A LATE JUNE AMBLE

If you're interested and don't mind a bit of an amble, with places to sit when you want, then follow me into my own piece of Heaven, [in my eyes], through a chaotic and over planted Armandii's Retreat.

The Trellis entrance as it is right now. When I think how bare it looked earlier in the year and how thick the Clematis have grown and intertwined, along with some perennial Sweetpea, it's just amazing. Oh, and yes I know.......the path needs sweeping!!


In the centre of the "walk around" border, are the two tall plants of Sidalcea [Prairie Mallow and Inula magnifica which are one the brink of flowering while the Peonies are still flowering but reaching the end. The Arbour at the back is nearly out of sight!!

The centre border, along with the other borders, is a mixture of 95% hardy perennials [Delphinium, Lupin, various Phlox, Peonies, Lavender, Veronica, Monarda, Asters, Campanula [Canterbury Bells], and so on, with the rest being annuals, wild Campion, with some shrub roses to give it a permanent framework.

 

Had a rest?








This takes you down to the pond area where you can sit out of the way. On your right is the Jasmine Hedge which has different Clematis and Honeysuckle mixed into it.




Down by the pond where you can sit unseen with a glass of the red stuff and a good book

 

Rose Madame Alfred Carriere










Rose "Alberic Barbier"

 

Thanks, GA. I'm glad people like it although as I have mentioned before it's not to every one's taste. I have broken most of the "rules of gardening" by planting layer upon layer of different bulbs and then planting Hardy Perennials on top of those and compounding that by planting very close. The paths go right around the garden but are narrow and so as you walk the plants are brushing you either side and it also makes it easy to drink in the scents. The thing about it is that, being mostly hardy perennials, it really does look after itself. I have this year had to take out some Phlox that was over reaching itself but even that was just moved to another spot while some has potted on for friends and the Local Gardening Club. But all in all my most strenuous tasks are usually dead heading!!

 

Well, the whole style of the garden changed around 2003 when I managed to get myself "together" after my wife died in April 2001. So I decided to make a garden that we'd always planned to. i.e. a "slightly" flamboyant Cottage Garden style. in her memory. I always think before planting something would she have put it there?........and think probably not!! But I do think she would have approved of the general style and chuckled at the over planting.......and it does make me smile and remember her, so that can't be bad!!

 

Just so glad it pleases you, Ma!!

 

Thanks, Joolz, you don't know how much I really appreciate that.
I didn't start with any real design plan as such although I guess there was some sort of idea in the back of my mind. There are, I confess, so many different varieties of plants in different quantities that have been planted over the years that I lost track of an exact figure a long time ago. But I still sit, in the Spring, somewhere in the garden with a mug of tea looking in surprise at the thousands of shoots bursting out of the soil and thinking "I wonder what that is?" The real struggle was improving the sandy soil so that it would retain moisture during the dry periods but loads of stable manure, garden and commercial compost over the years has made a great difference.. There is a slope of around 2' from the top of the garden to the bottom but as the garden is around 120' long it's not really noticeable until you approach the pond area at the bottom. As regards money spent!!........well, I don't smoke, don't drink beyond a glass of the red stuff now and then, so what better return from an investment than one that gives me pleasure year after year, gets better and better year after year, gives me colour, scents and sounds that are, to me, beyond value!!

 

No, your eyes didn't deceive you, Sheal!! I still have the lawn which is around 50' long and about 20' wide as I like grass to walk on and the green is a good restful foil against the borders. I don't have problems with "weeds" growing in the lawn but I do have problems from self sown perennial plants trying to push up in the lawn.........especially as my lawn probably [shock, horror!!} gets cut once a month.