Harlow Carr in Spring

 

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of visiting RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate. While it is not the first time that we have visited, it was our first visit in the spring time. Even on a typical cool and rather overcast Spring day there is so much to appreciate and enjoy.

While the obvious attractions are (not including the on site Betty's tea rooms) the spring bulbs, I was particularly drawn to the outstanding collection of trees, which when not in leaf have a special beauty of their own, colourful barks seem so much more eye catching. The Tibetan Cherry has stunning burnished bronze bark, while the juxtaposition of  colourful bark and thoughtful under-planting can be a winning combination in all our gardens.

Top tip: Even the smallest garden or pot can take advantage of bark to add year round interest, such as the small dogwood we use in a pot near the front steps up to our house.

The Alpine house was also a popular spot, not just because it offered some respite form the chill. The magnificent detail of the plants, so many brilliant little miniatures are perfectly displayed in the raised beds, that even short sighted gardeners like myself can really get to appreciate the intricacies of these little gems, this delicate flower being smaller than a twenty pence piece.

Containers for Spring Colour

This year we have increased the number of pots with Spring bulbs and colour. The logic is simple, pots can be concentrated by the patio and terrace, the slightly more sheltered parts of the garden and the areas visible from indoors. We have planted out bulb lasagnas for years but this year we have gone much further.

The front of the house has always been the prettiest area in the spring, starting with the snow drops, daffodils, clematis and blue bells. Consequently, it was about time to put a little more focus on the back of the property.

Container and pots create instant impact in your garden. I enjoy the freedom to re-position the best looking pots into the most visible area. It is possible to grow just about any plant in a pot (at least in theory) as you can tailor the aspect, soil, drainage and, to a degree, most of the climatic variables, to suit your specimens. You can use a pot as a focal point, to add instant colour or to grow plants that won't normally grow in your soil. When they are spent the pots can be hidden away and in many instances the plants or bulbs can be saved for next year or even planted out into one of your beds.

The containers themselves are also important. The terrace will normally have just black or white pots to keep the theme but different colours styles and types can really enhance a dull corner or become a real statement. For practical purposes, I like to use plastic pots for the larger containers, this way they can more easily repositioned, an important consideration when they otherwise could be very heavy items.

There are many sources of inspiration on the net, such as David Domoney's blog, but if you like some of these ideas then please leave a comment.

 

 

The Mere Exposure Effect

There is a widely recognized phenomenon in psychology that humans simply seem to like the familiar (also known as the mere exposure effect) and that this is the reason why so many pets and owners have a striking resemblance. In much the same way I am sure that people create gardens that are a reflection of themselves. Whilst this might not always be totally reliable assertion, it is very likely to have an element of validity for a large proportion of us.

This then prompted me to wonder what my garden says about me, or if I do not exactly like the conclusions, what our garden says about us!

Consequently, I have asked a number of close friends what key words they think would best describe the of the garden. Each participant was asked to summarize the style of the garden in no more than 5 words, an attempt to get to the kernel of the matter. Of course, this is not exactly a scientific approach. For a start, the population being surveyed are all friends and are therefore unlikely to use descriptors which are too disparaging (if nothing else out of fear they will not be offered a G&T or ice cold beer next time they might visit). However, curiosity drove me to collate the results and see what might be inferred. After all the garden does consume a significant proportion of my time now that I am retired and it has had literally decades of refinements and modifications to create something that is perhaps an expression of who I am?

The Results:

The most frequently used word was tranquil/ serene, while steep and tiered were the next most popular descriptors.

Does this mean that my personality, as reflected in the garden is someone who is calm and serene? (Or given that there are several tiers is there an underlying split personality defect?). What is for certain others do not see my outdoor space in the same way that I do, and that in itself is rather interesting. I can appreciate why tranquility might be an impression that visitors might take away with them. After all whenever we have company, there is much more sitting, chatting and generally relaxing. This is diametrically apposed to the building, digging, weeding, pruning, planting and general maintenance that engages me for the vast majority of the time. (Although I do concede that when no-one is looking there is a goodly proportion of sitting down going on too!)

Interestingly, there was very little reference to the key words I would have chosen, naturalistic/ disheveled (always being a work in progress) and wildlife friendly. Although one respondent did reveal that she was very tempted to put "like owner unkempt......." but my word restriction did inhibit her from penning this more realistic response.

In summary, I would like to thank the friends who felt able to supply the feedback and I will reflect and feel heartened by the results. I would recommend the exercise.

But survey population beware........ "I can tell a lot about a person by what they choose to see in me" anon.

But please tell me I do not look like him!

Spring into Action

We are now nearly a third of the way through Spring. It has not disappointed, with some glorious days on the Pennines and, of course, some dreek and dank ones too. The gardens and gardeners have now sprung into action and there is a noticeable burst of activity. I always feel removing the covers from the garden furniture marks a critical day in the garden calendar and the onset of a series of jobs.

The picture shows the difference when the covers have been removed and the jet wash has blasted away the winter grime. No wonder it puts a spring in the step.

Before

After, during the inspection

It is revealing how much difference  a patio spring clean can make. The small tub in the centre has been a particular success, with the stark white of the fritilaria uva vulpis, a definite for repeating next year.

Other important jobs have included mulching, raking the lawn and some shifting of plants from conservatory to cold frame. This in turn creates more indoor space for yet more seeds and repotting of seedlings. In other words it is all go!

The same is true of the plant kingdom and the joy of seeing the new buds and the start of regrowth is simply a delight.

 

Plant of the Month

Last week, before the severe gales, I was inspecting the garden, brew in hand, trying to decide what were the early spring highlights.

Hebe 

Narcissus

Primrose

The hebe midnight sun is a plant for all seasons and I cannot recommend this easy to grow little beauty too highly. Of course, daffodils and narcissii are always a breath of dazzling colour and the primroses, a new addition to several spots in the garden, have also been a cheerful sight.

However, I must confess to having a particular fondness for irises and this year there have been some nice reticulata including a new one for me, with a lovely, pale blue flower. They are part of the bulb lasagnas on the patio so that even on the days when venturing outside seems less than appealing they are visible from the kitchen window.

A Cat for all Seasons

Hecate in the grass bed

Mili by the dogwood

Following on from the previous blog entry it seemed appropriate to mention how the two cats have managed in the variable meteorological conditions that we have experience over the Pennines during the past few weeks. Mili and Hecate are of an age now when the big outdoors has somewhat less allure when the weather is inclement. However, it is without fail that my first foray into the garden on any particular day will be accompanied by two feline companions. Whether or not they make it up all the steps to the top of the garden on subsequent trips that the same day is a matter of feline capriciousness.

I am confident that they feel more secure when they have friendly or familiar humans in the vicinity. It rather belies the notion that cats are independent and aloof pets. According to the website of cat behavior consultant Pam Johnson-Bennett, cats aren't aloof; they're focused. If they don't respond immediately when you speak to them, it may just be that they are too engrossed in looking for potential prey, like the foot you're about to move underneath your blanket. Cats may show affection by sitting on you or next to you, rubbing against you, bumping their heads into you and licking you..... and in the case of Hecate and Mili when you can provide the outdoors back up to keep away the scarier of the neighborhood toms.

Last Day of Winter

Spring arrives tomorrow, but this past week has been a foretaste of the season ahead. This year winter has been as temperamental as any gardener could wish for, the seasons being an integral element of all the life cycles which give the gardens their interest. The photographs below summarize the glorious meteorological fluctuations we have had in just 3 months of winter. The pristine white of the snow clad hills give way to fantastical rainbows, cold dazzling bright days, interspersed with heavy skies and glorious winter sunsets that close down the shortened daylight hours. Thank goodness for winter but time to welcome the thaw and spring ahead!