Wednesday 4 April 2012

Sprung?

Damp, coldness and strong winds have replaced the mild, summery conditions we were recently experiencing. Misery! If you’d care to join me I’m pouring a glass of the stuff that warms and inebriates, and delving into some images from those happier times just a matter of days ago!

View to the manor through the Old Garden gate, with the white Hellebores posted recently

The dramatic and staggeringly beautiful combination of foliage and flower from Geranium maderense. This is unfortunately the last-hoorah, as this plant dies after flowering

The Rose Walk is clearly visible from the Plant House at this time of year, but later on the view will be masked by an abundance of flowers and foliage

One of my favourites; Fritillaria imperialis!

Down on the Acid Border, the delicate Heloniopsis yakushimense, a recent purchase from Edrom Nursery

James cutting a Yew hedge amongst the Narcissus on the Theatre Lawn bandstand. This was the penultimate day of hedge cutting, of a season that started in August! There are around four and a half miles of hedging to trim each year, all of which is done by hand and eye. Electric hedge trimmers are used and the occasional long-handled ‘petrols’ for those awkward to reach corners, with orange boxes, scaffolding and the cherry pickers taking us up to those taller hedges

Fritillaria meleagris var. unicolor subvar. alba, the white Snakeshead Fritillary!

I was charged with piecing together a spring scheme for the containers in the Gardener’s Yard, this is Tulipa ‘Sweetheart’ that starts the display

In East Court, the formal parterres of Euonymus combine well with the Hyacinth ‘City of Harlem’

Up on the Rock Bank the legume blooms of Caragana brevispina

The Euphorbia longifolia ‘Amjilassa’ flowering in Mrs Winthrop’s Garden seems to attract a strange cast of misfits. Here now a wasp tucking in! Yet to see a honeybee or Bombus harvesting these blooms

Down by the stream the Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris, and seen behind the yellow hands of the Skunk Cabbage, Lysichiton americanus. Two damp loving plants that will be grateful for the rain!

The hurly burly of the Bathing Pool!

11 comments:

Prue said...

Wonderful photos Bertie! Good to see Hidcote coming into bloom.
Great piccies of the wildlife.
Happy Easter to you :)

Diana Studer said...

four and a half miles, all done by hand and eye. I am daunted, and filled with humble admiration.

Helen/patientgardener said...

I do like that Heloniopsis yakushimense and I havent heard of that nursery so off to check it out

Wife, Mother, Gardener said...

That is quite a bit of shrubbery to trim! And yet, it is such a part of the mystic of Hidcote.

I cannot wait to have a damp patch for some F. meleagris and marsh marigolds some day. Great tulip choice! Thanks for sharing the views.
Julie

Share my Garden said...

I love these peeps into what is happening at Hidcote. Lovely images as ever, and the delightful hurly burly!

The Green Lady said...

The garden looks tropical in these photos. Love the froggies. Cheers!

Unknown said...

Fantastic photos as ever, Bertie. Are they toads in the last picture? Great shot. Looks like the one at the back has half eaten the other!

Rosemary said...

Dear Bertie I have a Geranium maderense which I have lovingly nurtured for about 5 years bringing it into the conservatory every winter. I have been bemoaning the fact that it has never flowered, and now I am feeling happy that it has not - I do not want it to die! I did not realise before that if it did have flowers that would be the end of it.

jayne said...

Thank you Major Johnston for such a glorious ground now coming to life, and thank you Bertie for bringing its wonder to us in your blog!
I especially love the Maple garden in the last post. Love the way the hyacinth spring from the garden into the pots!

Pam's English Garden said...

Dear Bertie, Beautiful blooms here. I particularly love the walled garden with the more formal look. Our frogs and toads are waking up. Isn't spring wonderful?! P. x

Bertie Bainbridge said...

Greetings all! Thankfully some recent sun has perked the place up again.

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