We’ll be visiting the four corner of my garden this week to see how things have survived winter and how others are lighting up spring.
Tetrapanax corner
The paper rice plants that I planted in this wall corner are bursting with healthy green leaves. I decided to cover these with fleece when the temperatures plummeted in February. In theory they would have survived the frost but I doubt they’d be looking like these now if left uncovered.
This is how they looked last summer and I’m expecting similar impact this year in this exotic garden area.
Grevillea
Planted further along the same wall is this lovely Grevillea rosmarinifolia. It has pretty needle like leaves, resembling rosemary – hence the name. The flowers have unusual deep coral red flowers. It seems completely untroubled by any weather thrown at it, be it cold, hot, dry or damp.
I am so taken with it that I bought a second variety recently. This one is Grevillea juniperina ‘Pink Lady’ supposedly with juniper-like leaves. I love the flowers on this one – the sepal clusters are two-toned ivory and pink.
Pond Garden
Here’s a nice view of the pond garden where tulips have brightened the beds this spring and where the tall alliums are preparing to take over. This used to be planted up as a herb garden and the chives spreading into the path probably need addressing.
Did I plant enough tulips? I don’t think so. Next autumn folks, remember to decide how many tulips to order and then double or even triple that number.
Yellow Tulips
Most of the tulips in the pond garden area are yellow, with a really pretty one called ‘World Friendship’ dominating. I know many people find yellow difficult to accommodate in a garden but to me it’s the colour of spring – think primroses and cowslips. This gorgeous silky flower is a lovely pastel yellow, the colour of the centre of a strawberry mivvi ice cream.
Anemone sylvestris ‘Snow White’
We’re up at the rockery now so that I can show you this little beauty. She opens out in the sunshine but I caught her in shade so I feel like I’m not doing her justice. She’s only 20cm tall.
Alpine Trough
This trough is looking so lovely right now. There’s a sweet spot in the lifetime of a planting scheme when everything is perfectly proportioned and for this tough it’s right now. The bright pink phlox and white mossy saxifrage at the back are nudging shoulders but not yet in a full-on argy bargy for space. The succulents are spreading gently in their own meandering way.
This seasonal diary is part of a weekly link-up of garden bloggers from around the world, called Six on Saturday. For more information and links to other blogs crammed with gardening activity, check the blog of host The Propagator.
I adore the simple symmetry of your pond garden, absolutely delightful.
Re the Tetrapanax rex: when they first came onto the gardening scene, beloved of those seeking the “jungle” or “exotic” effect in their garden and were the very height of fashion a little bell rang in my head that we had seen these somewhere. I searched through photographs and found one of Mary standing under a planting in La Mortella where they simply towered above here, up to four metres of what was certainly a jungle, an impenetrable jungle, and held off introducing it to the garden. A generous friend bestowed an offset on us – for offsets are aplenty with anybody who grows it – but we managed to allow it to die peacefully!
Hi Paddy – I’ve seen some huge ones too, at the Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park. I’m reading into your response and am assuming your benign neglect reflects the fact you’re not too keen on them. I think they are tricky to integrate into many gardens – to find a spot where they look right. I think I’ve found one here and certainly my old London courtyard garden could have accommodated a young one but not if it grew monstrous like the one you and Mary found!
Your tetrapanax is very cute at the moment but as Paddy says, it will grow up quickly. Mine is almost 2.50m tall.
It survived the winter well like you , only with a fleece. On the other hand, the Grevillea which is right next door (like yours) did not resist. Too much moisture in the ground probably
Very nice view of the pond
What a shame about your Grevillea. The ground where mine is planted is well drained so that must have helped mine. Was yours a rosmarinifolia?
It was a grevillea junipera ‘New Blood’
Your little trough is looking so lovely. I really like the soft yellow of those tulips and a great name as well. Your exotic border is going to be brilliant this year, I can feel it in my bones!
Morning Gill, yes I’m looking forward to the exotic border coming together. I’m growing a few brightly coloured annuals to set it on fire this year!
What a beautiful, tidy garden you have. Many of your plants are new to me and very interesting. I do like your Alpine Trough – very pretty.
Nice to have a peek at your exotic garden last summer, what magnificent banana plants, I’m sure it will all come together nicely – it’s a plus to have tall plants to get that jungle feel. Both Grevillea plants are very pretty, they remind me of the kind of thing you’d find growing on a sunny hillside in Crete, and bring to mind hot dry summers (I’m dreaming of those, sitting indoors, still in my woolly cardy!).
I haven’t come across Grevillea before. It looks like a great plant. The creamy yellow tulips are lovely and I agree that yellow looks just right in Spring. The Alpine trough looks great and you just need to persuade those plants to say that size.
Your pond garden is looking great. I’ve been impressed with World Friendship this year – tall, wind resistant and lovely elegant yellow flowers that mellow with age.
You have tetrapanax! I have had my eye on this one for the back area here, for which I’m planning a more exotic aesthetic. It’s reassuring to see that it survives the winters (with a little solicitude from the gardener). The pond area is gorgeous. I like the formal arrangement of beds around the circular pond.
The trough looks absolutely perfect! A great selection of plants, and they balance each other so well.
I have Anenome sylvestris in my rockery too, although I can’t remember the cultivar. It’s a beauty. Watch out though, it spreads! Not that I mind too much.
Those anemones and tulips are lovely, and so is your alpine trough.
Your your Alpine Trough is a delight. I have a Belfast sink, but several things have died and I really need to take everything out and start again. Maybe when I get to the succulent nursery I will find some new plants. I love Grevilleas but I have very wet soil and I think they also need shelter so I don’t think they’d suit my garden.