Grasses in Beth Chatto’s Garden

There were some wonderful grasses in flower: Carex Elata ‘Aurea’, Molinia, Stipa Calamagrostis, Pennisetum ‘Villosum’ (I think), and many others.      

Beth Chatto’s Garden

Beth Chatto’s Garden at Elmstead Market is a remarkable achievement! And her gardening philosophy is so simple – grow plants in an environment to which they are adapted. I came across her ideas at the Chelsea Flower Show when she first started exhibiting in 1975 and even have some of the original catalogues. Yesterday I visited her garden for the…

Houghton Hall’s Walled Garden

The Walled Garden was redesigned in 1991 when ‘..the space was divided into several contrasting ‘ornamental gardens’. These include spectacular double-sided herbaceous borders, Italian garden, formal rose parterre (with over 150 varieties of rose), fruit and vegetable garden, glass house, rustic temple, statues, fountains and Jeppe Hein’s ‘Waterflame’..’. It was a very gloomy, windy, chilly…

Houghton Hall

Houghton Hall is situated in North Norfolk and one of the most extraordinary grand country estates I have ever seen – opulent, lavish, elegant, and with an amazing walled garden.

Piet Oudolf’s Millennium Garden, Pensthorpe

I returned to Pensthorpe to linger in Piet Oudolf’s Millennium Garden which seemed even more beautiful than ten days ago. The grasses are wonderful and the perennials are in full bloom. Don’t miss visiting this garden! You may be interested in How to grow Molinia Where to buy grasses

RHS Hyde Hall

On a hot day, less windy than it has been, I visited RHS Hyde Hall. Dr and Mrs Robinson bought Hyde Hall Farm in 1955 and a determined Mrs Robinson started gardening – what an extraordinary achievement – I think they would be pleased with the results today, and the pleasure they are giving to so many…

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve  is a wonderful site near the North Norfolk coast. I visited in order to see the Millennium Garden designed by Piet Oudolf, but there are other gardens, walks, birds, and activities for children. And the scones and homemade cakes are very good too! Do try to visit this wonderful, magical place.

A sloping site, no.2

Another idea for the sloping site would be to use dogwoods – different varieties of Cornus. This would create a leafy bank, with soft greens and whites, and coloured bark in the winter. Growth could and must be controlled by pruning early in the spring. But I wonder if the site is damp enough? And is this the…