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.

Yellow Flag Iris

A favourite photo from my day out, of the wanderfully named Flag Iris, growing Prolifically along the Queen mothers Lake. Its proper name is Iris Pseudacorus. A British native plant that grows on wet ground from lake and river edges, to damp woodland and marshes.
It was used by an Anglo Saxon king on his flag.They must have liked the sword like leaves and pretty flower.
I tried not to fall into the lake photographing it as i had to move to the waters edge :)
It likes full sun, and is said to be invasive under good growing conditions.It is propogated by its Rhizomes.

Flowers along the Lakeside

I thought this was a thistle.I stopped in the rain to get in the wet grass to take its photo.A little pink Jewel hidden amongst the long grass.I dont know the name of this one.

The famous Harlow Carr hybrid Candelabra Primula, flowering en masse along the lake and stream side.This plant is like a beacon, the colours are that vibrant.You can see it on the lake photos in places, and i have a better photo for later!

A lovely Hosta with some kind of flowery thing.I bet all you Hosta lovers can tell me what is growing up.Whether it is a flower bud.I think the birds had eaten all the slugs as there was not much slug damage.They looked happy on the damp margins of the lake.

Unknown flower.I love the violet/blue petals.It is photographed below too.
Last photo.I think it is some kind of Iris or lilly.When i go back in July I will try to get a closer drier photo if its still in flower.

Views of the Queen Mothers Lake

Ducks, waterlillies, flag iris, and massed planting that goes from the lake water edge to the surrounding border. Hostas, ferns, astilbes, daylillies, Gunnera, Rodgersias, and Darmeras.

Looking in the RHS books these are great for boggy, damp areas.

I need a longer time to try to find them all!A dry day would be lovely (NB it is still raining in Wakefield for the second day running.Its only briefly stopped.Harlow Carr will be waterlogged now which is okay for the above mentioned plants).

Queen Mothers Lake

The First glimpse of the Queen Mothers Lake, a newly formed Lake which increases the number of habitats present within Harlow Carr. The Lake links to other smaller ponds via the stream. The booklet describes it as a "wildlife corridor that opens up the garden to wildfowl, invertebrates and insects". Common visitors include nesting birds, dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies.
The planting around the edge of the lake is mad with Flag Iris, Marsh marigolds, Harlow Carr hybrid Candalbra primulas, water lillies on the still waters. I saw Hostas, Gunnera, Daylillies, and some gorgeous thistles hidden in long damp grass.
The views were quickly taken as the torrential rain ran down my neck, over the camera, and soaked me totally.
I'd like to revisit this part and photograph all the flowers i could see.