After a glorious spring and summer weather-wise and enough rain to keep the plants content the late summer –autumn season is still very colourful with the herbaceous borders at the entrance to the gardens a colourful spectacle with the deep reds of Persicaria mingling with yellow Kniphofias and several clumps of Phlox in shades of white and pink and even a dusky blue. A wealth of Asters -michaelmas daisies are about to burst into colour extending the colour palette into October.
Our big project this year has been to revitalise the bog gardens: a large expanse in the middle of the garden. It has involved lifting a lot of the plants in there, splitting them up and replanting together with new ones and replanting into the well dug soil. Thankfully it has resulted in a colourful display, despite the hot weather, using Astilbe, Ligularia, Day Lilies, Crocosmia and other plants which appreciate a moisture retentive soil. Spring flowering Candelabra Primulas mingle among the later flowering subjects like the various Iris and for even later effect, clumps of Hesperantha will bring their pink and red blooms at the close of the flowering season. Of course, by next year all of these plants will have got established and the display should be quite dramatic.
One new planting area is not far away and involves the use of more tropical plants like Bananas as well as the exotic effect of Cannas and gingers and many other unusual plants. These will be the plants we will be growing in years to come as the climate becomes drier in summer and milder in winter. These plants will bring a splash of colour in the next month or two and be even more spectacular next year when they get established.
The other area we are pushing the boundaries out is the Mediterranean garden just below the tea-room where more South African and Australian plants are being successfully grown now our winters are milder. Mediterranean areas are not just located in Europe but areas around the globe with similar climate are also included and many Australasia plants can be hardy enough to include. Correas are known as Australian Fuchsias as they possess flowers very similar but flower from autumn to late spring. We have had these outside for the past three years and have unaffected by any frost we have had. Together with Prostantheras (Australian Mint Bushes) with aromatic foliage and white or blue flowers in winter and together with Callistemon (the Bottle Brushes and New Zealand Tea-Trees the whole concept of what to plant is changing along with our climate. As long as you can provide good drainage for them to grown in and preferably a sunny warm spot, they will be quite happy.
There are still plenty of traditional shrubs and herbaceous plants in flower and the trees will soon be starting their annual spectacle of oranges and red leave colour as they wind down for the winter. So, a nice walk around the garden in the next two months is a must together with a nice cup of tea and cake or scone in the Tea-room. Of course, a visit to our plant sales is a must if you have spotted a plant on your travels. We are open till the end of October, so plenty of time to enjoy a peaceful stroll!
