure, but that will be another trip.
We walked around them this time and found even more garden locations. The only thing I did not manage to find was the Six Doric columns and stone lions. Where are they hidden?

The Arbotereum is also on the edge of the woods I think. Where one begins and the other ends I dont know.

Random Eastern Border photos

Blue pinecones like Bee hives...

The Deciduous tree's changed into Fir tree's with the pineapple looking pinecones.First in brown and green..

Electric Lillys...these are very vibrant..they dont smell so they are probably Asiatic.They would light up hot borders with an explosion of their Fiery petals.

The Bench in the scented border, with lots of interesting tree's, shrubs, climbers, and summer bulbs.

The Colours here are fab of a Mahonia, with the mystery blue berrys hanging down.Its not come out clear the photo though :(

Red Flowering Honeysuckle, and some unknown dark green leaved tree with blue berrys..

The Philadelphus in profile hanging down from some Tree's..

The Soft scented petals of the Mock Orange in the Eastern edge border.Philadelphus Virginia.I want one of these in my garden.

Secret Garden Wild Flowers

We think its Toadflax or wild snapdragons, Three seperate colours cream and yellow, purple and lilac, and lime green,yellow and peach. From Morroco to Harrogate..

Flowering away happily in the long grass by the paths edge.

This was the first flower I came across next to the mulched path..It is a Prunella Vulgaris or Heal All!

A Secret Garden

This next section was further down from the Scented garden.Trees were planted in carefully clipped grass.From the Perennial border a not well trodden swathe was worn in long grass.We stepped over the grass to see where it led to.
A path had been thickly layered with black Mulch and snaked its way through meadow type grass between tree's.The photos are of unknown Meadow flowers in shades of purple, pink, peach, white, and yellow. The sweet pea looking ones did smell too.
The Path meandered to a bench set amongst tree's ans shrubs. A Philedelphus Virginia flowered, next to Honeysuckle, scented shrub with white flowers, A tree with blue berrys, some Hemerocallis, and Bright Asiatic lillys....
This I think was the Garden Border of the East side,tall Trees, with Shrubs underplanted, and bordered by cut grass, leading to the Harlow Carr woods.
I will post a few photos of the Mystery flowers and some of the things growing along the Eastern Edge.

Perennial Borders

The borders near a potting shed where last time Towering Delphiniums, and Lupins grew in rainbow shades. The Delphiniums were too delicate for the heavy rainfall, and were splattered.I got a seed pod from one of the White Delphiniums.Fingers crossed.

There were Corn Marigolds, Field poppies (seen above), and a red poppy with Icing sugar dusted on it. Foxgloves, Salvias, Verbena Bonarensis, and more I cant name.

The bees and insects were happily pollinating plant to plant.They will get their own post the Butterflies, Bee's, and Insects I photographed. I must be a bee whisperer because i got close to them many times and not been attacked.I even found them in flowers as I examined the flowers closer.

Photos from the Scented garden 2

The Biblical named Rose Of Sharon, AKA Hypericum Calycinum.This was growing in the hedge as we were leaving the scented Garden. The flowers, and multicoloured seed pods are great colours. Primary colours I though of.

A delicate rose that has opened after all the rain. They had taken a battering judging by the petals strewn all over the soil around the plants. I love roses, their flowers, leaves, and the scent. Pleasure would be a rose garden to walk up and down sniffing the variety of blooms.I do like the roses I have seen here already mentioned. David Austin here I come..

A Daylily in lemon yellow.Maybe it was Beloved Returns.Im not sure.I can see the attractiveness of collecting these.They are like little works of art, the different colouration and pigmentation.I think there are a few scented ones that they have planted here. Labels get lost or removed, or overgrown with plants!

The Nemesia Wisley Vanilla.It smelt lovely.Like breaking a fresh vanilla pod into boiling milk to start making custard.It was a delicate, sweet fragrance though.

A lillium with white curved petals speckled with burgundy splashes. It reminds me of the Lillium Ponponium I photographed last time in the Alpine house (the chinese lantern flower).This was growing in front of the willow arch seating area.To smell it you need to approach underneath it..As well as to photograph it.I was half lying down under it :)

Yellow flowered Star Jasmine. Like my white flowered one at the flat.It was not as strongly scented as the white one, but the flowers stand against the green of the leaves.

Chocolate cosmos in the scented garden

This is a Dark Flowered one, like Bournville Dark Chocolate...

The Chocolate Cosmos in the Mulched bed...

Flower in detail with jewelled centre..

The flower looks like it has had a slight dusting with confectioners sugar...

How great is Nature? Combining a perennial flower with the looks of a Dahlia, delicate sweet like centre, and reddish/brown Flowers that smell of Vanilla and Chocolate.

It is grown from a Tuber, so can be divided in the spring, or grown from seed. It is usually dug up and stored in a dry place, as a harsh winter would kill it.It likes full sun, and well drained soil I think.

I spent a long time inhaling the choclatey scent of these flowers, and have put on all my photos. I was going to buy a pot (£5.95) from the garden centre. I could not do it though in case the flat killed the plant. I need a garden of my own with soil.

The centres of the flowers look like a Joanne Harris inspired Sweet selection, Can imagine Vianne selling these in her Chocolat shop.

These have been on my wishlist, and to actually smell them is great.Its the first time I have ever seen them in the flesh :)

Chocolate and flowers...Heaven.

Scented Garden Photos 1

Unknown named flower in an ice cream mix of white and pink.It had fallen over the flowering spike in the recent rain.I love the soft pastel colours, and it was scented of course!

The lovely smelling Nepeta Cataria, which ad fragrant leaves when moved to try and photograph the next photo. It is often used to edge paths for the scent when brushed past.This is on my wishlist now.

The Clematis Petite Foucon with its purple, propellar like flower buds twisting outwards, and cream firework like centre. This also smells fragrant, and flowers for 3 months a year. It needs tying onto climbing support though as it doesnt grip like other Clematis.

The spent flower head of the Clematis Petite Foucon..

The Lovely Apple mint smelt of fresh apples,I'd be forever smelling the plant if i had it in my garden.

Another delicious Pink scented rose, all the roses used here were strongly fragrant with lovely old rose scent.

A sweetly Scented Viburnum I think...Tell me if im wrong :)

The Scented Garden

Return to one of my Favourite places. The Enclosed scented garden. It was dry enough to get down on your knees to sniff every plant and flower. The Wisteria had stopped flowering entirely, whether this was linked to three weeks of rain I dont know. Only the leaves and rope like vines were left on the pergola.

I took more pictures of other plants I found there. Nepeta, apple mint, Newly planted Chocolate Cosmos (they smell sooooo nice,mmm,belgian chocolate), roses like Brother Cadfael, Eglantyne, Rugosa roses, Clematis petite Foucon and unknown pink one growing up besides a climbing red rose, a Viburnum with the most delicate white flowers nestled in shiny green leaves, asiatic lillys, lots of Hemerocallis in bud, a yellow flowered Star Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Sweetpeas growing up the willow arch with the seating beneath it, and a new Nemesia called Wisley Vanilla. It smelt of fresh Vanilla, it was a lovely delicate but sweet smell.

This part of the Garden is added too all the time. We saw evidence of the Head Gardener, large white sticks stuck near shrubs with instructions like Cut back, and Move to this area.

Under a nearby tree was a collection of plants in pots waiting to be added to the Scented garden. Lavender Hidcote, Bushy airy Fennell, more Nemesia Wisley Vanilla, Sages...
Half the plants had labels near them, half didnt, but you can get the idea of it. Tree's and large shrubs border the Scented Garden. It is properly open to one side to the mystery garden with newly mulched paths...

There are two Mirrored obelisks that I saw reflecting the nearby planting. Blue slate was layed in the centre around the raised beds, beneath the Willow Canopy.The surrounding borders were densely planted, and mulched.

Lavender Dreams

Lavender always helps me sleep, either as the bubble bath I use, or crushed flowers in a tissue under the pillow. Good night Blogosphere.May your garden dreams be sweet and fragrant.

Raised Alpine Garden

Running along the Southern most edge of Harlow carr next to the Alpine houses was a raised alpine bed.It was soil mixed with lots of grit to aid drainage for water logged hating plants.

The ones I photographed were Crocosmia Lucifer, Some Lambs Ears, and A large Lavender bush.

The Crocosmia Lucifer were a beautiful red colour, but the flowers swung around in the wind.I had to hold them to photograph them. Krokos is greek for Saffron, and Osme greek for smell.
The lambs ears or Stachys Byzantina were a revelation for me.I have seen them on American garden blogs but generally distant photos for the colour of the leaves.

I was stroking the leaves and they were as soft as Lambs ears!If I ever make a sensory garden one of the Tactile plants will be the Stachys. Amazing plants :)

Lavender is well known to me, but still loved for its amazing scent, dried flowers, and to make Posys or Pot Pourri.What better way to edge a path than a row of Lavender bushes to brush past to release the Scent. What better way to attract butterflies and bees to your garden?

I will post two more photos tonight of Lavender.Tomorrow will the other parts of the Garden I saw. Hope it inspires you as much as it does me.

Ornamental Grasses

The Ornamental grasses border runs parallell to the Alpine gardens and houses, and runs along the Herbaceous perennials.
The website says it has Stipa Gigantica with its oat coloured flowers in the summer, followed by Pampas Grass in the Autumn. Miscanthus is also in the display with other grasses and perenniels such as Aconitum, Aster Ericoides, Salvia, Sedum, and Schizostylis.
These are underplanted with seasonal bulbs like Alium, tulipa, and Camassia.You need a horticultural degree to know what actually is growing.
Whats not captured is how the wind blew through the grasses which were over six feet tall, and made the display have a life to it. Its the sense of sight, and sounds that excited me.
Last time we walked straight past it...I wandered where the Ornamental grasses were.You need your eyes open all the time.
I have two small pots of Festuca Glauca growing on the kitchen windowsill, inspired by the Harlow Carr grasses.

Herb Garden

The South Facing Herb garden showing off a variety of Kitchen and medicial herbs. The whole garden was fragranced by the pungent Helicrysum Italicum, the curry plant. I thought it smelt like liquorice. Thats if the label i got was for the right plant! (the third photo down).

There was mint (last photo), thyme, sages, lavatera, field poppys, and lots more in rectangular raised beds, surrounded by concrete stones. A summer house was sat at the back with tomato plants growing in a builders bag (the one ton of stones in a cotton bag), growing all the way up. There were also peppers and African Marigolds.

One lot of seed heads looked like a belfry of bats hanging upside down (second photo). The herb had small yellow flowers on it. I dont know what the black seed pods belong too, or the red flowers, or the blue flowers.

It was dry enough to get down to smell the herbs and flowers, or rub the leaves to release the fragrant oils held within. A tactile scented garden!

Any guesses to enlighten me as to the identity of any of the photos gratefully accepted :)

Whale and Mermaid border

The path that led down past the Whale and mermaid willow sculptures was closed. The effect of the heavy rainfall can be seen. Around the gardens they were repairing the paths where the rain has cracked and split the walkways.

The rain had also done a lot of damage to the annuals. I need to come back after a few weeks of sunshine. The website says they sowed seeds directly onto prepared soil in April and May when the soil had warmed up. A mixture of field poppy, cornflower, corncockle, californian poppy, and corn marigold.

The meadow flowers would be the sea of flowers growing around the willow sculptures, with paths crossing the sea at various points.

You can see the ship and whale on the last photo, another reason to go back to see how this display is developing.

In the Autumn the Flowers will be cut back and the seeds left to fall to the ground. The beds will be cultivated and in spring the ripened seeds will start growing. It is only weeded, nature does the rest. I was intrigued by the idea of a direct sown area, in comparison to the labour intensive main borders of massed planting.

All the flowers that start growing from Spring will be like old friends, returned after winter. Its another idea that I have brought back from my second trip to Harlow Carr.

The Hot end of the main border

The corner bed of the main borders with some gorgeous Hemerocallis, of an unknown variety.It was a large clump though, ready to bed divided.The yellow flowers look like an evening primrose with the soft yellow petals, and red flower buds. The yellow flowered Achilemia Vulgaris was under planted below the reds and yellows.The colours were vibrant on a cloudy day and positively glowed.

Purple and red

A dianthus I think, Cottinus with its smokey flowers, A verbena Bonarensis held my me becuase the wind was blowing it around too much to photograph it.And lastly some kind of purple leaved sage which smelled lovely when you stroke the leaves.

Six posts and all we had walked was two hundred yards! The gardens are stocked with lots of plants, so you can stop every yard to examine a new type.I will post more later from the other areas a selection of photos and words.The joys of two days off before a week of nights :)

Pony Tails

The newly planted Stipa Tenuissima on the path borders.You can get an idea of the Westerly wind blowing through it.It is so soft and fluffy the grass heads.I love the colours and the soft feel of it.I think movement in a garden from wind is relaxing.This would look great in a border near to a seating area.You can hear the wind blowing through it, see the grass bend and sway to the breeze, and you can run your hand through the ponys tail.
I saw this planted in the rose revolution borders, and the path border leading to the big ornamental grasses display.

Main borders to Terrace steps

The view down the long main borders.There are steps to terraces at the far end of the photo.I did not see them last time.The colours were more muted after all the rain.The Aliums which looked spectacular have turned into the giant seed heads.You can still see masses of planting, with gradation of colour.Greens, yellows, and browns.The Harlow Carr woods are at the far end, they cover a quarter of the garden.
Autumn would be good to come here as the leaves change colour, like a slice of New England in Yorkshire.

Pink and Red

Pinks and reds in the border flowers that run along side the pathway. Bush Fuschia with red and purple flowers, A traditional english cottage garden Favourite Foxgloves, and finally the red version of my blogs header photo. Astrantia Rubra.Like a pink Jewelled crown.

Opening Views from Harrogate

The Opening four flowers I photographed yesterday. Hilary and me spent five hours meandering around the Gardens in an anti clockwise fashion.With the breeze blowing and blue sky peeking out from behind the clouds occasionally. Mercifully it was dry most of the day.

Pictured is Red Hot Pokers in bright orange, a poppy flower, and seed head, and the most gorgeous Eryngium with blue and turquoise colour. They are on my wish list now.

Return to Harlow Carr

The Sun was actually out for part of Friday, and it only rained a bit, when we were at Harlow Carr again.

I wanted to see what damage had been done by four weeks of torrential rain, and flooding. I went around the gardens the opposite way and saw a lot more, that we did not see before.

The heavy rain last time meant we did not stop to admire all the plants, search for the labels, and sniff, touch, and weigh up each new find.

I took lots of colourful photos capturing the various areas that we saw. The Fuji Finepix got another severe work out.

There was the herb garden, ornamental grasses, Mediterannean planting around the alpine house, revisiting the mixed borders, the scented garden in sunshine and light breeze, a side garden with a newly mulched path, and strange unknown flowers. The streamside walk, and Queen mothers lake. Harlow Carrs famous woods, Arbotoreum, and wildflower meadows. An Apiary, and a bird hide. Childrens play area, and model village. The education centre, and a display of sustainable gardening.A wooden building with a grass roof..

I was suprised by how much there was to see, and wander how much more we can still look forward to finding.

The Curator of RHS Harlow Carr says on the Ethos of the garden "We want visitors to Harlow Carr to leave us feeling relaxed yet inspired, de-stressed but invigorated - and ready to help improve the planet by gardening at home."

http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/index.asp

It was funny to see what was growing still, what had been knocked about by the heavy rainfall, what was newly flowered. It looked different in places even over the space of four weeks or so.

The Gardens are dynamic, so you could go every month and see something new every time you went. I will be planning another visit soon though :)

Day off :)

Some wild unknown flowers from the long alley to work.Back to Harlow Carr today!

Ant on the flower

Whoops there goes another rubber tree plant.....he's got high hopes...high hopes.I photographed these flowers growing on the long causeway on tuesday.I never knew the ant was on the flower as my eyes were not focusing properly.
Only eighteen pictures taken since Tuesday.I have worked three long days, and tomorrow I will be going back to Harlow Carr. To see what damage the rain has done, and what has grown in the wet conditions.
The sun was shining this morning at 0630, but it clouded over and then started raining again.I will have an umbrella and thicker coat tomorrow :)
My body and brain aches now from 39 hours at work in Three days.I can be healed tomorrow in the gardens near Harrogate.
How many photos to take? Maybe less than the 275 I took a month ago.The plants have been growing on.A few of them have fallen by the wayside as I have worked.
Charles Darwin Natural selection...When you have eighty pots and only three windowsills there is bound to be plants that fail to thrive.I will just keep my eyes on the ones that are doing well.
Time for sleep soon, hope all your gardens are growing on well :)

Peace Lilly

Growing on nicely the peace lilly.Its leaves are a shiny, healthy dark green now, with lots of new growth from the middle.Soon it will look like the peace lillys they sell in Sainsburies!

Mimulus Colour

Love the colours from my free Rescued plants.Time to go to work now :)

Fuschia Thalia Red buds

Before they drop off that is....

Burnished Leaves

The delicious Fuschia Thalia with its burnished red and green leaves glowing in the evening light.This was from Harlow Carr.The only problem i have is the red flower buds which are rocket shaped keep dropping off before flowering.
I took most of them off to see if it can develop a few more leaves.Why do Fuschias with cylindrical flowers drop buds off before flowering?

Lilly and Seeds

The Stargazer lilly which I now think smells faintly of cinnamon and Cloves. Next to the white star flowers of the Stephanotis.

I am day off today before three long days.I dont know if im going to Harlow Carr on friday. I think the weather will decide that for me. I got soaked last time we went.

I have two photos from there of me and Fran. The first is looking at the wildflowers at the back of the Lutens-Jekyll Garden with my Camera. The second is by the sunken pool.

I like them because I didn't take them. Im rarely photographed becuase I usually take all my photos for on here.

I will have to photograph them to put them on here.

I was on Mr Fothergills website today and finally ordered some more seeds for Autumn planting.

http://fothergills.co.uk/

I ordered some black Hellebores, Carex Bronze, Heliotrope to grow as a pot plant (mmm cherry pie flowers), and other things that I cant remember. Oops, will blog them when they arrive.

I got a glossy David Austin Catalogue a few days back, oh my goodness how many types of English roses! I saw a selection at Harlow Carr with the massive six litre pots. Apparently the roses like deep roots.But boy are they heavy the pots!

My dream garden is already heavily laden with plants and flowers.I dont mind which way it faces, how good or bad the soil is, or what it looks like.The fun will be working out what can grow and developing it to my vision of a perfect garden.

The inspiration comes from books, magasines, other garden blogs, gardens i have been to or worked on, and friends gardens. The indoor greenhouse is fun when things bloom well, but its frustrating when things are not doing as well.

I will be in heaven when i have a house with windows all around, instead of three shaded ones facing eastwards.

I want to feel the sunshine, wind, and rain on my face.The plants too are eager to put their roots down in a more permenant soil.

They are itching to furnish the blank canvas, and provide foliage, flowers, scent, and colour throughout the year.

Just waiting for contract to expire and the house hunting to begin in earnest...

Gazing at the Stargazer

Look what bloomed as I worked.I just took a quick photo in the fading light.The day has been gray with rain showers steadily falling. The lilly looks magnificent and has a strong scent to it.I dont know what it smells like.
Colours and petals are easy to describe as metaphors.I will photograph it tomorrow, my first ever Stargazer lilly grown from a bulb.My only mistake was not planting the bulb deeper.It has had the most light of any plant growing.This is maybe why it dropped its other flower buds.
On the plus side the Flower has grown into a spectacular specimin, with no other buds taking the nutrients from the leaves and roots.
I have two bulbs for this lilly.It has made it into my grow it again next year plants.I want lots of blooms which will fragrance the whole room.
If you have grown it how would you describe the scent?I can only think of a deep, rich earthy lilly-ish smell, heavy with pollen.