Autumn colour

Posted on 24th October 202219th November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

It really is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. I woke up this morning to find the valley shrouded in mist. It was almost magical as the sun slowly started to burn its way through.

The birds and squirrels were mobbing the feeders. They are stocking up for winter. And there was a definite nip in the air.

Dried flowers and grasses from the summer.

Harvest is finished

Harvest festival has been and gone. The porch of our church was packed with apples. The sweet scent hit you as you approached. Inside, all the window ledges were crammed with produce. It all goes to our local foodbank.

Bumper year for apples

It has been a bumper year for apples. I have never had so many. I feel guilty that we can’t consume them all. But I know the birds and animals will enjoy them.

Are we in for a hard winter?

The pyracanthus is covered in bright orange berries. Is this a sign of a hard winter to come?

Warm days and welcome rain

The garden has enjoyed the warm days and the welcome rain. The grass is growing vigorously. I hope each cut will be the last, but it never is. The dahlias have been magnificent. They started slow but are wonderful now. I am enjoying their vivid colours as I know as soon as there is a frost they will be gone. The gorgeous red Bishop of Llandaff has been a particular star. It has been flowering for months.

Late flowers

Other stars have been the agapanthus and thalictrum. I am really enjoying the very pretty white petals of agapanthus Twister. They have a touch of blue on the outside which is just gorgeous.

Schizostylis is still flowering. Viscountess Byng is a delicate pink.

Campsis and salvia are also providing late colour. I am growing campsis Flava against a south facing wall and love its yellow trumpet flowers. Salvia Confertiflora has unusual velvety red flowers which should last throughout November.

Campsis x tagliabuana ‘Madame Galen’ AGM

Meeting with Alan Titchmarsh

I was privileged to meet Alan Titchmarsh in September. He was appearing at the Appledore Book Festival and it was marvellous to hear his anecdotes about gardening, and much more. I enjoyed being a volunteer for the first time this year.

New assistant is causing havoc

Monty Don has made great reference to his new assistant, Ned, the Labrador puppy. He is not the only one causing havoc in the garden. We have Teddy, a bichon frise, who is also keen to help by digging. Teddy might be creating extra work but he is adorable.

Gardening tips – Take advantage of dry days to give your lawn a last cut (hopefully!) but remember to raise the blades. Prune hedges. Lift tender bulbs and plants and put them in a frost free area for the winter. Mulch dormant perennials. Prune roses. Dig over vegetable plots. Collect seeds from annuals and vegetables.

#agapanthus #dahlia #thalictrum #schizostylis #campsis #salvia #perennials #garden

Raindrops …..

Posted on 31st August 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Magical rain drops

Those first few drops of rain were magical. I wanted to dance outside for joy. You could hear the grass and flowers imbibing the much-needed moisture.

I was a teenager in the great summer of 76. It was much easier being a care-free child than a nursery-owner. I spent the entire time on the beach rather than in a sweltering greenhouse.

Echium Blue Steeple outside the greenhouses

Plants perked up quickly

Having looked very disconsolate in the heat, it was amazing to see how quickly plants perked up once they had had a drink. Dried out dahlias put on new growth. Verbena raised its head. Astilbes had another push. Cosmos which had been very reluctant to bloom all summer were suddenly a riot of colour.

The grass which had been brown and crisp underfoot turned green. It has even started growing which is a shame as I have enjoyed my break from mowing the lawn.

We still need rain

Although we have had some rain we could do with some more. The rivers are running low and more and more hosepipe bans are being introduced. Maybe we need a Minister for Drought. When one was appointed in 1976 the heavens opened immediately.

Gaura The Bride has been a superstar in the hot weather. It is drought tolerant and loves the sun. I will plant some more for next summer.

Autumn is upon us

Autumn is coming. The leaves on many trees have already turned orange and dropped. Cyclamen is flowering. Ruby Strain and Album are providing a gorgeous pink and white swathe of colour.

My schizostylis are already flowering a few weeks earlier thanormal.Viscountess Byng is a vibrant pink. For something a little softer try Pink Princess.

Thinking of bulbs for spring

I need to plant bulbs for next spring. Anemones are top of my list. Virescens produces a carpet of unusual greens blooms and does well in woodland areas.

Room for more lupins

I shall add some more lupins too. Beefeater, Manhattan Lights and Desert Sun will all be found a place.

I am down to do the flowers for the church at the end of September. I don’t think there will be much left in my garden. But, my two week stint covers harvest festival. So hurrah for vegetables which will have pride of place. Anyone for a marrow?

Gardening tips – Keep dead heading flowers to encourage more blooms. Divide perennials for more colour next year. Start next year’s planning for next year. Keep watering

#dahlias #verbena #astilbes #grass #autumn #cyclamen #schizostylis #bulbs #spring #anemones #lupins

Summer rolls on

Posted on 25th July 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Hot weather was great for some

The hot weather in July was a mixed blessing. It was lovely to have day after day of endless sunshine. All that Vitamin D is good for us as long as we continue to smother ourselves in suncream. But it was too hot to sleep at night. My plants and I were both wilting.

Some flowers do well in a heatwave but most would prefer something a little cooler and damper.

Plan garden changes now

If global warming means we should expect more hot weather we should start planning changes to our gardens now.

Plants which thrive in hot weather include hemerocallis, phlox and verbascum. I have some wonderfully hemerocallis. I particularly like Chicago Royal Robe which is a delicious maroon. Frans Hals is also striking with its apricot yellow and mahogany red markings.

Phlox are much less showy. Try Clouds of Perfume with its powder blue flowers. Or go for the highly scented White Perfume.

Try verbascum for height

If you want some height in your garden try a verbascum. Helen Johnson with its beautiful rusty peach flowers is a firm favourite of mine.

Other sun lovers include eryngium and echinacea.

Grasses like sun

If we continue to have long hot summers I will plant more grasses. Imperata Cylindrica Rubra is a must. It is the only grass with truly red leaves. Stipas are also good. Gigantea is a giant feather grass with grey green leaves.

Planted on its own it is a stunning addition to any garden. If you want a grass which shimmers and gleams plant Stipa Tenuissima. It looks like dozens of ponytails swaying in the breeze.

Endless watering

The hot weather has meant a lot of watering. I am very careful not to waste water. I have water butts and use drip systems. But my thirsty plants still drink gallons.

Courgette glut

The hot weather has produced mixed results on my vegetable patch. The onions have started to bolt. I have pulled them out. They are still good to eat but won’t store very well. After a slow start I now have a glut of courgettes. I have made chutney, courgette cake and given loads away. I still have a mountain of them. A friend has suggested making courgette jam. I’m not convinced but will give it a go.

Wimbledon misses a trick

I was very lucky to win tickets for Wimbledon in the public ballot this year. The tennis was magnificent. The flowers were stunning. The organisers have missed a trick though. If the tournament was a month earlier, they could have used lupins. Blacksmith and Cashmere Cream would have fitted in perfectly with the colour scheme perfectly.

Gardening tips – Water, water and then water again but don’t waste any. Start planning next year’s garden displays. Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms. Encourage seed pods on annuals you want to grow from scratch next year. #rain #hemerocallis #phlox #verbascum #eryngium #echinacea #grasses #stipas #flowers #lupins