Timber!

Today was a sad day at Blythe Gardens. The beautiful eucalyptus that has graced my garden for 12 years has been felled. It had been diagnosed with the dreaded Honey fungus, so there was no decision to be made - it had to go. Has given many years of pleasure to me and friends with lovely bark. This is problem with planting non-native species so beware.

New Year White-out

Today it is snowing seriously. I fear our luck has run out in Cheshire. Have been to shops in anticipation, so do I care - do I heck! Got lots to read and plenty on radio. My new year's resolution is to de-clutter and sort photos on computer - boredom is not in my vocabulary!

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS!

View from my bedroom window.

Japanese Garden

Last week I attended a lecture on the restoration of the Japanese Garden at Tatton Park (Knutsford) by head gardener Sam Youd. After an entertaining and informative illustrated talk in the Mansion house we were given an 'inside' tour of the garden and island area. As the day was sunny the light filtered through the trees making it a photographer's paradise. I also had booked in for the lunch held in the adjacent room to the restaurant where there was further time to chat about our garden experience. A memorable day.

Mount Pleasant Gardens

Recently I went with the Sunday Garden Group to Mount Pleasant Gardens near Kelsall. This garden set on a hillside with lots of hidden corners is ideal for the sculpture exhibition displaying work by local artists, which seems to be an annual event at this time of year. Again we were lucky with the weather and could enjoy refreshments al fresco. What I love about this garden is that there are seats tucked away everywhere. The Japanese garden is spectacular.

Make up your own caption for the Meerkats. Mine is "Did you hear the one about ........"

Morning Glory

Every morning weather permitting I indulge in a cup of filter coffee in my garden shelter. But first I have to pass the fence with my 'Morning Glory' annuals to inspect the day's offerings. For the 'latinists' these are Ipomoea purpurea belonging to the Convolvulaceae family and for the non-gardeners the flowers only last for a day. I've only once ever bought seeds several years ago and for ever after they manage to self-seed themselves. The are dark purple (Star of Yalta), white (Milky way) and mauve (Grandpa Otis). Well today I noticed 2 new hybrids with colours pink and dark pink - was I excited. I think my friend had bought them in a packet and they hadn't done well for her. So the moral of this story is to leave everything to mother nature!

An Organic Garden

Today I went with my gardening chums to Pete Woollam's organic vegetable and fruit garden at the back of Alderley Edge. The weather forecast was not good as we were on the tail end of Hurricane Bill but as one of our members said "It will be an adventure!" Fortunately the afternoon stayed dry and 9 of us browsed and sampled this wonderful plotof land. There were lots of edible unusual plants that we had never heard of - like huckleberries and wine berries. And lots of grassy paths to explore with hidden corners - all mingled with a profusion of flowers to attract beneficial insects. No harmful chemicals are needed in this garden.

Pete is talking to a gate-crasher as we are a group of all women!

Art in the Garden

Inspired by last blog and taking many photos of unusual bikes whilst on holiday, I thought it was about time I got my own art installation in my garden. This old bike was kindly donated by a friend's son and my decorator recently gave it a spray. I've yet to give it a title?

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

On Sunday I had booked to go with the Sunday Garden Group to Birmingham Botanical Gardens. My friends and I were very impressed with the lay-out and variety of interesting areas for all family members. After a fairly stress free bus trip along the M6 we emerged through the hot glass houses to a terrace overlooking the bandstand, where we succumbed to a cup of tea before the tour. That afternoon the Birmingham City Brass band played almost continually and it was a delight to hear the music in the background as we strolled in the sunshine.

A Secret Garden

What a way to start the glorious month of May with a visit to this lovely garden, even if we did have umberellas to the ready. 'The Rowans' near Malpas Cheshire is open to the public in July under the National Garden Scheme www.ngs.org I was fortunate to be invited as a guest with a friend as part of her garden design group and we had a personally conducted tour by the owners.

tulipmania

This time of year I am consumed by tulipmania. This one was bought 2 years ago as 'Orange Emperor' and put in a pot in the front garden. I was a bit disappointed that it came out as yellow, so decided to try it by the shed to follow on after the daffs. Last year no flowers but this year - yellow streaked with red - interesting?

Daffodils

Every year I like to grow different sorts of daffodils.

This is an unusual one with a split corona that I thought was Cassata but on looking in the catalogue it looks like Belcanto? I bought it 2 years ago and dont seem to have made a record at the time. Then again the bulb firm could have got it wrong so I'll have to order Cassata next autumn to check. Who cares anyway they are all gorgeous!

Special Hellebore

This is a Hellebore called 'Betty Ranacor'. I have waited 5 years for it to flower after purchase.

It has 8 flowers and resides in the courtyard outside my kitchen door. I have just had this area revamped with a membrane and pebbles. Black/purple hellebores have spread here too, which are wonderful when the light catches the petals.

Winter Flowers

ODE TO THE WITCH HAZEL

Each day I shuffle down the broken path
Just to inhale your sharp lemony fragrance.
Soother of rheumy eyes.
My interest sustained by delicate flowers of filigree
On knarled old branches.
Zest of my youth long gone.

Jean's garden in snow

These images were taken in early January when I woke to a magical garden transformed by the white stuff!

Garden Autumn colours

The leaves are falling fast and furious now and when the sun shines we have some colour left to enjoy before the starkness of winter sets in next month. The red bush is Cotinus coggria.

LATE LEAVES

The leaves are falling; so am I;

The few late flowers have moisture in the eye;

So have I too.

Scarcely on any bough is heard

Joyous, or even unjoyous bird

The whole wood through.

Walter Savage Landor

Sorry Walter - did see a wren and treecreeper in garden to gladden my heart.

Prize Pumpkin

This is John with an enormous pumpkin, weighing in at 6 stone with a diametre of 2 foot. The plant itself spread over nearly half the vegetable garden - 11 metres long. The story is my eldest son Jamie is learning how to grow veggies and needed a courgette plant. A gardening friend donated a plant to me but wasn't sure what it was. Turned out to be said pumpkin which grew and grew - was never fed but was in a bed that had lain fallow for a few years. Jamie has the awesome task of dealing with the yellow beast!