Gardener's World Live

It seems like a long time ago now, but some weeks back we went to the Gardener's World Live Show at the NEC Birmingham.
In the absence of any other activity with the camera I am posting just a few of the many photographs I took on a very enjoyable day out. These are just a few of the show gardens.












 

I had a somewhat strange dream last night, in which I saw these two ducks in the garden, one of which was very blue. I asked my wife what it was, and she told me it was a grocken.
When I woke up this morning I got out of bed quickly and took this photo to prove what I saw. A Google search doesn't seem to know what a grocken is, other that some cliffs in the Shetland Isles. Anyone else any ideas?!! 

Haddon Hall

Yesterday marked the end of a hot spell of weather, so we decided to go to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire to take advantage of the more comfortable conditions.
The Hall as it is now was started around 1370 by Richard de Vernon, and what we have today is a wonderful example of a medieval building.



There are some delightful gardens, due mainly to the passion of Her Grace the 9th Duchess of Rutland. When she arrived with her husband at the beginning of the 20th century, she encountered a garden overgrown and uncared for, and set about a massive clearance to create what is said to be one of the most romantic gardens in England.



The stone buttresses and ancient house walls are clad with many magnificent climbing roses.



The terraces are also home to many more roses, many of which were at the height of their first flush.



Nesting around the eaves were many house martins. This family of youngsters were sitting on some of the ironwork high up on the walls awaiting the arrival of lunch, which it did every few minutes.
Inside the house, above one of the rooms,was a colony of pippistral bats for which there was an apology about the smell which lingered despite all the cleaning efforts!



The house overlooks the River Wye which meanders pleasantly past and under this old packhorse bridge.

View more of my photos at Smugmug - Haddon Hall

And for more information visit Haddon Hall

 

Hibiscus lifespan

The hot weather has brought out one of the most spectacular blooms in our conservatory, the hibiscus. Once it gets going we get a continuous succession of flowers well into the winter.







From any angle they look attractive.



Sadly, each bloom only lasts for a couple of days at best, which seems like an awful lot of triuble to goto for such a short life span



Finally, before dropping off, it neatly wraps itself up, still managing to look good, whilst the next bud can be seen preparing itself for action.

 

Calke Abbey

As it was very hot over the last week-end we decided that we wouldn't travel far and so opted for one of our favourites, Calke Abbey.
The gardens are coming to their best just now, and although not particularly large, are well worth another visit.



The borders in the walled garden are spectacular, as ever. You may recognise the tree from a posting earlier in the year. It does now have a few leaves to adorn it.



This year sweet peas have been planted to feature in one of the borders, not only do they look great, but the perfume is divine.



We spotted this swallow in the reconstructed orangery. He seemed to be having some trouble finding his way out. I trust he eventually succeeded.



Near to the church was a small herd of cows sheltering from the heat of the day. These two decided to eat some of their sun shade.



The cow with the bent, if not exactly crumpled horn.



It's just too darn hot!

Hope

I had intended to make a posting yesterday, but the events in London rather overshadowed things, especially as we spent several anxious hours trying to make contact with our daughter, who works in the area. Fortunately she, and her husband are ok. Many others are not so fortunate.

My simple offering today is from a little begonia in our garden which is representative of our hope for something better in the future.

Anglesea Abbey

We recently took a trip to Anglesea Abbey in Cambridgeshire, another of the National Trust's impressive properties. The original building goes back to the reign of Henry 1 when an Augustinian prior was established on the site. Henry VIII put paid to its religious roots in 1535 with the dissolution of the monasteries, and eventually the house was acquired by the Parker family at the end of the 17th century; it was in fact Thomas Parker's father-in-law Thomas Hobson who actually purchased the site at this time. Thomas Hobson was a famous Cambridgeshire carrier who gave rise to the phrase Hobson's Choice. The house has passed through the hands of various families until 1966 when it was handed over to the Trust.



We were fortunate to visit during one of the periods when the rose gardens were open to the public, and these are a few of the pictures I captured. Unfortunately the camera was useless at describing the wonderful perfume given off by many of the blooms.



Most of the roses were not labelled, so I cannot tell you what each one is.



Roses are certainly one of my own favourites, but we don't have the space at home to grow many.



It was a glorious hot day thoroughly relished by the roses. 

Anglesey Abbey
Smugmug - Anglesea Abbey