The big opening: pictures of things at their best

So the one day where the garden was pimped, pruned and pampered to an inch of its life has come and gone with our third opening for the National Gardens Scheme. In total we had 319 visitors and make £1562!

 In all it was a fabulous day and probably one of the smoothest so far...we learnt from last year with things such as don’t have a long boozy lunch just before opening and turn on the water boiler well before people want any tea. We were also well prepared...my mother had made at least 40metres of bunting and has been buying small plates from charity shops over the year; I even did a prompts sheet for garden helpers with the names of the plants. Steven also managed to make all the cakes the day before in his mini marathon of baking with his Mum.  

Gardens are funny things as they change so much and do unexpected things....some talking to the plants and excessive watering worked as sulking Cannas have really come into their own, and the Ricinus have been grown about 2 foot in the last few weeks, the Dahlias continued to sulk, despite some stern words, and many still hadn’t flowered. However there were some surprises and an amazing Tigridia lily flowered in just the right spot to catch people’s eyes, and a Hibiscus ‘Kopper king’ flowered at 2:30pm for the first time since I bought it in 2011.

Om the day Hedychium densiflorum flowered for the first time as did the Hibiscus

Another unexpected thing had been the article in the Independent the day before....it is online if you want to see it click here. Out of the blue Anna Pavord had contacted me to do an article, and I had a few weeks of worrying how it would be culminating in leaving the house early on Saturday morning, and nervously reading the paper balanced on a wheelie bin on Bellenden Road.  I must admit to being happier talking about the garden than myself (there are very few pictures of me on this blog) however I liked the article and there were about 35 people who came as a result of it, many hunting for the Kalopanax.  This has also meant that I am no longer invisible...as on the first opening I would simply take off my yellow sticker and pretend to be one of the crowd, but that didn't work this time!

It was lovely meeting so many people who knew their plants and talking gardens, lots of people also said the right things..some of my favourites were..... ‘How many gardeners do you employ?’ none! ‘So are you a professional garden designer?’ no, I work full time managing a charity! ‘Do you have a lot of help?’ yes and no, as I have some good slaves...

At several points the garden was so so full of people and it was hard to get around, I could also see the steam coming out of the kitchen as so many people wanted cake and I could feel the stress! However I hope people enjoyed themselves and liked what they saw.

So thank you to everyone who came, a huge part of the opening is about raising money for charity and it is amazing that we made £1562! Thank you for kind words, to the lady who gave me a hibiscus, to all the fabulous friends who made and brought cakes. A huge thank you to Laurence, Peter and Hannah for helping, Ian and Irene for doing the door and to Wendy who thought she was just coming to look round the garden but ended up washing up for several hours. Finally big thank you to my parents for all their hard work gardening and getting the garden into shape, to all the friends who have helped on gardening days and the husband for his patience and support.

Hurrah! For anyone thinking about opening for NGS do it! It is great fun and a great way to raise money...

So some pictures from the day and of things at their peak, and at the end a plant list for people who asked for it

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

For NGS geeks in terms of the breakdown of our visitors, 10 had been before,  64 came from local advertising, 73 from the Yellow book, 35 the Independent, article 35 were friends, 3 from this blog!

Plant list: lots of people asked about this, so here is is...its not especially user friendly so do email if you want to know the name of anything in particular

Name

Acanthus 'Morning Candle'

Acidanthera: Callianthus

Aconitum Napellus

Actinidia delciosa

Actinidia delciosa Hayward

Agastache foeniculum 'Licoroish blue'

agave brevifolia??

AGAVE PARRYI

Albizzia julibrissin rosea

Allium Aflatunense

Allium rosenbachianum

aloe aristata

Aloe striatula

alstromera red beauty

amenome japonica hyb andrea atkinson

Amicia zygomeris

Amorphophallus konjac

ampelosis acontifolia 'Chinese lace'

Anemone : Honorine Jobert

Anemopsis californica

anthyrium felix femmina 'Frizelliae' Irish tattling fern

anthyrium nipponicum var pictum

Aqueliga 'Blue Barlow'

Aralia cachemirica

Aralia racemosa

Arisaema consanguineum

Arisaema nepehthiodes

Arisaema tortuosa

Arisaemia griffii

Arisara speciosum

Armeria maritima spendens

arum italicum marmoratum

Arum italicum pictum

Arundo donax

Arundo donax 'Variegata'

Aspidestra attenuata BSW5377

Asplenium Scolopendrium Crispa

Astelia chat. Silver spear

Aster 'Little Carlow' -

Astiboles tabularis

Athyrium Lady in Red

athyrium otophorum var okanum

Bamboo propinqua

Bamboo 'Shanghai 3'

Bechnum fluviatile

Begonia grandid 'Sapporo'

Begonia grandis subsp Evansiana

BEGONIA LUXURIANS

Begonia palmata

Bergenia 'Autumn magic'

Bergenia ciliata

bergenia 'edens magic giant'

BESCHORNERIA SEPTENTRIONALIS

Black fig

Blechium spicant: hard fern

Blechnum chilensis

Blechnum nudum

Bog arum

Boomera acutifolia

Brunnera 'Looking Glass'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Buddleja Black Night

BUTIA capitata

Butomus umbellatus

Campsis radians

Canna Durban

Canna endeavor

Canna musiflora

canna president

canna Richard Wallace

Canna Russian Red

Canna syngapore girl

Canna Wyoming

cardiocrinium giganteum: giant himilayan lilly

Catalpa bignoniodes

Cauteleya cathcarti 'Tenzings gold'

Cauteleya gracilis

Cauteleya spicata 'Arun flame'

Cetatophyllum demersum

Chamerops humilis

Chamerops humis (morocco)

Cheilanthes tomentosa (~lanosa)

Chelone obliqua (Turtle Head)

Cistus x purpureus

Clematis alpine 'Ruby'

Clematis armandii

clematis 'Etoile Violette'

Clematis kingfisher

clematis macropetala

Clematis Princess Diana

Clematis texensis 'Gravetye Beauty'

clematis westerplatte

Clerodendrum t. 'var fargesii

Clerodendrum trichotomum

Clerodendum bungeii

Coprosmax kirkii variagata

Cordyline 'southern splendor'

Coreopsis sunray

Cotinus cogygina'Royal Purple'

Cotinus Grace

crambe cordifolia

crassifolius PSEUDOPANAX

Crinium album

Crocosmia 'Carmin brilliant'

Crocosmia 'Emily Mc Kensie'

Crocosmia fucata x paniculata

Crocosmia harlequin

Crocosmia 'Krakatoa'

Crocosmia Mount usher

Crocosmia panniculata: red kolugha

Crocosmia scarlatti

Crocosmia solfatare fishacre

Crocosmia: Babylon

Crocosmia: Voyager

Crocus sativus

Crocus tom ruby giant

Curculigo crassifolia

Cyathea cunninghamii

Cyclamum colum

Cypripedium kentucky

Daffodil Cyclamineus Jefire

Daffodil minnow

Daffodil tete a tete

Daffodil thalia

Dahlia Bishop of Dover

Dahlia bishop of llandalf

Dahlia 'Chat noir'

DAHLIA 'ENGLEHARDT'S MATADOR'

Dahlia excelsa

Dahlia imperialis

Dahlia Karma Pink corona

Dahlia khlondyke

Dahlia merkii

Dahlia 'Nuit d'ete'

Dahlia snowflake

Dahlias: Cactus: Elga

Dahlias: Cactus: Nuit D'ete

Dahlias: Cactus: Rip City

Dahlias: Decorative : Babylon Red

Dahlias: Decorative : Yellow Happiness

Dahlias: Karma Collection : Karma Naomi

Dahlias: Pompon and Ball : Red Cap

Darlingtonia californica

Darmera peltata

Datura chlorantha

Decaissnea fargessi

delosperma aberdeensis

Delosperma nubigenum ~(methysembryanthemum bastulolard)

Dianella tasmanica Tasred

dicksonia antarctica

Dierama pulcherinium

Digitalis parviflora 'Milk Chocolate'

Digitalis 'Spice Island'

Drosera intermedia

Drosera slackii

dryopteris affinis

dryopteris affinis 'crista the king'

Dryopteris atrata: shaggy shielf fern

dryopteris erythrosa

Dryopteris lepidopa

dryopteris sieboldii

dryopteris wallichiana

Dutch Iris Blue Pearl

DYCKIA FRIGIDA

Echinacea magnus

Echinops Vetychs blue

Echium russicum

Ecremius bungei

Elegia capensis ~(restio)

ENSETE glaucum

Ensete ventricos MARELLII

ENSETE ventricosa

epimedium x perralchium 'Frohnleiten'

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphurum'

Equisetum japonica

Eremus himalaicus

eringeron karvinskianus

Eryngium alpinum

eryngium pandanifolium

eryngium paniculatum

Erythra crista gali

Eucalyptus perriniana

Euonymus fortuenii 'wolong ghost'

eupatorium capillifolium

Euphorbia : Fireglow

Euphorbia : Polycroma

euphorbia cyparissus 'fens ruby'

euphorbia grifithi 'fireglow'

euphorbia martinni

Euphorbia mellifera

euphorbia myrsinites

Euphorbia pasteuri

Eyngium eberneum

Farfugium jamponicum aureomalulatum

Fargesia murielae 'Jumbo'

Fasicularia bicolor

Fatshedera lizei

fatsia japonica

Fatsia polycarpa

Ferraria: Tigridia

Fesuca glauca 'golden toupee'

Ficus carica 'Brunswick'

Fritillaria Imperialis Rubra Maxima

Fuchia fulgens gesneriana

Fuchia Orient express

Fuchsia thalia

Galdiolus purple flora

Geranium : Red Admiral

Geranium Alum

Geranium 'Jolly Bee'

geranium macrorrhizum'

Geranium magerense

geranium phaum 'Samobor'

Geranium pratense

Geranium 'Red admiral'

Giant Egyptian papyrus

Gladioli Mexico

Gladioli Nanus Claudia

Gladiolus comm 'Byzantium'

Golden dome hebe

Gunnera manicata

Hacquetia epipactis

Hechera 'obsidian'

Hedychium aurantacum

hedychium coronatum x gardenium

hedychium densiflorum

hedychium densiflorum 'stephen'

Hedychium elliptum

Hedychium gardenium

Hedychium greenii

Hedychium greenii

Hedychium maximum

Hedychium x kewense

HELIANTHUS 'MISS MELLISH'

HELIANTHUS SALICIFOLIUS

helleborus argutifolius

Helleborus foetidus

Hemerocalis 'Crimson Pirate'

hemerocalis 'Night Beacon'

Hemerocallis : Crimson Pirate

heuchera 'Bronze beauty'

Heuchera 'Lime Rickey'

Hibiscus 'Fireball'

Hibiscus 'Kopper king'

Hibiscus 'Robert Flemming'

Hippuris vulgaris

Holboellia latifolia

Hosta elegans

Hosta sum and substance

hottonia paulustris: water violet

Hyacinth Fondant

Hyacinth Prepared Jan Bos

Hyacinth Woodstock

Hydrandea aspera 'macrophylla'

Hydrangea sargentiana

Hydrangea seemannii

Impatiens omeiana

INDOCALAMUS tessalatus

Inula racemosa sonnenspeer

Iris chrysographes Black Knight

Iris confusa

Iris ewsata 'centre of interest'?

iris foetissima

Iris japonica var variagata

Kalopanax pictus

Knautia macedonia 'Mrs midget'

Kniphofia Alcaza

knipofia culenescens

Knipofia uvaria 'Nobilis'

Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy'

lampranthus cerise magenta

Liriope : Moneymaker

Lobelia tupa

Lobelia?

Lysichiton americanus

Magnolia macrpphylla

Mahonia oiwakensis

Mamaku CYATHEA medularis

Manfreda maculata

Matteuccia Struthiopteris

Melianthus major

Meyanthes trifoliata

Miscanthus cabaret

miscanthus giganteus

Miscanthus sacchariflorus

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Bar'

Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

Miscanthus x giganteus

miscanthus zebrinus

Morina longifolia

Muhranbeckia complexa, large leafed form?

Muhranbeckia? Small leaf

Musa chimi champa

Musa dhusray

Musa manii

Musa sikkimensis 'red tiger'

Muscari 'dark eyes' grape hyasinth

Muscari latifolium?

Muscari plumosum

Narcissi Cyclamineus Trena

Narcissi Professor Einstein

Narcissus conspicus

Narcissus Jonquilla 'Dick cissel'

Narcissus minow

Narcissus species canaliculatus

Narcissus tazetta scarlet gem

Nerine bowdenii

Nerine?

Nymphaea 'Marliacea Albidea'

Nymphaea 'Texas Dawn'

Nymphea pygmea rubra

Nymphoides peltata

Oxalis tuberosa

Paulownia foruneu 'Fast Blue'

Paulownia tomentosa

Penstemon : Rich Ruby

Persicaria blackfield

Persicaria 'campanulata'

Persicaria comptons red

Persicaria microcephala 'Purple Fantasy'

Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'

Persicaria virginiana

Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis 'Lance Corporal'

Petasites japonicus giganteus

Phlox stolonifera

PHORMIUM ‘black adder’

Phormium tricolor

Phormium variagata?

phormium 'Yellow Wave'

Phygelius Croftway purple prince

Phyllostachys aurea: golden bamboo

Phyllostachys aurea-sulcata (spectablilis)

Phyllostachys bissetti

Phyllostachys glauca

Phyllostachys gracilis? Weeping bamboo

Phyllostacys nigra

Phylostachys vivax

Physegelius

Physygelius x rectus 'Devils Tears'

Pinguicula grandiflora

Pleione formosana

Podophyllum 'Kaleidoscope'

Podophyllum peltum

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

polygonatum multiflorum

Polypodum vulgare

Polypodum vulgare v. Bifidium

Polysitichium polyblepharum Jade

polystichium aelleatum 'Densum'

polystichium munitum: American Sword Fern

Pontederia cordata var lancifolia

Potamogetum crispus

Pseudopanax ferox

PSEUDOPANAX FEROX

PSEUDOPANAX LESSONII PURPUREA

Pseudosasa japonica

Pteris cretica Parkeri

Puya berteroniana

puya caerula

RATIBIDA PINNATA

redbeckia maxima

Rhapsis? Raffles Palm?

Rheum palmatum

Ribes nigrum 'Ojebyn'

Ribes rubum 'Jonkheer vaan Tets'

Ribes uva-cripsa Hinnomaki Rod Green

Romneya coulteri

Roscoea 'Beesiana'

Rudbeckia fulgia var sullianii 'Goldstrum'

rudbeckia herbsonne

RUMEX ALPINUS

Salvia black and blue

salvia elegans (pineapple sage)

Salvia elegans (tangerine sage)

Salvia gesneriflora

Salvia indigo spires

Salvia 'Mulberry Jam'

Salvia 'red velvet'

Salvia uliglosa

Salvia x jamensis 'Hot Lips'

Sambucus nigra

SANGUISORBA HAKUSANENSIS

Saxifraga fortuenei 'blackberry and Apple Pie'

Saxifraga 'Purple fantasy'

Saxifraga stolonifera 'Maroon beauty'

Schizostylis coccinea Kaffir lilly

Schleffera aff. Enneaphylla

Schleffera macrophylla

Sedum blue carpet

Sedum coca cola

Sedum iceberg

Sedum kamtscaticum var floriferum 'Weibenstephoner Gold'

Sedum pachyclados

Sedum 'Xenox'

Selinum wallichianum

sempervirum arachnoidem

Sempervirum calcareum

sempervirum granby

Sempervirum 'oddity'

sempervirum ven der steen

Sisyrinchium calcareum

Sonchus fruiticosa

stauntonia hexaphylla

Stauntonia hexaphylla

Tetrapanax papyrifira

Thaila Dealbata

Thalia angustfolium?

Thalictrum albumn

Thymus citridoreus aurea

Thymus doone vallye

Thypha minima

Tigridia (mixed)

Trachycarpus latisectus

TRACHYCARPUS MANIPUR/NAGA HILL

Trachycarpus nani tal

TRACHYCARPUS 'NOVA'

TRACHYCARPUS PRINCEPS

Trachycarpus wagerianus

Trachyosepermum jasminoides

Tricytis 'Blue Wonder'

Tricytis 'Purple Beauty'

Tropaeolum brachycerus

Tropaolum cilatum

Tulip Christmas Marvel

Tulip Golden Apeldoorn

tulip lady jane

Tulip Red Shine

Utricularia praelonga

Utricularia sandersonii

Verbascum chaixii album

Veronica goldwell

WASHINGTONIA robusta

YUCCA PURPUREA

Yucca rostrata 'Sapphire Skies' -

Yucca smaller (palm farm)?

Zantedescita aethiopica