Monday 31 March 2014

The garden at the end of March

Southern England continues to be really mild and looking back on pictures from last year I reckon we are about 2 weeks ahead of where we were last year which is ironic as I feel about 2 weeks behind of where I should be! This is partially due to things having been rather busy as I am about to change jobs, leaving behind the glamour of Elephant and Castle Shopping Center for Camden Town. This is very exciting for me as a plant wise as it means my lunchtimes can be spent wandering Regents Park and all the exotic gems that it holds.



There has been so much going on in the garden....I think I finished my jiggling around early in the month and most things are in their new homes, although I have a lot of plants in my holding pen waiting for a new home. It has been a relief to be able to give away some plants to nice neighbours and local folk as it has avoided the guilt of composting them! Having space for new plants is my major headache at the moment as there is only so much squeezing you can do, and as the current plants get bigger and bigger my planting is getting less dense!
Giant Echiums are alive! this one at the back is now at about 7ft
Melianthus major...fabulously exotic flowers and foliage
Surprisingly things are now drying out fast....all the pots were dry and the Cyathea was a little fried. The Sarracenias needed some emergency help as they were crisp.

I am also quite fried as how fit I think I am is very different to the ragged exhausted person I tend to be at the end of a days gardening.

So big things:

Cannas are all out of the meter cupboard and already growing....even those left in pots are shooting

Seeds are mostly all planted....this year I have about 20 Ricisnus, and the usual Tithonia, Cuphea and Coleus. New exciting things include Giant Fennel (please grow!)

The Ensetes are also now all out of the cupboard and look ok....they are still firm and dry with no rot so I really hope they root easily and come back to life

Etiolated but alive (a bit like me at the end of a days work)
Bees: I am now a three hive family and after much cursing about why I didn't order a pre assembled hive the new one (Balmoral) is now up and running and the bees settling in well. Hive 1 is mega busy and has already ¼ filled a super with honey which is so unusual. Fingers crossed it is a good year.

Hello ladyzzzz

So everything is looking good and it is so nice to be able to loll about outside (the hammock has now been out twice) but lots to do. Happy gardening

Cardoons looking nice and jungly

This area is completely re-organised with a huge bamboo being moved,and now looking so sickly :(

Is that a nasturshum still lowering from last year? why yes it is

Productive beds looking proper! thank you to Sue and Steven

A giant dahlia which is actually sprouting from last years wood!

Although it looks empty there is lots of things coming into life and things to be done

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Doddington Hall, Lincoln: go visit for NGS on Sunday 16th March

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of visiting the gardens of Doddington Hall, an Elizabethan Hall near Lincoln. I didn’t know what to expect as it is not exactly garden visiting weather, however the garden was bursting with spring with a really interesting structure made all the more special by having the hall in the background. It had something for everyone with a labyrinth, wild garden, bogs and Temple of the Winds.
This Sunday (16th March) they are opening for the NGS so go! A great trip out and something to liven the senses




Everyone likes a few balls on sticks....


dogs tooth violets
 a bit of calmness

 I didn't get lost in the labyrinth


 Rhododendron with a fabulous exotic effect leaf...I'm coming round to them more and more


Crocus's a go go


The most gnarled and ancient trees you will see in a long time


A whole avenue of globe artichokes....magnificent jungly foliage


Fabulous arum


And who can go wrong with a Unicorn topiary?



and what is more English than an old church surrounded by daffodil?


Visit! Doddington Hall is magnificent!

Saturday 8 March 2014

Madrid

Last week we spent a great few days in Madrid, and although the main focus was to escape cold rainy England, eat lots of tapas, drink sherry and stay out too late there were lots of nice planty things to be seen.


Climate wise Madrid is cold at this time of the year, and looked much like London, although there were a lot more lonely looking palm trees, looking decidedly out of place surrounded by barren deciduous trees.

They probably had the best cabbages I had seen


Then in the large Retiro park which runs in the heart of the city there were these fantastic trees which reminded me of the cloud trees in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok



Spring was in the air, and they had a long run of cherry trees which the local parakeets seemed intent on eating!


 One of the coolest things was to visit the Atocha station, Europe's largest train station which had been refurbished to include a massive tropical garden!



 All rather unexpected! good fun, but could do with a good dust



In the station that had a vending machine for flowers which was a great idea, although a little amusing


 and lots of turtles which the pigeons seemed oblivious to


An unexpected find was the Sorolla museum, based in the house of Mr Sorolla an artist at the turn of the century who was very into the use of light in paintings and quite Renoire like. He had a fabulous moorish style garden, which was an exotic breath of air on a dull day


 cooling fountains and nice tiled floors




I loved the simplicity of 3 pots full of Aspidestras


All in all we liked Madrid, and the tapas, and the churros, and the sherry.....although it has been nice to come back to London for a non 'Jamon' based diet. I look forward to returning when it is warmer and visiting the botanic gardens which I only peered through the railings at, and eating more tapas!