Purple Odyssey

Welcome to our latest creation, a rose inspired planting in the shade of the west-facing terrace! A couple of weeks ago this bed was full of white iris towering above the lime green leaves of alchemilla; this suggested to us that the planting needed to be simplified and based on light and shade. The Sambucas Nigra "Guincho Purple" provides an impressive silhouette at the bottom of the bed, the other unusual resident is the David Austin rose "The Nun". We've had her a while but this year she's showing her true glory. Her cream deeply-cupped, tulip shaped flowers surround visible lemon stamens.Flowering freely in sprays, she really does look like a nun's wimple. To join her, creating degrees of shadow, we've introduced: the pale lilac Odyssey Rose with semi-double, lilac leaves and a delicious strong fragrance; and the Burgundy Ice Rose. This striking cluster-rose has dark plum, velvet flowers which will provide long lasting displays. This rare rose is an offspring of White Iceberg with her light green glossy foliage and delicate scent. We look forward to watching this planting develop.

Midsummer Apothecary

The 'Snowden' rose, in it's full glory, underplanted with campanula, takes your breath away as it arches over the path, inviting you to rest a while!

Today's other surprise was the fuscia pink rose 'Apothecary' bursting her buds to form the 'Apothecary wall' in the rock garden. Gorgeous!

Midsummer Magic

Where would we be without 'Paul's Himalayan Musk Rose'? Five years ago we had to remove this magnificent rose from the branches of it's beloved apple tree. It was a hot summer's day, the severed stems wept as we dug out the roots, which we then wrapped in water-soaked hessian- sacking. It was traumatic for us as well as the rose! Here he is on midsummer's day, in the arms of his new love, overlooking the pond.

A Precarious Maiden Flight!

This morning we were alerted to impending disaster by a loud thump against the glass doors into the kitchen. Sitting bemused, on the doormat, we found a very young blue tit with his wing bent backwards in an awkward position. Isis, was first on the scene & we found her standing back, looking quizically at the new arrival. Zeus & Vulcan were soon providing back-up & by the time I arrived they were all observing the tiny bird with curiosity. They remained calm and our little feathered friend, dazed, allowed me to lift him to the safety of the bird table. His wing was undamaged! It was a priviledge to meet him & I was proud of our doggies' good manners. We've called him 'Lucky'.

Rhapsody in Blue & The Crocus Rose

Tonight I have walked through the garden & filled my trug with roses. Their fresh, pure fragrance fills the air as I write, encouraging me to breathe deeply and relax. What great teachers these beautiful plants are, helping us to stand still, inhale their scent & marvel at their beauty. 'Rhapsody' is in full bloom, her branches laden with bluish/mauve flower heads & buds. Just above her, in the' cranberry & cream' bed, is the David Austin 'crocus rose'. This elegant creamy/pink rose stands elegantly in front of 'snowden' and 'nevada's' white rose wall. She also holds her form and lasts well as a cut flower, infusing the air with her delicious scent.

Foxgloves & Campanulas

We have some visitors in the campanula bed; two foxgloves! Of course, if we'd planted them there they wouldn't have taken. They have wandered across from the planting of pure white foxgloves in the white wood. One of these roaming foxgloves is white with a cerise pink centre. These beautiful biennials will seed freely in the right position and although they are mainly recognised from the hedgerows they are actually woodland plants. Their elegant form is a real favorite here and adds grace to the planting.

The campanulas are giving a wonderful display on the edge of the magnolia canopy. We have really struggled with this bed. Originally we planted it as a lavender bank, but our malevolent squatter, 'honey fungus' , ran his bootlace suckers underground & devoured the roots. Campanula, the perennial bloom with bell shaped flowers has been a perfect replacement. The blue bell flowers thrive in the moist, semi shade position and are real favorites with the bumble bees.

Unusual Companions.

Living on the edge of a wood presents us with certain challenges from the neighbours! Honey fungus is one such resident. It is a natural inhabitant of woodland flora & fauna, feasting on the decaying roots and trunks of fallen trees. It resides in decaying stumps & launches its attacks on the roots of surrounding perennials through an underground network. We are learning to tolerate each other in this garden, although we always experience great sadness when one of our plants succumb. At the moment we have both a' medlar tree' and a 'magnolia' in sickbay. They are fighting valiantly & we are treating them with regular doses of Evie's fresh wood-ash tonic. This winter our stunning ruby 'rosa moyesii' became the latest victim. She is a vigarous,arching rose with flat, scented, red flowers & gold stamens. She was planted in remembrance of our first black labrador, 'Asha', who loved to play in the garden and, when exhausted, sleep on a bed of geraniums. We call it 'Asha's Rose'! At the beginning of the spring we were doubtful that the rose had survived, but as you can see the miracle of nature should never be under-estimated. Hopefully, with some careful pruning at the end of her flowering and lots of TLC we will be able to save her. This year she is an unusual sight, rose laden arches lay across barren branches, the latest victims of the honey fungus.

However, the honey fungus does live in symbiosis with a very welcome guest; the wild orchid. This week the steep, rocky bank behind the house has erupted into a haze of lilac orchids, ox-eye daisies and the creeping tom thumb. We leave the bank in peace all year in anticipation of this wonderful display. In the quiet months we often have to defend it's wild state with promises of the natural beauty which will unfold in June. This year, once again, we are not disappointed. Every cloud does have a silver lining!

Bee World.

Today we've been back in the hive and there is much to report. Aphrodite and the girls have been so busy! We have eight frames of honey in the top super, predominantly from the rapeseed fields that surround us. Interestingly, our bees fly up and out of the hive and then head off down the valley. It is wild bumblebees that are drinking the nectar from our flowers. The cat mint vibrates as you walk past and is covered in a shroud of variously coloured bumble bees emmitting a soft buzz. Beneath the queen-excluder we found Aphrodite, she looked radiant and was being nurtured by the nurse bees. The comb is full of brood which will hatch just in time to forage for the blackberry-flower blossom which fills the woods. Our second honey crop should be darker & sweeter than the pale spring crop from the rapeseed. We will be phoning Engelbert with our 'rookie's report'.

The bees allowed us to strim the cow-parsley infront of the hive today, revealing the roses 'snowgoose' and 'rambling rosie' in all their glory. Some shoots have been tied into the balcony to create a frame of roses. The others have been left free to cascade down the bank, around the baby pear tree, in wild abandon. Deep in the undergrowth we found a couple of frogs & a slow-worm tightly coiled against the mechanical whirr of the strimmer. We gently lifted him and placed him in the shade by the stream. Tonight we hope that he will dine on a feast of slugs & snails under the canopy of hostas.

Wedding Belles.

What excitement! Today some of the plants from the garden are being chosen to perform, as centre pieces, at a local wedding. The florists have had a 'free rein' with their secateurs and left with boxes full of pittosporum and solomon's seal. We have used pittosporum, the evergreen foliage shrub, extensively in this garden. In particular, the knee-high 'Tom Thumb' version with it's purple-bronze foliage and lime green shoots.It seems that whenever we are in a fix over what to plant in a particular spot, Tom Thumb dashes to the rescue on his 'purple' charger!
At the moment it seems to be christmas every day. Each morning Isis & I walk through the garden to discover the new day's developments; far more exciting than the newspaper. This morning it was the crimson, old rose hybrid 'Darcey Bussell'. Last year we planted her in the 'Flamenco Bed',& I have to say that she has not disappointed. Her beautiful red flowers should produce freely, before becoming tinged with mauve just before they drop. The perfect level of drama required for this planting.

Three Men in Bee Suits!

The party in the garden was a great success and enjoyed by all! (Including the doggies). Sunday was a big day, it was time for a Bee Inspection with, 'Englebert' our mentor Bee Keeper. 'Aphrodite and the girls' were calm & welcoming. We have treated them for'nocema cernarnae' a repiratory disease that is on the increase in U.K hives. We found our Queen, she was calm and healthy, her workers welcmed her back effusively when we replaced her on her frame.

Party in The Garden.

A Delicious Fragrance.

Walking along the terrace to continue planting my geraniums, I encountered a delicious fragrance. Close inspection revealed that it was a combination of wisteria and choisya. How could I not have noticed this before? The wisteria is planted in poor soil in-between the patio slabs & has endured severe pruning and neglect to allow the progress of our various building projects. Yet, in spite of all this it has rewarded us with stunning, fragrant blooms! That's what I love about plants they don't judge you or harbour a grudge about the way that you treat them, they just strive to do their best!

I just have to mention the ruby rock roses planted around the L'Heure Bleu seating area . These hardy plants originate from the rocky parts of the Mediterranean. They are drought resistant and low maintenance What more can you ask?

A Toad in The Compost

I've been planting up the summer troughs with my favorite summer flowers, GERANIUMS, I just love them! Imagine my surprise at meeting Mr Toad, behind a bag of compost, outside the front door . He's moved in of his own accord & seems totally "au fait" with his new territory. He's a welcome addition to our menagerie as he thrives on a gourmet diet of insects. His presence, along with that of his family , probably explains our thriving hostas around the pond. Each year our Hostas survive without the aid of pesticides. We are greatly indebted to Mr Toad and the families of wild birds who live in the garden.

A Welcome Visitor

As I look out of the window I'm watching a greater spotted woodpecker on the feeder. He's a regular visitor & seems to be less shy of us these days. He loves Charlie's peanuts! We had a great weekend in the garden and one of the highlights was rescuing a couple of baby newts & a tadpole from the pondweed in the fishing net. It was the first time that I had ever held one in my hand, it was magical. As soon as we returned them to the water they disappeared in a flash, their speed is amazing. Two weeks ago we sunk a new bale of barley straw to help clear the water. It's working, hopefully we'll be able to sit peacefully at the water's edge and watch the wildlife.
Down the steps to the front door is our French "Shabby Chic" inspired planting. The fragrant, deep pink shrub rose "Gertrude Jekyll" has just started flowering along the old fashioned hazel frames that we constructed last autumn. This year she is covered in blooms and I can't wait for them to open, her fresh green scent is divine on the summer air. This year we have planted a companion for her in the bed! The antique rose Compte de Chambord. For the past two years he has resided in our italianate planting, but alas the soil was to wet for his aristocratic feet! We hope that he will be happier in his new home where the soil is in full sun. The combination of these two distinguished roses should produce an exquisite aroma & if we are blessed with good weather the large frilly flowerheads should last well.
We can't stop looking at the L'Heure Bleu planting with the full flowerheads at their peak. The swathe of violet/blue iris is intensified by the punctation of red poppies, & the graceful bow of the roses "Snowden" & "Nevada".