tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20368084277014343302024-02-19T14:49:21.792+00:00A Garden Less OrdinaryJournal of an ordinary garden transformed by plantaholicsKerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-11806226423270830512022-02-26T08:48:00.001+00:002022-03-05T10:26:33.025+00:00Snowdrops - a slow-growing obsession<p>Snowdrops (galanthus) evoke so much excitement that a name has been christened for people who passionately collect them - galanthophiles. I don’t consider myself in that league, but in recent years I
have come to appreciate the differences in their flower forms and have very gradually been adding to our little assortment.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1hth-BtlZp0_KgW4rfJ8Y4I9Np_4aaE5KUsKXlvqoxNuq5vwFd4i56YZgtwAj9oeht5ME4lsXaISl3ep5NtfZgMXiEPMZjmsUQQAU9E_pSjgIbH05ltor6Y9pfgKrk78_T16U7ZF7d8M8uP8BUXETHIjrAy21TqNT_MMbU86GdzRypWBMczhu_bO=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1hth-BtlZp0_KgW4rfJ8Y4I9Np_4aaE5KUsKXlvqoxNuq5vwFd4i56YZgtwAj9oeht5ME4lsXaISl3ep5NtfZgMXiEPMZjmsUQQAU9E_pSjgIbH05ltor6Y9pfgKrk78_T16U7ZF7d8M8uP8BUXETHIjrAy21TqNT_MMbU86GdzRypWBMczhu_bO=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i>, the common snowdrop</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There can be no doubt
that these diminutive flowers bring us joy out of all proportion to their size at a time of year when little else is in flower. They are also incredibly resilient to the worst that the weather can throw at them - I watched from my kitchen window as they were buffeted by the recent high winds from storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin with barely a scratch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj31q_CT3LCu3jxnwGmwiTdC40sw-bFFJvI2_jRZrIEwLVJ3f6FGv5Hl4eJi_3i2-LG5cADxLL2S1-mQ2KeCPtmeumhZ4f911xrPY_wLLF8A15xBBpjc4dWdPxvC9UqvNNR7Ds5wwmkEZ9c-NCegRvt0xH9VF2RlvD31Y9vyrPqG86fJQsQu-xc3mk=s4140" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2760" data-original-width="4140" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj31q_CT3LCu3jxnwGmwiTdC40sw-bFFJvI2_jRZrIEwLVJ3f6FGv5Hl4eJi_3i2-LG5cADxLL2S1-mQ2KeCPtmeumhZ4f911xrPY_wLLF8A15xBBpjc4dWdPxvC9UqvNNR7Ds5wwmkEZ9c-NCegRvt0xH9VF2RlvD31Y9vyrPqG86fJQsQu-xc3mk=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i>. Photo by Pete Stevens @creativeempathy.com<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>My small collection started with our common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. The name is derived from two Greek words: 'gala' meaning milk and 'anthos' meaning flower. Nivalis is a Latin word meaning 'of the snow'. Very apt as they are so at home in the wintry months - can there be a sight more heart-warming than their dainty heads poking out above a carpet of snow?<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXncyAYHiP-m2iUdqylcSnrZxjaQH4q20aNTsvBduIXcKKW5l_1ydU9pGyc3j6KJdUmAIrj-xKDsWUAkIGvqFO0aEqLs9W2wjbI2dkdjJuKAX7Xlm2jai6IAt9HLS5aU6SebrOUs5sH6rQd16_6I8Iqd-bvogtEs_g0QRbTEHMnvAsXsKqdB6e08o4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="905" height="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXncyAYHiP-m2iUdqylcSnrZxjaQH4q20aNTsvBduIXcKKW5l_1ydU9pGyc3j6KJdUmAIrj-xKDsWUAkIGvqFO0aEqLs9W2wjbI2dkdjJuKAX7Xlm2jai6IAt9HLS5aU6SebrOUs5sH6rQd16_6I8Iqd-bvogtEs_g0QRbTEHMnvAsXsKqdB6e08o4=w640-h589" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i> in the snow. Photo by Pete Stevens @creativeempathy.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I bought both dry bulbs and bulbs 'in the green', which are plants that have just finished flowering. I had success with both, but I prefer planting snowdrops in the green as I find them easier to arrange in natural-looking clumps. I have an unconscious habit of arranging dry bulbs in a grid pattern, no matter how hard I try for a random distribution.</div><div><br /></div><div>Snowdrops can be grown from seed with considerable patience - it takes around four years for a seed to produce a flower. In our garden we have allowed nature to take its course and single flowers have popped up in unexpected places. The seeds have an oil-rich substance attached which is attractive to ants, who take it back to their nest, eat the substance and discard the seed. Sadly, no seedlings to excite a galanthophile have emerged - yet!<div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHkz6e2MF-V28YIVu8411BHf0H4s6sbraUHsvrJTf-Qx-ZJzhr93WXuvw3y0q3QazePw45ZGI7xrr1bpWX5TgC4NtgozpPY0T6PTrMPybjzbU8syRO_zLm5Qw1gdnb-a08Xbd4N5LNfa5iomGeOxkd0c9FEeSrfImsL-JK2jG7gqziGiT6ROLmvOg5=s4594" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3063" data-original-width="4594" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHkz6e2MF-V28YIVu8411BHf0H4s6sbraUHsvrJTf-Qx-ZJzhr93WXuvw3y0q3QazePw45ZGI7xrr1bpWX5TgC4NtgozpPY0T6PTrMPybjzbU8syRO_zLm5Qw1gdnb-a08Xbd4N5LNfa5iomGeOxkd0c9FEeSrfImsL-JK2jG7gqziGiT6ROLmvOg5=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i> and <i>Crocus tommasinianus</i><br />Photo by Pete Stevens @creativeempathy.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The quickest and easiest way to increase your collection of snowdrops is to allow them to form a large clump, dig them up, carefully divide them into smaller clumps and then replant them. Do this after they have finished flowering. I started with 500 bulbs of Galanthus nivalis in the green and over five or six years and with regular dividing they have multiplied at least three-fold.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcr_CweLcoKpprhG_G2ZIEjsqMeCQZ-W7Q4JGOAt66MLd9KyihsD22nqpXoNMETodFJVOLjpVHnIN2-cUxzLmE5HNafN4i78btQkW62WIpkcfCeVLC-fOHuhpnv6F9K6L1J5g-IoNkB4sdahssrtTgepqJsjeetkVEeXgiZPzIUAICpCVXrC6aqiJW=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcr_CweLcoKpprhG_G2ZIEjsqMeCQZ-W7Q4JGOAt66MLd9KyihsD22nqpXoNMETodFJVOLjpVHnIN2-cUxzLmE5HNafN4i78btQkW62WIpkcfCeVLC-fOHuhpnv6F9K6L1J5g-IoNkB4sdahssrtTgepqJsjeetkVEeXgiZPzIUAICpCVXrC6aqiJW=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i> underneath white stemmed <i>Betula jacquemontii</i> Doorenbos</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The snowdrops that I grow seem reasonably unfussy about location and soil - we have fairly free draining loam with lots of stones. They all get some sun (if it decides to make an appearance) as they are located below deciduous trees. I recommend planting on a slope if you can, somewhere close to a path, so that you can appreciate the detail without having to tip the flower upwards or lie on the ground. They are happy in grass, but don't mow the lawn until the leaves have died back and returned important nutrients to the bulb for next year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaQ2CCN9src4mLRtdCuoctEonjqvT3-hIzdhKF3ddyt3AJo0XHc0MtV-58i6pbRCEvssLhY8Ffo9cncD_sUycKzIXbvKHZiWfaXDniJJFjjSAsVbvH0x1jELNrcWWhkhukyMK2i5vysXr00sh3-9VxWXmxL-BkYYElGdeFbaTcGX14Rds11GOJRhV2=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaQ2CCN9src4mLRtdCuoctEonjqvT3-hIzdhKF3ddyt3AJo0XHc0MtV-58i6pbRCEvssLhY8Ffo9cncD_sUycKzIXbvKHZiWfaXDniJJFjjSAsVbvH0x1jELNrcWWhkhukyMK2i5vysXr00sh3-9VxWXmxL-BkYYElGdeFbaTcGX14Rds11GOJRhV2=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I take great pleasure from our drifts of the common snowdrop, but early bulb catalogues with more exotic snowdrop varieties started to attract my attention. Conscious of how easy it could be to catch galanthomania, I have valiantly restricted myself to one new variety per year (and to those at the lower end of the price range!). Below are photos of our very small but select collection.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH4uQMm8ii_XtFlUhiFmJ9wAJT_NDHod5DSKtAP6mPsqVKizjkmy8wRzxQFFGcT4BYVW9KLG8vKmhDMP7lO_K9rbeCdps0moW--4xR6Qac6WrLyCBiWV1hAJqGVwTaqEApwZVJT5SO-hd_hEmYXC0RNLd36fOX-sFcFd32osD4NfNQ43iPXx_NI8M3=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH4uQMm8ii_XtFlUhiFmJ9wAJT_NDHod5DSKtAP6mPsqVKizjkmy8wRzxQFFGcT4BYVW9KLG8vKmhDMP7lO_K9rbeCdps0moW--4xR6Qac6WrLyCBiWV1hAJqGVwTaqEApwZVJT5SO-hd_hEmYXC0RNLd36fOX-sFcFd32osD4NfNQ43iPXx_NI8M3=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <i>Galanthus</i> Trymposter. Planted in the green in 2021 and flowering well this year.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGcEjUa37kzAHvZXPByF6q8ZsDoX9AyXGGdawgnIWNzt6m8hCuYJtFqhSBkuQ36PPUpXOChi5IFeSbifJcvygUgq1JFWFkrkERzyz44b4aTQ5BoMUi7-_nHOwtX3NK97B_ti7rbSguo4BLmH0YYGLQ1WbJPK2xso4MfOWt5gYzY4dj-0XUAydC2e7Z=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGcEjUa37kzAHvZXPByF6q8ZsDoX9AyXGGdawgnIWNzt6m8hCuYJtFqhSBkuQ36PPUpXOChi5IFeSbifJcvygUgq1JFWFkrkERzyz44b4aTQ5BoMUi7-_nHOwtX3NK97B_ti7rbSguo4BLmH0YYGLQ1WbJPK2xso4MfOWt5gYzY4dj-0XUAydC2e7Z=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Trymposter from below</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOeQi50w1ueePkNQaCtTFAby5XJ2yJoHlPmbEYk5LmWshhQEGKBnmpR2gFyPSoG4Hz9RTE-JdGY3ITiHzPNhMGTlsgAub7ELKkm4x3XLdv7OCdxnV-dHmbpu2nqApjlFi7DAzehsniGMeB0rzXvucwUwG7KU13jQUqcF-oBDyQx-b03Ehvip9qiVlN=s3490" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2327" data-original-width="3490" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOeQi50w1ueePkNQaCtTFAby5XJ2yJoHlPmbEYk5LmWshhQEGKBnmpR2gFyPSoG4Hz9RTE-JdGY3ITiHzPNhMGTlsgAub7ELKkm4x3XLdv7OCdxnV-dHmbpu2nqApjlFi7DAzehsniGMeB0rzXvucwUwG7KU13jQUqcF-oBDyQx-b03Ehvip9qiVlN=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Hippolyta from below. Planted in 2018 and slowly clumping up.<br />Photo by Pete Stevens @creativeempathy.com<br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9QzwdmZ3j6LXDknfuM4_GOD8gAny2q6KwTFpJNkdGobAGfiDZc5Tu5QTdDptflx6phySYpBh4c4vyeOHP2Ix1lXd3A3ERvWHEp-bE-ChCvelmcba3aSLcGgu0E5Dz6dhcv842arCTblDV4lHbPNUfLpQDt0t5tVpmMUY1mPYRqdZdkvFjsVSAK2A=s3310" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3310" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9QzwdmZ3j6LXDknfuM4_GOD8gAny2q6KwTFpJNkdGobAGfiDZc5Tu5QTdDptflx6phySYpBh4c4vyeOHP2Ix1lXd3A3ERvWHEp-bE-ChCvelmcba3aSLcGgu0E5Dz6dhcv842arCTblDV4lHbPNUfLpQDt0t5tVpmMUY1mPYRqdZdkvFjsVSAK2A=w640-h584" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Hippolyta from above</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXA23Am12W2opvI5bBPOwE77wbUP_RkskH0ZI41Rn0x1SwsA6obA4YvGEd7mWah_jhzSNU3Uc1Fd3x8V_cOR2FfJ_exL0pYUJFGAU7l0P-N4TIX7QjGaJBYbVoD92Zc_c50yJq91dOYAtPlgmfMRgRwd7-xDqhzkvgmjhJYMQpIj7KNJFdte1TIw3g=s4454" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4454" data-original-width="2969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXA23Am12W2opvI5bBPOwE77wbUP_RkskH0ZI41Rn0x1SwsA6obA4YvGEd7mWah_jhzSNU3Uc1Fd3x8V_cOR2FfJ_exL0pYUJFGAU7l0P-N4TIX7QjGaJBYbVoD92Zc_c50yJq91dOYAtPlgmfMRgRwd7-xDqhzkvgmjhJYMQpIj7KNJFdte1TIw3g=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i> Viridapice<br />Photo by Pete Stevens @creativeempathy.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGDA61jr4wveQjPnMfjuT8_p1RFliPG0BplPv48boMG0qiYhgCSX222waKpKzwHoCsTshTqGz-gnz9WGncHLxVzWsIksupkEXUlhNQaGtt_0SYWCL9cCO-grrReWzdxxB_yLDxPXCPR67_qEL3Tgn-xIX6pcybD-hqKzTIUvw_hPMjYvPkljLtvvcV=s3340" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="3340" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGDA61jr4wveQjPnMfjuT8_p1RFliPG0BplPv48boMG0qiYhgCSX222waKpKzwHoCsTshTqGz-gnz9WGncHLxVzWsIksupkEXUlhNQaGtt_0SYWCL9cCO-grrReWzdxxB_yLDxPXCPR67_qEL3Tgn-xIX6pcybD-hqKzTIUvw_hPMjYvPkljLtvvcV=w640-h484" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Brenda Troyle, similar to nivalis but much larger flowers</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoBFdMO7Edq_8S3XK2AIlDV3wxEqAdE6RFk3nrdVzmC_m2wVRx0nr8d7ovzc-eGVnewX-eTJ25LVZNAWpkI6C7R2Pl4QshidtbpFTpmfJFalb-WZ6GP6n-aHsLDAjO9Upuvx0gAeUYtCzV5I5jOL0bYQ8Tc7CqABnNzy9EDl3fmvCK01Ot591M-YVF=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoBFdMO7Edq_8S3XK2AIlDV3wxEqAdE6RFk3nrdVzmC_m2wVRx0nr8d7ovzc-eGVnewX-eTJ25LVZNAWpkI6C7R2Pl4QshidtbpFTpmfJFalb-WZ6GP6n-aHsLDAjO9Upuvx0gAeUYtCzV5I5jOL0bYQ8Tc7CqABnNzy9EDl3fmvCK01Ot591M-YVF=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Colossus. Large flowers and thick leaves</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuCk6b1kSO2zlFyV9Vo49MPB4YTbS09LgJHbEbesxW8mknKJFYmAcMrwOHESSw31VLtg_j74U4FSd9_wAmwhVDB7A2PF-b56h-33lWM1PkkCuS4ql59wY55gAT_z7DnVDNG8EdoiKRV2x0-XNnMT7xz3N3IrjDXF6C1ekAEUX_3WSzs-xP2vp7cwDm=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuCk6b1kSO2zlFyV9Vo49MPB4YTbS09LgJHbEbesxW8mknKJFYmAcMrwOHESSw31VLtg_j74U4FSd9_wAmwhVDB7A2PF-b56h-33lWM1PkkCuS4ql59wY55gAT_z7DnVDNG8EdoiKRV2x0-XNnMT7xz3N3IrjDXF6C1ekAEUX_3WSzs-xP2vp7cwDm=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Galanthus</i> Washfield Wareham<br />A very late flowering snowdrop that has only just started to open</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Three 'in the green' bulbs of <i>Galanthus</i> Wasp arrived in the post a few days ago, a snowdrop with very long slender outer petals that I have been lusting after for a couple of years. I will plant them on the slope underneath our Magnolia x loebneri Leonard Messel, in company with Brenda Troyle, Colossus and Trymposter. Now its time to put the catalogues away until next year!</div></div></div>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-53905555792526650372021-01-12T13:13:00.002+00:002021-01-12T23:08:49.530+00:002020: a year less ordinary<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2020 appeared to begin just like any other year. The emergence of snowdrops heralded the start of a new growing season and the promise of the garden soon bursting into life. Even on dull days our ever-growing hellebore collection never failed to encourage us out into the garden and to lift our spirits. Soon they were joined by drifts of the cheerful yellow flowers of </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eranthis hyemalis, the </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">winter aconite</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IcqlRrKTTBGGogQZ5gCTkSU9Ugphp3UwL8T5AS6JFbGyOXDtvk_5ZH1TMiGHNwgLDB4nR5AhYTpNe_oX1pMK7Tyu5aaTawcvBKrT8SSe3vewu7DOYlnUBB9ARbDZzKo-BNIVjnwxrq0/s2048/IMG_20200208_100953.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IcqlRrKTTBGGogQZ5gCTkSU9Ugphp3UwL8T5AS6JFbGyOXDtvk_5ZH1TMiGHNwgLDB4nR5AhYTpNe_oX1pMK7Tyu5aaTawcvBKrT8SSe3vewu7DOYlnUBB9ARbDZzKo-BNIVjnwxrq0/w400-h300/IMG_20200208_100953.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Galanthus nivalis</i>, the common snowdrop but easy and rewarding to grow</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I exhaled my annual sigh of relief as </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arum italicum</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Miss Janay Hall’ once again unfurled her striking, mottled leaves after several months of dormancy below ground. I am a Plant Heritage plant guardian for this little-known foliage plant, hoping to ensure that it does not get lost to cultivation and encouraging it to be grown more widely. So you can imagine my delight to see that she had not only increased in girth, but had produced a self-seeded baby.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1fb9155d-7fff-ae0b-e1f1-e782460a15de"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVgLd-1QabqdIb2RPIEYXWcvyHsAqrS6YUd_J43jox_DQLTnsdl0wa3sUAQFkiR_xoXY7Ey4CbMUdS-uQb4lPWa_5-2MInybVhY9_P2KzZqRcN_ecKgZdvClBPHZ4m9EeNPwihuvijU/s2048/IMG_20200307_103228.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVgLd-1QabqdIb2RPIEYXWcvyHsAqrS6YUd_J43jox_DQLTnsdl0wa3sUAQFkiR_xoXY7Ey4CbMUdS-uQb4lPWa_5-2MInybVhY9_P2KzZqRcN_ecKgZdvClBPHZ4m9EeNPwihuvijU/w400-h300/IMG_20200307_103228.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arum italicum</i> 'Miss Janay Hall'</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that was not the end of the surprises. In February 2020, we had the exciting addition of a Japanese TV film crew in the garden. We were one of six gardens chosen for a show about English gardens that open for the National Garden Scheme, raising funds for nursing and health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie. Our first taste of filming was a real eye opener: I was amazed how long it took to film one shot, and how many different angles and lenses were needed. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5r9W3YtpbsVhWou3wDe54SFIy33M3cE5R7aATgK-vm3oJlrRWk-qXr_UKCtGcKMCxY0EOu_8rydAZgn_962rcN5Cl5oPtkesEoxAa2Pq6xZmcPBpyte55J7msB2k4-jd7IYL5tqRvhE/s2048/IMG_20200225_120317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5r9W3YtpbsVhWou3wDe54SFIy33M3cE5R7aATgK-vm3oJlrRWk-qXr_UKCtGcKMCxY0EOu_8rydAZgn_962rcN5Cl5oPtkesEoxAa2Pq6xZmcPBpyte55J7msB2k4-jd7IYL5tqRvhE/w400-h300/IMG_20200225_120317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete being filmed pruning a red-stemmed cornus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygje6nNg3Svfq0O6b8zl947IxOlI_-Th9CuRvUKTNNAqW01Unxeo4onrQSdY7LK9e0CbspxdxrIKBUbUdtrchOyPBekifsManLPSQcV8tlMJyoyiGofeKHLeCRQQ7DXWmS5pUt8cUDZc/s2048/IMG_20200225_114014.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygje6nNg3Svfq0O6b8zl947IxOlI_-Th9CuRvUKTNNAqW01Unxeo4onrQSdY7LK9e0CbspxdxrIKBUbUdtrchOyPBekifsManLPSQcV8tlMJyoyiGofeKHLeCRQQ7DXWmS5pUt8cUDZc/w400-h300/IMG_20200225_114014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me being filmed performing my annual ritual of sponging <br />the birch trees to ensure that we can enjoy their white stems<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another day of shooting followed, along with preparations for a private visit of 30 gardening enthusiasts to view our early-flowering bulbs. That, of course, included baking cakes and scones, the essential accompaniment to any garden visit.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMPzVNk2UJhjXn9Jou18EC6IWWJwPrnJH6bORY4mEjbK4ihlo0JW_UPZviOHLf2f6n3l2CEzNog-OIWSx4AQv7nS98bMHHDoG7nFrf4QohhiHvBYfOg9E1DLWZB8ZEF3fyYP-z3TTEhI/s2048/IMG_20200313_163826.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMPzVNk2UJhjXn9Jou18EC6IWWJwPrnJH6bORY4mEjbK4ihlo0JW_UPZviOHLf2f6n3l2CEzNog-OIWSx4AQv7nS98bMHHDoG7nFrf4QohhiHvBYfOg9E1DLWZB8ZEF3fyYP-z3TTEhI/w400-h300/IMG_20200313_163826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellebore and <i>Fritillaria meleagris</i>, the snake's head fritillary</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvguX0z1WRwh8fXMrgdvbOUIP9uuvIj9t6HsK9qOvzD8SrAbO83zzWy2W9Cccc3cy1128g9JR-mHTyGtYCZcv5jIQ_o3KhNXmVRVpFrpnk-xqtb8wiPCelux5zSuypqHtotr9AJocD6E/s2048/IMG_20200323_132235+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvguX0z1WRwh8fXMrgdvbOUIP9uuvIj9t6HsK9qOvzD8SrAbO83zzWy2W9Cccc3cy1128g9JR-mHTyGtYCZcv5jIQ_o3KhNXmVRVpFrpnk-xqtb8wiPCelux5zSuypqHtotr9AJocD6E/w400-h301/IMG_20200323_132235+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chionodoxa</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT7cnVb3ZM1X0yUIi-9vH1hU4IcKcwrBCYjlk6txioL1oZO3ojUUk14nBWDkzVeKWaHhsViWsPaJxzS595jFzcER7UgpGbQ1qV9gDmoWwcJ3c_IhEaan7RxB0p_E2dmY53bghuTNx3cQ/s2048/IMG_20200324_134948.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT7cnVb3ZM1X0yUIi-9vH1hU4IcKcwrBCYjlk6txioL1oZO3ojUUk14nBWDkzVeKWaHhsViWsPaJxzS595jFzcER7UgpGbQ1qV9gDmoWwcJ3c_IhEaan7RxB0p_E2dmY53bghuTNx3cQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200324_134948.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trillium kurabayashii</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfU25INI_NnRDtkMVQKcIGqhYnkmdSN2HCdW5AydgsDyL1ACBNX26Tv4cqplUvWrQ0DoFG7IrB-dx6xa6WdnuHIkz0OULXujKbIlFKIGdnyWJbEnDA3MyM7Vgstpb6AAE369Drnkq5eU/s2048/IMG_20200325_112304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfU25INI_NnRDtkMVQKcIGqhYnkmdSN2HCdW5AydgsDyL1ACBNX26Tv4cqplUvWrQ0DoFG7IrB-dx6xa6WdnuHIkz0OULXujKbIlFKIGdnyWJbEnDA3MyM7Vgstpb6AAE369Drnkq5eU/w400-h300/IMG_20200325_112304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Erythronium</i> 'Pogoda'</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">What came next we had not prepared for. On 23 March, three days after the official end of winter, the UK entered a national lockdown in an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19. The group visit was cancelled, and the TV filming was converted into twice weekly video diaries filmed on our mobile phones. Little did we realise how beneficial the shared tasks of planning, practicing and filming our gardening endeavours would become during a period when all our normal routines had suddenly disappeared.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The garden throughout that time was, and remains, our sanctuary and our source of comfort, exercise and motivation. We feel incredibly lucky to have the luxury of this private space. It is wonderful to see how many people have embraced a new-found interest in gardening, and in the joy of growing your own food, perhaps borne out of necessity but hopefully something that will continue.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XCLJzcuUzTXglyzH2GPlemmB7TD4vP5lCETwS7ZLQ1jUPePrbz83ptXpUc2ZA_Ehlec2wJrgIGLW69DyedMrcLT8bZDtnyQLBAUri7nTLeLxidEyiwinknwB5fbJqCB16NCtu4Dk-Fc/s2048/00000IMG_00000_BURST20200526132827174_COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XCLJzcuUzTXglyzH2GPlemmB7TD4vP5lCETwS7ZLQ1jUPePrbz83ptXpUc2ZA_Ehlec2wJrgIGLW69DyedMrcLT8bZDtnyQLBAUri7nTLeLxidEyiwinknwB5fbJqCB16NCtu4Dk-Fc/w400-h300/00000IMG_00000_BURST20200526132827174_COVER.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bench to relax and watch the fish swimming in the pond</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAVOvQqDHtcQKUHNAhknpN-39_SinxY8ZNUfqEYasxleXbELYEdonnefL4bbLYbMzjJeaaMm4XoL50FABA8APpBpgqnq-yCRA2GA87GGjOqT2m6QU6G7g8U755BG8-8trUFK7N1Ek2Fs/s2048/IMG_20200411_160001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAVOvQqDHtcQKUHNAhknpN-39_SinxY8ZNUfqEYasxleXbELYEdonnefL4bbLYbMzjJeaaMm4XoL50FABA8APpBpgqnq-yCRA2GA87GGjOqT2m6QU6G7g8U755BG8-8trUFK7N1Ek2Fs/w400-h300/IMG_20200411_160001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our frog friends produced lots of frogspawn</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our great culinary discovery was wild garlic, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allium ursinum</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Planted years ago in our bluebell-filled woodland corner to remind us of the spring hedgerows which had enchanted us on a visit to the Channel Island of Sark. I had always intended to check its rampant spread by picking the leaves for cooking, but with the easy availability of shop-bought herbs I had failed to experiment. Faced with the challenges of obtaining fresh produce at the start of the pandemic we finally turned to the wild garlic - and what a revelation. Eaten raw the leaves have a mild, oniony taste. As an addition to Pete’s homemade burgers the flavour was mouthwatering. It became a year of many BBQs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZTL5AxNz0zWETf78YXB7Iymfqj3QmVROPEECpRBNMdqXO0dnmz5YMq4wwUek1JXaq0g-AVaNkkdSW6yyj3iX9m1No-fXeiwINtHJUD6bjavrs13me8AGY7EmdsaaODcFr0LFmU58BdM/s2048/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200507173123081.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZTL5AxNz0zWETf78YXB7Iymfqj3QmVROPEECpRBNMdqXO0dnmz5YMq4wwUek1JXaq0g-AVaNkkdSW6yyj3iX9m1No-fXeiwINtHJUD6bjavrs13me8AGY7EmdsaaODcFr0LFmU58BdM/w400-h300/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200507173123081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium ursinum</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JMRxR9VKQ2Im1InSYioZQx2fyzEPZ3xc8gA08q_j7FXNdIeqKyr3LG-S5gIDRQPXG3WtjyYHGl1iGc9tL1PUTX76W50-_9JPrI5xGTMSsKJ7wU-PXZv55Ewhh9W8u2Gl_67E9RRJkRQ/s2048/IMG_20200718_193011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JMRxR9VKQ2Im1InSYioZQx2fyzEPZ3xc8gA08q_j7FXNdIeqKyr3LG-S5gIDRQPXG3WtjyYHGl1iGc9tL1PUTX76W50-_9JPrI5xGTMSsKJ7wU-PXZv55Ewhh9W8u2Gl_67E9RRJkRQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200718_193011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many BBQs</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spring brought plenty of warmth and sunshine. According to the Met Office it was the sunniest spring since records began 100 years ago. Our garden was lush and full of colour, but most of all it was brimming with bird song, made even more prominent by the almost total absence of urban noise. </span></p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeR4M6GDdXla843bTxLHaSdvSJI8aXilEdvNNiW3WRNoeGaPW7L_T8fd2ZSOSZFbALnp9ckke4CtDdgG3_2YyWUAAAKRSAEiwgjlY-k4CyHKzSHv1pPPPdEB17ijzMIICdfR3Ps56olA/s2048/IMG_20200520_093748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeR4M6GDdXla843bTxLHaSdvSJI8aXilEdvNNiW3WRNoeGaPW7L_T8fd2ZSOSZFbALnp9ckke4CtDdgG3_2YyWUAAAKRSAEiwgjlY-k4CyHKzSHv1pPPPdEB17ijzMIICdfR3Ps56olA/w400-h300/IMG_20200520_093748.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoceObg8GvWTHhc30KGguqxF8CSaXwrYk30QPWjJayTLmssF8d7BoBsl4WpjVZv15_HqxcZGHrrk8l6CUb_q41OUg91m6FLGyGw0ad4ufk-MkxFvbik6Jf1C-1WDuqcFIDLl7Llizu-g/s2048/IMG_20200526_112213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoceObg8GvWTHhc30KGguqxF8CSaXwrYk30QPWjJayTLmssF8d7BoBsl4WpjVZv15_HqxcZGHrrk8l6CUb_q41OUg91m6FLGyGw0ad4ufk-MkxFvbik6Jf1C-1WDuqcFIDLl7Llizu-g/w400-h300/IMG_20200526_112213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tHPe_bO3oicEpq_79O1JyuxnH2sLODDIY-w4Xt-5mtdsPkuR5XM84MLWItrfAUlqQ4_XZaQZHrXujPTGG6JkyfrX8s1tT3kizTYdLuIrUlWJp__L2T7idBX7RQZmerdamhhnreNOFGw/s2048/IMG_20200526_124942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tHPe_bO3oicEpq_79O1JyuxnH2sLODDIY-w4Xt-5mtdsPkuR5XM84MLWItrfAUlqQ4_XZaQZHrXujPTGG6JkyfrX8s1tT3kizTYdLuIrUlWJp__L2T7idBX7RQZmerdamhhnreNOFGw/w400-h300/IMG_20200526_124942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMtj7GOhKDYYg6x1C_i7VAslXr3LfAMJzJ5M1RS2Jag2nu4NDtXA0ez8q1LmsL-9tyZIyMpuuwqEwKCyVXwVZ_dNzhzpOe_jrkynepUbwkd4-G6h18gPcxp8m3t5rLMOEJfYxXSM3DJY/s2048/IMG_20200526_132508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMtj7GOhKDYYg6x1C_i7VAslXr3LfAMJzJ5M1RS2Jag2nu4NDtXA0ez8q1LmsL-9tyZIyMpuuwqEwKCyVXwVZ_dNzhzpOe_jrkynepUbwkd4-G6h18gPcxp8m3t5rLMOEJfYxXSM3DJY/w400-h300/IMG_20200526_132508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lockdown forced us to cancel our planned <a href="https://ngs.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Garden Scheme</a> opening on bank holiday Monday 25th May, which would have been our seventh year of opening. It was sad not to share the garden and our passion about it with visitors, and we missed the camaraderie of our team of helpers – selling entrance tickets and plants, serving refreshments, and washing seemingly endless quantities of china cups and plates. But like many disappointments it gave rise to an opportunity for something new – to film a virtual opening instead. Much time was spent storyboarding, practicing and filming, and all our clips were wonderfully edited together by the National Garden Scheme team. We now have a lasting record available for all to see, presently viewed over 13,000 times on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5hso0PQmfw&t=400s" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEfLdUyyKXaAFCjds_DYldNnIyQmyGuqeHLSNddJQtwyNoWS_iVT4Ly4lvM5Ck8osH54FkbaloWJwbDjkAJGRV_PrqMxb0r7aegeMLIE504CoAqNnGrs_AiAjZXxCSg8OXNxUHma45xU/s588/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="588" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEfLdUyyKXaAFCjds_DYldNnIyQmyGuqeHLSNddJQtwyNoWS_iVT4Ly4lvM5Ck8osH54FkbaloWJwbDjkAJGRV_PrqMxb0r7aegeMLIE504CoAqNnGrs_AiAjZXxCSg8OXNxUHma45xU/w400-h191/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the summer months we occupied ourselves working, mending and generally pottering outdoors, but more importantly just sitting and taking in the beauty of the plants, insects and birds around us. Climbing roses smothered with delicate blossom in June were followed by borders unashamedly full of bold and bright annuals and perennials: daylilies with deep red petals that could have been cut from a cloth of velvet, translucent crinkled poppies, and the scarlet trumpets of crocosmia.</span></p></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCsuH3YyHR0MyKr3MnnoijRScUlg2JSfbprFqOQK7uY3OfZmOZehXtMY4Qup5rkAXCYw2Nl254avfKJnBecnDHwMB6vsrOMldT_B5jaUYTZnsZter7vKKXOvXD8m8XUs_9QjEcO_QPmQ/s2048/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200526133331438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCsuH3YyHR0MyKr3MnnoijRScUlg2JSfbprFqOQK7uY3OfZmOZehXtMY4Qup5rkAXCYw2Nl254avfKJnBecnDHwMB6vsrOMldT_B5jaUYTZnsZter7vKKXOvXD8m8XUs_9QjEcO_QPmQ/w400-h300/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200526133331438.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rosa</i> 'Wedding Day'<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-PzuMNyAC85P6SAhiMu6lrMU2QIIbMZcizD4LxyOSQPvoTyuIYFgciIUgV6PKIHkm63vrPg6qCEM0TPpuYtabfhfB9XnMGYFpfYZAAoaLlBtKeQ-wRLQsjkQvgdENQFnYOAHyZ4CTyw/s2048/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200615075454141.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-PzuMNyAC85P6SAhiMu6lrMU2QIIbMZcizD4LxyOSQPvoTyuIYFgciIUgV6PKIHkm63vrPg6qCEM0TPpuYtabfhfB9XnMGYFpfYZAAoaLlBtKeQ-wRLQsjkQvgdENQFnYOAHyZ4CTyw/w400-h300/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200615075454141.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-seeded annual poppies<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfJPMjGVzwbvH3xcNOBiBpaeZ7NQ9Drqx_h4D8k0jm6rP6_kFIuXnGHkg7wVKT59KVMp5Xmg7Jvi-7OIKuMo6JYN0CNhWRLLOKo3mFoqLPxPH1dhtdIl4NxEHhhBftep-SVrZlRjnFIg/s2048/IMG_20200528_100219.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfJPMjGVzwbvH3xcNOBiBpaeZ7NQ9Drqx_h4D8k0jm6rP6_kFIuXnGHkg7wVKT59KVMp5Xmg7Jvi-7OIKuMo6JYN0CNhWRLLOKo3mFoqLPxPH1dhtdIl4NxEHhhBftep-SVrZlRjnFIg/w400-h300/IMG_20200528_100219.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental poppy<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOPv120bgiyLGDyHYXP6540yDh7YqI-B4aVprh4uFh5UPQL6Hk_QzkI_ksg2l1wF4wQ8iTaozzrNAISr-e0B4TinUitRl8hW8nlabA9Y72vn9FrxsF9EhfaIgZauGNHC0zo5AtFJE8KI/s2048/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200708101106868+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOPv120bgiyLGDyHYXP6540yDh7YqI-B4aVprh4uFh5UPQL6Hk_QzkI_ksg2l1wF4wQ8iTaozzrNAISr-e0B4TinUitRl8hW8nlabA9Y72vn9FrxsF9EhfaIgZauGNHC0zo5AtFJE8KI/w400-h300/00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200708101106868+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hemerocallis</i> 'Cherokee Star'<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi119hG-SBa-SEViTEbyCnLyYd-Ozh_jEUD0XaXwGTLzHlhbAWMxJcj-QBmzsP_gz_PZDQvGNtO-XQQ04CKykoH1zkdNaGXGqOi6ke5QYyh9lPX-G5LISFw90fizJ-wN4v96_aixkV3vfM/s2048/IMG_20200712_091633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi119hG-SBa-SEViTEbyCnLyYd-Ozh_jEUD0XaXwGTLzHlhbAWMxJcj-QBmzsP_gz_PZDQvGNtO-XQQ04CKykoH1zkdNaGXGqOi6ke5QYyh9lPX-G5LISFw90fizJ-wN4v96_aixkV3vfM/w400-h300/IMG_20200712_091633.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crocosmia</i> 'Lucifer'</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFULzI6vF0_p1r-BSHuFAJ58nz_8b_xjl5lJYZgyY1ZOE1XAlTDiMqN_v-dw8t-i2oZ-bkIu4eAuIxByUXLeVn4FZ0cc7e18JE3hjHJS6D_tEV-BPzqypbeyk612GHmhZQr8ak7ClCGw/s2048/IMG_20200712_091429.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFULzI6vF0_p1r-BSHuFAJ58nz_8b_xjl5lJYZgyY1ZOE1XAlTDiMqN_v-dw8t-i2oZ-bkIu4eAuIxByUXLeVn4FZ0cc7e18JE3hjHJS6D_tEV-BPzqypbeyk612GHmhZQr8ak7ClCGw/w400-h300/IMG_20200712_091429.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 'Hot bed', so-called because it's our sunniest bed, but also <br />because it's filled with vibrant-coloured flowers in summer</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The upside of having the garden to ourselves has been the
ability to make some major changes that would temporarily look unsightly. Pete made
valiant attempts to retrieve more lawn from the increasing spread of
wildflowers (I think perhaps in this instance we can more accurately call them
weeds). An old pittosporum that had lost its variegation but performed an
important role as a tall, green punctuation mark between beds was finally
replaced by what we hope will be an equally effective but more interesting <i>Cryptomeria
japonica</i> ‘Sekkan-Sugi’. And the steps in the woodland corner have been
re-routed closer to our beautiful white-stemmed birch trees, <i>Betula utilis jacquemontii</i> 'Doorenbos', offering a better
perspective of some interesting but often unnoticed plants chosen for their luminous
qualities in a dark corner – <i>Galium odoratum</i>, <i>Fatsia japonica </i>‘Spider’s
web’, <i>Vinca minor</i> ‘Illumination’ and <i>Geranium phaeum</i> ‘Album’.
At the same time, we increased by a third the planting space in what we rather
grandly refer to as 'Hellebore Hill. Specimens which had been shoe-horned into
beds elsewhere in the garden have now been relocated so that we can look up
into their captivating flowers in late winter.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsgih_oak7BWJu4YB_T4XAK9kydbTojpvrT1HAtXuLksPwfyO3yo-kwxx4USAIr00QqK7S7lxFDJAXVcIPX5Dcttt_VzSR_LLnamwsvV1HEshtclc-rCjg7XPEBvTnx77nTRj0LraXwM/s2048/PXL_20210110_143622630.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsgih_oak7BWJu4YB_T4XAK9kydbTojpvrT1HAtXuLksPwfyO3yo-kwxx4USAIr00QqK7S7lxFDJAXVcIPX5Dcttt_VzSR_LLnamwsvV1HEshtclc-rCjg7XPEBvTnx77nTRj0LraXwM/w400-h300/PXL_20210110_143622630.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The re-routed woodland steps</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpfE9_FkOd6kqf5vFydMi1S4Z8zSLu6F0aA3e9nQjmT4yPNbCxGr5DmzHDOE0wPTPYFh5xxllzUTPUJ0-b10-CR8ZMmcgcPk7RuDuvfM-xBXZQS0qzHvuLDMlUvmMRm4sesmaYooQM_I/s4032/PXL_20210110_143526467.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpfE9_FkOd6kqf5vFydMi1S4Z8zSLu6F0aA3e9nQjmT4yPNbCxGr5DmzHDOE0wPTPYFh5xxllzUTPUJ0-b10-CR8ZMmcgcPk7RuDuvfM-xBXZQS0qzHvuLDMlUvmMRm4sesmaYooQM_I/w400-h300/PXL_20210110_143526467.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fatsia japonica</i> 'Spider's Web'</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our long-held plans for a new greenhouse were abandoned in favour of a writing room/shed combo. Over five days in July we laid out, erected and painted what was in effect a giant flat-packed puzzle comprised of 107 wooden pieces held together by 394 screws and nails (naturally we have four bits of wood left over). By far the greatest achievement was the degree of marital harmony we were able to maintain during this sometimes challenging enterprise.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4AT3pqC4Qfj1mwms_IIqLfihlBDhId9E8rd_8DALj-RlV3XBtzLGXN1soSC1_maIM3o3kYa6xzCJJKU_oFTyF_b_0EspjZ-SmrGHFy18rk7jOqs0fCTODsQ6yFQkkLhNEd4VSuKz6Ew/s2048/IMG_20200630_152910.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4AT3pqC4Qfj1mwms_IIqLfihlBDhId9E8rd_8DALj-RlV3XBtzLGXN1soSC1_maIM3o3kYa6xzCJJKU_oFTyF_b_0EspjZ-SmrGHFy18rk7jOqs0fCTODsQ6yFQkkLhNEd4VSuKz6Ew/w400-h300/IMG_20200630_152910.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wendy house that we inherited had reached the end of its life</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzvuzxygPi49MMexExOLxHXVrYfxqPKZDglVhMaBBBRQh6IoL7tJaeqF_Q2BDejys7URp8fF4v_61DqbTeDCbN0P2XimxXyZUteTWNO1JU07bN9ilmXvjRLhRh7GpJwXe58N18NOv-gM/s2048/IMG_20200719_175514.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzvuzxygPi49MMexExOLxHXVrYfxqPKZDglVhMaBBBRQh6IoL7tJaeqF_Q2BDejys7URp8fF4v_61DqbTeDCbN0P2XimxXyZUteTWNO1JU07bN9ilmXvjRLhRh7GpJwXe58N18NOv-gM/w400-h300/IMG_20200719_175514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new writing room/shed combo almost finished</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSbDPxzKxCMenVjcd4On6mygcMuJhZdz16oIcDbPFz_PHdI573eorLwOG2TlDHuqG9rr_Dh40CQO_03xqTHFERl45GR9EtCtI_N2HTzFmP9Zn2rrroPHtW79_DraJDjgmH6iyAdXsUbE/s2048/IMG_20200719_175920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSbDPxzKxCMenVjcd4On6mygcMuJhZdz16oIcDbPFz_PHdI573eorLwOG2TlDHuqG9rr_Dh40CQO_03xqTHFERl45GR9EtCtI_N2HTzFmP9Zn2rrroPHtW79_DraJDjgmH6iyAdXsUbE/w300-h400/IMG_20200719_175920.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A room with a view</td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Japanese TV programme aired in Japan, and we are informed that it was our chickens who were the real stars of the show – no change there then! They shamelessly steal the limelight at all our garden openings.</span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Autumn brought more restrictions and another lockdown, but also the most glorious colour for as long as I can remember. Acer leaves turned rich shades of red, amber and yellow, and crab apples produced oodles of colourful dangling fruits. But autumn colour also comes from unexpected places. Many perennials and deciduous shrubs take on vibrant hues as they decay. Their final contribution before winter slumber should not be overlooked. The leaves of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hosta</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thalictrum</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Elin’ turn a delicious buttery yellow, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rodgersia podophylla</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> spreads fire between its veins, and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cotinus coggygria</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Royal Purple’ displays such intricate markings that it is hard to imagine that no artistic human hand has been involved.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span></span></span></p><p style="white-space: normal;"></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHXDIl8WniJnFEuKqQ4EAUZ06jRFVx0O4NYNPF9cgX38Rw02YGJmydxC54XHmMi6-C0NJohz8odIuIOqAhU2dZ3FK_SAl4fqGsZZqlht2U8L-SZTLdgrwpSnVXv2J-sVB1lapn6l5LWU/s4032/PXL_20201018_135459659.PORTRAIT-01.COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHXDIl8WniJnFEuKqQ4EAUZ06jRFVx0O4NYNPF9cgX38Rw02YGJmydxC54XHmMi6-C0NJohz8odIuIOqAhU2dZ3FK_SAl4fqGsZZqlht2U8L-SZTLdgrwpSnVXv2J-sVB1lapn6l5LWU/w400-h300/PXL_20201018_135459659.PORTRAIT-01.COVER.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hosta</i> 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0azc6MM6SYAwu1awL3Xb2i_1zOqROfhJtS_1eI7UxjwgOkuKQ8oLw-lHm7lCkFwRqG8gtvIzpVmQs2cY7S1z-9kc7zQTgNRLDReLcnR_se9ziXxPu-0MqLYKrAhmCEkaKCx9iimEMUkM/s2048/PXL_20201018_135403899.PORTRAIT-02.ORIGINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0azc6MM6SYAwu1awL3Xb2i_1zOqROfhJtS_1eI7UxjwgOkuKQ8oLw-lHm7lCkFwRqG8gtvIzpVmQs2cY7S1z-9kc7zQTgNRLDReLcnR_se9ziXxPu-0MqLYKrAhmCEkaKCx9iimEMUkM/w400-h300/PXL_20201018_135403899.PORTRAIT-02.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thalictrum</i> 'Elin'</td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2G2lPKSG7zgN1MWfVSUMe_oNZBFdl1S8pjigOPx-oGFQyb7HJB0-moT96ztM35bEqwqdhlsBXvPbcQKBehQP6I6lw5k1RQvTl9OJasFoEK0OKyhQ337clUjzu5srY5CqIAc29jA2kHU/s2048/PXL_20201018_141023861.PORTRAIT-02.ORIGINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2G2lPKSG7zgN1MWfVSUMe_oNZBFdl1S8pjigOPx-oGFQyb7HJB0-moT96ztM35bEqwqdhlsBXvPbcQKBehQP6I6lw5k1RQvTl9OJasFoEK0OKyhQ337clUjzu5srY5CqIAc29jA2kHU/w400-h300/PXL_20201018_141023861.PORTRAIT-02.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rodgersia podophylla</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz9SF_wZDCYFrA9ifWUXuHgqpk3zR3nqvxVm63_J47wDKCVPyGm-0L3OXHnS6gsBOzzEX0bFhg8DHCSvS7RP8hSnsGvdqgCwbIg-iU4iEvjM_Zvrgs1TZMXQhzSrImxbXPbsKLeCECc8/s4032/PXL_20201018_140544881.PORTRAIT-01.COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz9SF_wZDCYFrA9ifWUXuHgqpk3zR3nqvxVm63_J47wDKCVPyGm-0L3OXHnS6gsBOzzEX0bFhg8DHCSvS7RP8hSnsGvdqgCwbIg-iU4iEvjM_Zvrgs1TZMXQhzSrImxbXPbsKLeCECc8/w400-h300/PXL_20201018_140544881.PORTRAIT-01.COVER.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cotinus coggygia</i> 'Royal purple'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvUgKd9A8ux1zIez-lAeXGX7a156ayTUyAk9xqSYiU4TiteoPCXHs_QroXhmsXGo3Tx7dXr8aLfPTdEmjDbeILHjfbbr3jU63-VViLaCNAUNbUDtOkN7YS-TDaNzO36LKM-wagchAbLY/s2048/PXL_20201018_140001209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvUgKd9A8ux1zIez-lAeXGX7a156ayTUyAk9xqSYiU4TiteoPCXHs_QroXhmsXGo3Tx7dXr8aLfPTdEmjDbeILHjfbbr3jU63-VViLaCNAUNbUDtOkN7YS-TDaNzO36LKM-wagchAbLY/w400-h300/PXL_20201018_140001209.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colourful foliage in the shady bed and the bog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSE7N3Hdg94Q25zQgVUJCSnY4BkCg-UJdXKlzXKpNE0rg5qcukSekCxqWvfMCXkiyUciV_-bpug9PcG1yrBEcgip6q99vafaxZVtnglUzgMootdBW_kP7ogBDX1U3gv3KYvPfewjwKKmM/s2048/PXL_20201020_125046205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSE7N3Hdg94Q25zQgVUJCSnY4BkCg-UJdXKlzXKpNE0rg5qcukSekCxqWvfMCXkiyUciV_-bpug9PcG1yrBEcgip6q99vafaxZVtnglUzgMootdBW_kP7ogBDX1U3gv3KYvPfewjwKKmM/w400-h300/PXL_20201020_125046205.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vibrant acers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-ea0711cb-7fff-b286-6ff7-db4bd7fd6fa1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here we are at the start of 2021. The snowdrops have begun to emerge from their slumber to release their latent promise, and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arum italicum</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Miss Janay Hall’ has once again unfurled her stunning leaves, much to my delight and relief. Who knows what else this new year will bring, but I have a feeling that it too might be a little less than ordinary.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKWjPGsjfVYEOoa-TOs6oDrJzt0kJ3PJcWUx_DKxOnd6RPCar5ZqHD3uDlQUzN7t6rH523RGjLD-JaQbm7WzuZoq2WKVXMaoE9ck8CvLM2IXkXR6IBQjR_bZHslpxeDP19obCRFIC0e8/s4032/PXL_20210103_120611596.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKWjPGsjfVYEOoa-TOs6oDrJzt0kJ3PJcWUx_DKxOnd6RPCar5ZqHD3uDlQUzN7t6rH523RGjLD-JaQbm7WzuZoq2WKVXMaoE9ck8CvLM2IXkXR6IBQjR_bZHslpxeDP19obCRFIC0e8/w400-h300/PXL_20210103_120611596.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrop buds emerging</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-14812816944321219652018-08-16T09:08:00.000+01:002018-08-16T09:08:02.234+01:00Inspiring colour combinationsI have visited lots of gardens recently, while it's been too hot to do anything other than water our own garden. Although the overall design, style and feel of another garden is always interesting and thought provoking, often it doesn't translate to something you can replicate at home. What I never fail to find though is inspiration for a new colour or plant combination. Here are a few that caught my eye.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSc6LVYDklpfd-1ZNkbcE8fnddCDws2y_iWA42OuJ6Zc4jDAusCAR086i1fKcg7EyUAG0waOV__9X5N3Qbaa8HXhpEKg9r2PDGa_32ggpeyrCIb_tsllBSfW_cUZyaxOLcZ3FGUsAfVY/s1600/P1230523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSc6LVYDklpfd-1ZNkbcE8fnddCDws2y_iWA42OuJ6Zc4jDAusCAR086i1fKcg7EyUAG0waOV__9X5N3Qbaa8HXhpEKg9r2PDGa_32ggpeyrCIb_tsllBSfW_cUZyaxOLcZ3FGUsAfVY/s640/P1230523.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pale and dark pink <i>Achillea</i> mingles beautifully with the soft purple of <i>Nepeta</i> (catmint). </span><br>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2018/08/inspiring-colour-combinations.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-44685713983118750582017-11-22T10:22:00.002+00:002017-11-22T10:22:35.806+00:00Self-seeders - friend or foe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the many small joys of gardening is to discover that a treasured plant has set seed and produced a baby without any of your intervention. Some plants are so successful at self-seeding that they can become a nuisance, but I'm a firm believer that one person's invasive plant is another's good do'er. Let me share my experience with you and you can decide.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01T92QBDTSd3Qt6jctRiIslqNJfnPR9wtgB5FemfKhy8Hb7t9N9UBMrmRNCEdQCp1cISmZ38f_HWmKblvRxnsc9Iokfrpbfk378qlTARB1q9FE6epep-p18qMVedyh97yI8A5I9GJHjs/s1600/015+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01T92QBDTSd3Qt6jctRiIslqNJfnPR9wtgB5FemfKhy8Hb7t9N9UBMrmRNCEdQCp1cISmZ38f_HWmKblvRxnsc9Iokfrpbfk378qlTARB1q9FE6epep-p18qMVedyh97yI8A5I9GJHjs/s640/015+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Campanula latifolia</i> (giant bellflower) forms tidy rosettes of narrow leaves and produces tall, thin spires of white, or sometimes blue, bell-shaped flowers. It like full sun or part shade, and slots in neatly between other plants. A very useful and pretty self-seeder. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2017/11/self-seeders-friend-or-foe.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-68321739443491047962017-05-27T10:40:00.001+01:002017-05-27T10:40:22.152+01:00How to use variegated foliageLet me start by saying that I am a huge fan of variegated foliage. If you dislike it, or are a bit unsure about how to use it in your garden, hopefully by the end of this post I will have converted you or at least encouraged you to give it a try.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG0ROl694WOWQLfWul1HcfVAVAc5Bp23-9ldehONMjV1wZulNlmfng4bIQ5s0hi090r4lMWIvM2_SkpK3gHzDVwW2lP1rQDXIvUUckJQFDeOyAvUpkLq8taUVn6YdMqY3Fy5pb-2-lQI/s1600/034+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG0ROl694WOWQLfWul1HcfVAVAc5Bp23-9ldehONMjV1wZulNlmfng4bIQ5s0hi090r4lMWIvM2_SkpK3gHzDVwW2lP1rQDXIvUUckJQFDeOyAvUpkLq8taUVn6YdMqY3Fy5pb-2-lQI/s640/034+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Variegated hosta leaves.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2017/05/how-to-use-variegated-foliage.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-56101429631162177972017-02-26T10:52:00.000+00:002017-02-26T16:09:58.187+00:00Antipodean inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a treat to be able to escape from the dreary winter weather while the garden is still mostly dormant and take inspiration from gardens on the other side of the planet. During a trip to visit family and friends in New Zealand and Australia we found time to visit a few gardens and to marvel at plants growing wild in the bush that we have to nurture and coddle in this country.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxisabqF_kmwg_FCNeW6CM1KcUldvaI87jlctijvjvPhvkMYZOUeVoxxE_jx52-8HRuUErtRaPLJBgWFFwV2kln7Z61RVDx0y16FgdpEv0sM5IqcfFeNnYz6heLToPt0F4JaTq8AHMC9g/s1600/P1180821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxisabqF_kmwg_FCNeW6CM1KcUldvaI87jlctijvjvPhvkMYZOUeVoxxE_jx52-8HRuUErtRaPLJBgWFFwV2kln7Z61RVDx0y16FgdpEv0sM5IqcfFeNnYz6heLToPt0F4JaTq8AHMC9g/s640/P1180821.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spherical flowerheads of <i>Agapanthus</i> on a sunny bank contrast with the stiff, tapered leaves of <i>Phormium </i>(New Zealand flax).</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2017/02/antipodean-inspiration.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-75892148473360605322016-11-24T09:47:00.001+00:002016-11-24T09:47:27.329+00:00Autumn goldWhen I think of autumn colour it is the red and orange of tree leaves and woody stems that spring to mind, but this year the predominant colour has been a rich, golden yellow.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuDfRabj2834W3xwIRaxsl0lArAsHXkgCkYGeSvwNQQWkcHXwnOqFKH55NWMDVBdCURh437LRXvBLfI8AKrUfe2DCOPm3nt7tPhzyriRoYf8ZHK3G3uav5BcfgBIzPwdQFBaJgKbX1kQ/s1600/P1180106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuDfRabj2834W3xwIRaxsl0lArAsHXkgCkYGeSvwNQQWkcHXwnOqFKH55NWMDVBdCURh437LRXvBLfI8AKrUfe2DCOPm3nt7tPhzyriRoYf8ZHK3G3uav5BcfgBIzPwdQFBaJgKbX1kQ/s640/P1180106.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A potted <i>Acer</i> with heavily dissected leaves turns from bright green in summer to this wonderful rich mustard colour</span> </td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/11/autumn-gold.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-35663730542955975172016-10-04T09:00:00.001+01:002016-10-04T09:00:28.701+01:00Attracting Wildlife into Your GardenWe don't all garden <i>for</i> wildlife, but I suspect that we all enjoy watching birds, bees and butterflies feasting from the buffet that is in our gardens.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC-bCiThrohPL9hBJGgA6-3V02oSG_JSNEAnTAlEYDs34JptcDgti-fxB8PaIjzJzNvZfRn_Fk3MGPf4cp_tLnQQ0z8tlwrF23PXHSaumBJLodx0d10moaiMUeOKopDA-41i915ltH1I/s1600/P1170909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC-bCiThrohPL9hBJGgA6-3V02oSG_JSNEAnTAlEYDs34JptcDgti-fxB8PaIjzJzNvZfRn_Fk3MGPf4cp_tLnQQ0z8tlwrF23PXHSaumBJLodx0d10moaiMUeOKopDA-41i915ltH1I/s640/P1170909.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A bee enjoying the late-summer flowers of <i>Aster</i> (now <i>Symphyotrichum</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/10/attracting-wildlife-into-your-garden.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-76851504444317202722016-08-30T07:50:00.001+01:002016-08-30T07:50:32.303+01:00Can you have a favourite flower colour by accident?If I had to choose my favourite flower colour it would not be pink, but after looking through my hundreds of garden photos I realised what an important role pink flowers play in our garden, and maybe yours too if you stop and think about it.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0ZY1jL24J3MBh0-gTuRTRVmdXX1Ukzzpj-YDhNcDoLC0wthBLam7qzLUbTx2xuD3G2ZLK8MW8qBWm16GW4LTdlsBhCWBI6rn6BAVa0QZrr7vMmP-aWmkD3h4nQxH78o7Be5hes-wYAI/s1600/P1160540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0ZY1jL24J3MBh0-gTuRTRVmdXX1Ukzzpj-YDhNcDoLC0wthBLam7qzLUbTx2xuD3G2ZLK8MW8qBWm16GW4LTdlsBhCWBI6rn6BAVa0QZrr7vMmP-aWmkD3h4nQxH78o7Be5hes-wYAI/s640/P1160540.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Papaver somniferum</i> (opium poppies) come in a wonderful range of pinks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/08/can-you-have-favourite-flower-colour-by.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-90216565041258265482016-06-14T07:20:00.000+01:002016-06-14T07:20:40.124+01:00Taking inspiration from Chelsea Flower Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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People are generally surprised to hear that I'm not a regular visitor to the Chelsea Flower Show. I have attended in the past, but I don't enjoy the crowds or jostling to the front to see the show gardens, and you can only buy plants at the big sell-off at the end. I prefer to watch the television coverage of Chelsea from the comfort of my sofa. It gives you access into the gardens and a close-up look at the planting that a visit does not.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnVDAyvSzdyz4gcpXxmodWcp4H49i_ulsJoiyHLNSJh7mkj0PL95xHPQ-T70IviiEcm4H7h2ij4DLj6df7WBVXx-_E_GltqcGoy9OXL6LFLbpARmHXoC-YSDVXPpY81G09bj2agonOIY/s1600/2016-06-03+13.39.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnVDAyvSzdyz4gcpXxmodWcp4H49i_ulsJoiyHLNSJh7mkj0PL95xHPQ-T70IviiEcm4H7h2ij4DLj6df7WBVXx-_E_GltqcGoy9OXL6LFLbpARmHXoC-YSDVXPpY81G09bj2agonOIY/s640/2016-06-03+13.39.56.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visitors to our recent NGS open garden commented that this border could have been seen in a Chelsea show garden</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/06/taking-inspiration-from-chelsea-flower.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-60146394805063466422016-04-01T14:23:00.001+01:002016-05-09T23:55:14.645+01:00April showersI wanted to start this post with a photo of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, but I couldn't find any roses in flower, and if I followed the logic of the song the next photos would be of bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, which don't relate much to gardening in Spring (if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to rent/download The Sound of Music immediately). What I wanted to get to was the song punchline "these are a few of my favourite things", because raindrops on emerging foliage are one of the joys of Spring.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1stUvwh3ZU0iyMMi36UqxL3YPf0a9Exkj6FO-z1nLOoOWf7lFhQHhQ2IR5GJWAKrYMpmdhj0fPvCxmTcusZ5CZsjHYYC-oUm3RSPMZE1_3PXpU_uXMuYGv_qQF8CXy2C7vn3ZhQjykyY/s1600/20-03-2016+Garden+Plants+270+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1stUvwh3ZU0iyMMi36UqxL3YPf0a9Exkj6FO-z1nLOoOWf7lFhQHhQ2IR5GJWAKrYMpmdhj0fPvCxmTcusZ5CZsjHYYC-oUm3RSPMZE1_3PXpU_uXMuYGv_qQF8CXy2C7vn3ZhQjykyY/s640/20-03-2016+Garden+Plants+270+.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Hemerocallis </i>(daylily) foliage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/04/april-showers.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-67723234056980127802016-02-13T09:14:00.001+00:002016-02-13T09:14:23.994+00:00What to do now in the garden<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are anything like me you are itching to get in the
garden. As soon as the new year starts I pace the garden every day looking for
new growth. This year the unusually warm winter has produced quite a few
surprises. Some of our <i>Hellebores</i> and <i>Eranthus</i> (winter aconite) started flowering before
Christmas and the snowdrops and crocus are in full flower several weeks earlier than
normal.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgE8sBNo_x8UNc4-6trdE70DgIqS8hPq_HNeRlKHbK-pWndd7I36Mgm3Og9mniR31E8AXRaWqV58rt9F-VpMPn_PeRKeucjfCSeSS9J049cWhZxXGPeV78oO6AxfFEGj763jhkes33EU/s1600/P1140672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgE8sBNo_x8UNc4-6trdE70DgIqS8hPq_HNeRlKHbK-pWndd7I36Mgm3Og9mniR31E8AXRaWqV58rt9F-VpMPn_PeRKeucjfCSeSS9J049cWhZxXGPeV78oO6AxfFEGj763jhkes33EU/s640/P1140672.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Snowdrops in front of white-stemmed birch trees <i>Betula jacquemontii</i> Doorenbos</span></td></tr>
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</div><a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-to-do-now-in-garden.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-46987641723656335102016-01-10T10:34:00.001+00:002016-01-10T15:42:52.515+00:00What’s in a name?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>807</o:Words> <o:Characters>4605</o:Characters> <o:Company>Creative Empathy</o:Company> <o:Lines>38</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>5655</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I much prefer to use Latin plant names rather than common names; Latin names avoid confusion and give lots of additional information about a plant’s habit or colour, where it came from or who discovered it. Common names often vary between locations and the same one can be used for more than one plant. For example, elephant’s ears is a common name used for <i>Bergenia,</i> <i>Colocasia </i>and <i>Ligularia</i>. The leaves of each plant might resemble an elephant’s ear, but they are very different plants with very different growing conditions.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GNh83DrHRujTmffwWE8VK7dqwUMEw2uvUP4PXnqAYSHQXzlhhu6y01zKY0P2SUZDmuvD3RXPLbFPppE2_YFQv-bDYuRaHzn9QHuCqWid7HrKS4_8uavs7z1_Gijw7aDkNQsiBwmeB8Q/s1600/P1120594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GNh83DrHRujTmffwWE8VK7dqwUMEw2uvUP4PXnqAYSHQXzlhhu6y01zKY0P2SUZDmuvD3RXPLbFPppE2_YFQv-bDYuRaHzn9QHuCqWid7HrKS4_8uavs7z1_Gijw7aDkNQsiBwmeB8Q/s640/P1120594.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ligularia dentata</i> Britt-Marie Crawford, common name Elephant's ears, which was found growing in her garden by a general practitioner who was a keen gardener. Before she could propagate it she died suddenly in her sleep. Her family ensured that the plant became commercially available and named it after her.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2016/01/whats-in-name.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-91053057453652064822015-12-06T18:43:00.001+00:002015-12-06T18:43:57.687+00:00Make a festive wreath from your gardenYou don't need to grow holly and ivy to make a festive wreath, all you need are three or four evergreen shrubs in the garden. If you have some berries, hips or crab apples then all the better. Making your own is so much more fun and satisfying than buying a ready-made wreath, and I highly recommend a glass of mulled wine at the same time to get you into the festive spirit.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8347pLKn2-VDR2ARQLBJViCE8LqasiB5xfUwjYpkyNDWK15jzpe4uefmG3Kg_mZBaNTCpyI8mjqkywtpPbl1IRNpPLfXauCW86EqLXfMggwi98y46TA8WXeEm2it3XIOWSphBSE5QbY8/s1600/Christmas+Wreath+001++06-12-2015+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8347pLKn2-VDR2ARQLBJViCE8LqasiB5xfUwjYpkyNDWK15jzpe4uefmG3Kg_mZBaNTCpyI8mjqkywtpPbl1IRNpPLfXauCW86EqLXfMggwi98y46TA8WXeEm2it3XIOWSphBSE5QbY8/s640/Christmas+Wreath+001++06-12-2015+.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/12/make-festive-wreath-from-your-garden.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-86427050957425613682015-11-02T08:58:00.000+00:002016-04-01T10:31:06.753+01:00Awesome autumnI love this time of year - the smells, the light, the colours. The garden is preparing to enter a mostly dormant phase, which means that I get to spend time planning for next year's plants to acquire, gardens and plant fairs to visit and new cakes to bake for our NGS garden openings.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9T7YnmP2WClHn7qBCncCamrY4Mk4AalXWIkbC4ldt_zZc6NIWRNPeANZWiDoahcyYUIu197m47sV_3hrnljQVP_4D35GqoEJbo8TMZ7YcbHDGOerTlalSVhXOu-mjgSaSIuXUG5R4Qc/s1600/PETE7144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9T7YnmP2WClHn7qBCncCamrY4Mk4AalXWIkbC4ldt_zZc6NIWRNPeANZWiDoahcyYUIu197m47sV_3hrnljQVP_4D35GqoEJbo8TMZ7YcbHDGOerTlalSVhXOu-mjgSaSIuXUG5R4Qc/s640/PETE7144.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Raindrops on <i>Acer</i> leaves</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/11/awesome-autumn.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-33625880632071158572015-09-25T20:09:00.000+01:002015-09-25T20:09:55.940+01:00The jewel colours of late summerIt is always sad to realise that summer is coming to a close, but the plants that flower in August and September tend to have a richness and intensity to their colour that makes it a special time in the garden.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBfkDTz0tDVHC_mvMKDVaullmvUBc4y-If5U4pXjF_e_-4dSvfPwgnEkeDDv30r7AFEPexjtBmFWstK9e7qc0yCt2kYMkQMm4MMHeIdaq4T09pIBuMqjnnSMRS8K-UmjgDQ8qsC1wz30/s1600/P1130284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBfkDTz0tDVHC_mvMKDVaullmvUBc4y-If5U4pXjF_e_-4dSvfPwgnEkeDDv30r7AFEPexjtBmFWstK9e7qc0yCt2kYMkQMm4MMHeIdaq4T09pIBuMqjnnSMRS8K-UmjgDQ8qsC1wz30/s640/P1130284.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Climbing <i>Aconitum austroyunnanse</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-jewel-colours-of-late-summer.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-91468480247038577872015-09-09T20:08:00.001+01:002015-09-09T20:08:57.117+01:00Garden ornaments - tasteful or tacky?One thing that seems to divide opinion more than any other garden topic is whether a garden should have ornaments in it. There is a perception that they are necessarily tacky and must be avoided.<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxRqiPhusJzKj1CizpWM6r2yqdfAphV8lpeDgDDwUSqY5daCZWhuZ6xuWHFHKXtRKDuzvOcLNYKumKxgdP4B8qqgpQRIb9bcm53sQWV2zvMFAXCVRsL5lQxxNAFAbRLbgZcidkcUzoaI/s1600/P1120122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxRqiPhusJzKj1CizpWM6r2yqdfAphV8lpeDgDDwUSqY5daCZWhuZ6xuWHFHKXtRKDuzvOcLNYKumKxgdP4B8qqgpQRIb9bcm53sQWV2zvMFAXCVRsL5lQxxNAFAbRLbgZcidkcUzoaI/s640/P1120122.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A glass candle holder brought home from a visit to America</span></td></tr>
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<br>
I think ornaments can add structure and personality to a garden. If you have ornaments in your house, why not have them in your garden?<br>
<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/09/garden-ornaments-tasteful-or-tacky.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-44077645920995570212015-08-11T10:29:00.000+01:002015-08-11T10:29:25.752+01:00The secret life of liliesYou probably think that you know what a lily is; tall stems with multiple heads of scented flowers that you often find in the florists' shop.<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb9my_CyFNLS9ydkMA-YdKz1KAqA2X2chEaRyx80VSV6BN_TmM_nDguwuOAUIamVLhC8QlkeftCALH_RW_2FL2L9pjaxfM2cGf_i6KvXY3UQ_1NVH2qn6x6bXwc4fR4ljMiBU8FvRfaA/s1600/P1120013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb9my_CyFNLS9ydkMA-YdKz1KAqA2X2chEaRyx80VSV6BN_TmM_nDguwuOAUIamVLhC8QlkeftCALH_RW_2FL2L9pjaxfM2cGf_i6KvXY3UQ_1NVH2qn6x6bXwc4fR4ljMiBU8FvRfaA/s640/P1120013.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Daylily with hoverflies</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-secret-life-of-lilies.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-18278029010892287332015-07-15T07:47:00.001+01:002015-07-15T07:47:58.618+01:00Thistles, spikes and bees<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;">
If you don't
have any thistles or eryngiums in your garden I strongly suggest that you get
some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might not be an obvious
choice of garden plant, but they have architectural foliage, striking flowers,
a long season of interest and they are adored by bees. What is not to love! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexRW8pJv0ptlAY1f5ZmsZDsVGqCmEJP6Spdh8wLolvKYvRV6oGCLCn5dQVLCtG3qv0w_rXuwreycEGyvZiKLIy_4qFlEacoT-00y1ezgv1aPGp8oN3zfA8BFTYZ_D6SMtnIigAlyrEow/s1600/P1110745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexRW8pJv0ptlAY1f5ZmsZDsVGqCmEJP6Spdh8wLolvKYvRV6oGCLCn5dQVLCtG3qv0w_rXuwreycEGyvZiKLIy_4qFlEacoT-00y1ezgv1aPGp8oN3zfA8BFTYZ_D6SMtnIigAlyrEow/s640/P1110745.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Eryngium zabellii Big Blue</i> has incredibly vibrant blue flowers</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/07/thistles-spikes-and-bees.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-933553293882323922015-07-05T15:08:00.000+01:002015-07-05T15:08:54.981+01:00The start of summerMay is a month of promise - it has its own worthy stars, but it is really just the warm-up act for the big performance that begins in June and continues through July and August. So many plants have sprung into flower and lush growth that it is hard to single any of them out. The garden has now begun to work as a whole tapestry of colours, shapes and textures and bare earth can no longer be seen.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSTjMwcvZ3maOEhzYg5Or5_UIF_IEo2sfxiqdx_I2e4F9LVn5KVNyo5SOmjdokuo2dHX2Y3PC9nxP6JChAd_ejJWVjzzVaUcg5pdfXOFLNE3VkXbnHcDUI9nQy3hfZLZI9fYDuIqtdcg/s1600/014+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSTjMwcvZ3maOEhzYg5Or5_UIF_IEo2sfxiqdx_I2e4F9LVn5KVNyo5SOmjdokuo2dHX2Y3PC9nxP6JChAd_ejJWVjzzVaUcg5pdfXOFLNE3VkXbnHcDUI9nQy3hfZLZI9fYDuIqtdcg/s640/014+Garden+plants+close+up+30-06-2015.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i> Zantedeschia</i> (Arum lily) surrounded by campanula</span><br>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-start-of-summer.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-55025042292313027872015-06-05T10:15:00.000+01:002015-06-05T11:33:16.782+01:00AlliumsAlliums are easy-to-grow bulbs that look fantastic dotted through a mixed border at this time of year. They come in white and all shades of purple and pink.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ydq6PHBqZCUcfCcNsimFiHGeqHOvWv1bTgbo3OEamZ98tobXkC7Fonwhf8Q4mtGjG2ySjRH4ZRrvduomdrCUdHb1sv2y_Ty14SaqF_KxxloQY1hV1Z31C44j3hEFjp_DtZzrdOFcPGQ/s1600/P1100839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ydq6PHBqZCUcfCcNsimFiHGeqHOvWv1bTgbo3OEamZ98tobXkC7Fonwhf8Q4mtGjG2ySjRH4ZRrvduomdrCUdHb1sv2y_Ty14SaqF_KxxloQY1hV1Z31C44j3hEFjp_DtZzrdOFcPGQ/s640/P1100839.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Allium White Empress</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/06/alliums.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-68472300143225020402015-05-14T13:22:00.001+01:002015-05-14T14:24:12.337+01:00Bleeding HeartsOne of the most delightful woodlands plants for spring, bleeding hearts have now been divided into two groups, the low-growing dicentra and the taller and bolder lamprocapnos.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5R9tfp2BXhBk4EUGlorjsW9YKmHpdco5014pIEKhpSIrrXYG1DRQTpvbOojdSCiEoaFBFv6TQMr6Hk3VOLkO_KnyKUrgF3QgebDwLOAsEGPM26ZT7t-np5Rd5PjNBuKT1Ic_ea637rI/s1600/P1100364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5R9tfp2BXhBk4EUGlorjsW9YKmHpdco5014pIEKhpSIrrXYG1DRQTpvbOojdSCiEoaFBFv6TQMr6Hk3VOLkO_KnyKUrgF3QgebDwLOAsEGPM26ZT7t-np5Rd5PjNBuKT1Ic_ea637rI/s640/P1100364.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Lamprocapnos spectabilis Valentine</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/05/bleeding-hearts.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-68357088013136747022015-04-25T09:54:00.001+01:002015-04-25T09:54:37.407+01:00Species tulipsWe grow large tulips in pots so that we don't have to look at unsightly foliage for weeks as it dies back, but species tulips have much smaller foliage and look fantastic planted in large groups in the borders. Unlike large tulips, species tulips return each year as good as the last, and multiply if they are happy with their situation.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwlQ-n75Y3ysmzVz3lpfK7PRBWL6syQFAd_8iYbmOFGVY6zLK6ymYqbce5GHWsHy82tYQ07I0yX3ivBwPZLSZCIF2J-wPDhTBCRWLxQk6yMhfjk9hZu5I-jh-DifHs-94ayFZu7RXbO8/s1600/P1100110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwlQ-n75Y3ysmzVz3lpfK7PRBWL6syQFAd_8iYbmOFGVY6zLK6ymYqbce5GHWsHy82tYQ07I0yX3ivBwPZLSZCIF2J-wPDhTBCRWLxQk6yMhfjk9hZu5I-jh-DifHs-94ayFZu7RXbO8/s1600/P1100110.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Tulipa Little Beauty</i> with <i>Muscari</i></span></td></tr>
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</div><a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/04/species-tulips.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-61930801116185154882015-04-19T09:32:00.000+01:002015-04-19T13:35:03.268+01:00Spring has sprungWe had a chilly, grey spell where everything in the garden seemed to pause, but the sunshine has arrived and spring is here in earnest. Spring bulbs fill the borders as the perennials begin sending up their new shoots.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1tbNHJhYCPulWyKTTl10cyvjeBN1UxxcoT5dZWbsw_jsB6mF84WhNsvLhnK8v15bmbq0e1r_Pppjrin4j2xP4SYZN4N9P4Opwyq-TYrl0_A2X9x7RDbTZ-VeulV3yTseaA25dXuXAo4/s1600/P1100092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1tbNHJhYCPulWyKTTl10cyvjeBN1UxxcoT5dZWbsw_jsB6mF84WhNsvLhnK8v15bmbq0e1r_Pppjrin4j2xP4SYZN4N9P4Opwyq-TYrl0_A2X9x7RDbTZ-VeulV3yTseaA25dXuXAo4/s1600/P1100092.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fritillaria meleagris</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/04/spring-has-sprung.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2036808427701434330.post-82741392374707398552015-03-16T10:35:00.002+00:002015-03-16T18:00:36.442+00:00Heavenly HelleboresOur passion for hellebores started about three years ago when we fell in love with a very expensive one at an RHS plant show and just <i>had </i>to buy it.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV8KlKZiukg12Vyfim_VcewTgR9sQHmcB21qozYiICA738nB3Qmgor6jHPRZaYeyWcWNT26mLAhgj_o4lFGIDQDBGcXdufnyoCrne7JcQXEGq1GIOaNlnLRJaJBUUFyzNKw8GDx0OA2Q/s1600/004+hellebores+08-03-2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV8KlKZiukg12Vyfim_VcewTgR9sQHmcB21qozYiICA738nB3Qmgor6jHPRZaYeyWcWNT26mLAhgj_o4lFGIDQDBGcXdufnyoCrne7JcQXEGq1GIOaNlnLRJaJBUUFyzNKw8GDx0OA2Q/s1600/004+hellebores+08-03-2015.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The hellebore that started the collection!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://agardenlessordinary.blogspot.com/2015/03/heavenly-hellebores.html#more">Read more »</a>Kerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457996227906214751noreply@blogger.com1