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| The Valley Garden at Tregrehan, Cornwall |
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26 July
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| Prostanthera monticola |
The common name for Prostanthera monticola is Buffalo Mint-bush, which is an Australian native shrub that can grow up to 2m tall, with a fairly open sprawling habit.
25 July
Work is continuing on our Koi Pond project, we are now putting the pergola up over the top which will be covered over. This will provide shade for the pond and prevent algae making the water green - after all we want to be able to see the fish so clear water is important - and also will provide privacy for us from neighbouring houses (and vice versa of course). We are using gray shaded polycarbonate sheets to create the roof.
24 July
Our youngest Cat, Twinkles, is now just over a year old, and loves spending time in the garden. She's getting quite good at catching mice, and seems to have a never ending supply of energy.
19 July
Cyphomandra corymbiflora, the hardy tree tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family, as do tomatoes and potatoes.
17 July
Knarled old oak tree in the grounds of Chenies Manor, Buckinghamshire. We attended the Plant Fair on Sunday, and spotted one stall holder made use of the hollow by standing a number of lavender plants as a temporary display.
16 July
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| Chenies Manor Plant Fair 2012 |
13 July
As its Friday the 13th, I did think about selecting a gardening horror, but on second thoughts settled on the wonderful new growth on Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis'. This bamboo has been with us for a number of years now, and in the last couple of years has started to send up some quite nice sized culms. Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis' has the most wonderful buttery yellow new canes. Like all Phyllostachys bamboos the vivax will spread and wander about eventually, but we keep a watch for new canes and remove the new shoots that emerge away from the clump, helping to keep the shape and prevent it from taking over. This approach should be adopted with all bamboo, by taking the time to maintain them, you avoid gardening nightmares!!
10 July
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| Brunnera 'Jack Frost' |
Another interesting silver-leaved form of Brunnera is 'Mr Morse' which has white flowers rather than blue. Brunnera 'Betty Bowring' is floriferous and long-flowering. The bright white flowers make a dramatic contrast with the dark green foliage.
9 July
Live Outdoors garden at the 2012 RHS Hampton Court flower show. Step up through the lush planting to a raised deck, styled with comfortable furnishings and covered by a living pergola, which also functions as a planting channel, offering extra growing space, colour and design interest. The living wall located behind the cooking area provides vertical space for additional planting.
Inspiration comes from Garden House Design’s aim to create gardens for eating, cooking and socialising, with simple yet stunning planting. Live Outdoors shows that budget restrictions need not compromise great landscape design.
7 July
New shoots on Phyllostachys aurea bamboo, all the bamboos are loving the wet weather and rewarding us with good strong growth this year.
2 July
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| Agave bracteosa |
