‘…Lavender Pond Nature Park was created in 1981 by LB Southwark in conjunction with the Trust for Urban Ecology and Landuse Consultants Ltd. It was once in the northern part of the Surrey Commercial Docks established in 1864 [and] finally closed in 1969. Nearby are remnants of the earlier industrial use, the Lavender Lock built in 1863 to serve a timber pond that belonged to the Surrey Docks, and the Pump House, built by Port of London Authority in 1928/9 over the channel through to the Thames…’. (London Gardens Online
The Libertia Grandiflora is now in its 6th year and absolutely filled with flowers stalks which are just starting to open – I am looking forward to the display over the next few weeks, and I am sure the camera will be very busy too.
Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens lies just behind Table Mountain in Cape Town and I wrote about the history of the Gardens on London Traveller.Here I am going to indulge myself further in enjoying the scenery and the plants.
I am finding the Patio Bed another difficult area – semi-shaded, good soil but chalky a few feet down. I was not happy with the positioning of plants last year and so I have made some changes this year, the second year.
We have to tackle a blank canvas and a sloping site – and the plants need to be HARDY. The soil is normal, and there is sunshine, apart from the shade under the magnolia tree.
What to plant underneath the magnolia tree? Euphorbias, Brunnera, Bergenias…
Euphorbia Amgdaloides
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ in flower
Bergenia ‘Abendglut’
They murmured something about ‘a table and chairs for sipping wine…’ and I think either this, or a small tree, but we need some kind of focus to balance the magnolia. (I remembered this view at Pensthorpe.) And then hardy, easy care plants: Miscanthus ‘Kleine silberspinne’ and ‘Morning Light’ behind the table and chairs, with Cornus Alba ‘Elegantissima’ or Viburnum Opulus ‘Compactum’ along the barn wall on the right hand side.
miscanthus sinensis kleine silberspinne (www.green24-de)
Cornus Alba ‘Elegantissima’ (www.pflanzmich.de)
Cornus Alba Elegantissima
Viburnum Opulus Compactum
Viburnum Opulus Compactum
And in the sunny part: Pennisetum Alpecuroides ‘Hamelm’, ‘Karley Rose’, or ‘Villosum’; Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, with Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ and Alchemilla spilling over the edges and attracting the bees.
Pennisetum Alpecuriodes ‘Hamelm’
Pennisetum ‘Karly Rose’ flowers
Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
Alchemilla Mollis
Alchemilla Mollis
And for height should we squeeze in Anemone ‘Hadspens Abundance’, Verbena Bonariensis? Or are Rudbeckia and Gaillardia better colours?
The wonderfully peaceful and green oasis of the Durban Botanical Gardenslies between the City of Durban and the hills of the Berea and is the oldest Botanical Gardens in Durban, founded in 1849, and modelled on the Gardens in Cape Town. The Cycad Collection is apparently the rarest in the world and has been built up since the gardens were started.
It was a mild day in Suffolk, and not raining so I had a chance to tidy up in the garden – a task I had not anticipated doing until March!
The back garden
I cleared Japanese Anemones off the paving and cut down the sedums – both are on the compost heap now. And although it is winter there are lots of colourful treats if you look carefully.
Viburnum Davidii
Euphorbia
Viburnum Opulus Compactum
Dutch Master
Cornus Alba ‘Elegantissima’Cornus Flaviramea
And in the front garden I pruned the roses, cut the Verbena Bonariensis to the ground, and cut down the clematis – all were growing. Was this wise? Well, the deed is done and they have to make the best of it! And early treats are close to the ground.
The garden in Suffolk is not going to sleep – we need cold weather!
Iris Lazula
One of the clematis, ”Prince Charles’, is sending out new growth, the Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ are starting to grow, and the primroses are flowering – what should I do?
