This little bout of self-congratulation was brought about as I spent a large part of the day wandering round Borde Hill gardens with a good friend. The weather was lovely, the company was scintillating (I really should check the meaning of that word) & the award winning gardens were, well, disappointing. Now purely by chance we had got into the garden for nowt: free to RHS members until the end of July. Think how much more disappointed we might have been had we paid £7.50. I expect the place looks much better in the spring when the azaleas & rhododendrons are out but it really looked quite neglected. Even the borders round the very nice pond were half empty when they should have been full of colour. I don't expect perfection but I expect something better than that. I am not posting any pictures of it. You got mine instead.
Now for a little advice for other lazy gardeners. Grow Group 3 clematis: they grow, become a mess because you failed to carefully train & tie them in, they flower beautifully, you cut them right back in the late autumn/spring & make all sorts of resolutions to do better the next year & so the cycle continues. Here are some of mine.
Dear MS B (got it right this time, just call me madame!)
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed an oasis of peace and beauty, all that with a cup of tea too.
I like nothing more than travelling on a train in the UK and having a good look in people's gardens as I pass. This is the country of the high manicured hedge which is very frustrating to a peeper.
I don't have much success with clems so am envious.
Madame Graisses Coquin, thank you for your kind comments about the small section of garden I was prepared to show.
ReplyDeleteI too love having a good nose in people's gardens: from the street, the train & the tube. It is also why I love visiting 'Yellow Book' gardens. Dusk has the added bonus of being able to nose indoors too!
I really love your garden -very beautiful and it looks a fabulous place to relax in (although I would have to swap the cup of tea for a glass of wine ;o) )
ReplyDeleteGreat clematis photographs too!
What's the little white Clem, Ms B (the first one)? - it's pretty.
ReplyDeleteJuliet, hello. That is 'Gazelle', a non-clinger with a light scent. Very pretty indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you! - I will nip over to the Hull site and look it up :)
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