Tag: garden

A Short Break in Devon – RHS Garden Rosemoor Part 2 Looking at the Themed Gardens

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date October 10, 2024

As neither of us are keen on rose gardens, preferring to see roses used as shrubs in mixed borders, we missed out the “Queen’s Mother’s Rose Garden” and the “Shrub Rose Garden”. As the Winter Garden had been redesigned by well-known garden designer Jo Thompson it was in the middle of a rebuild so we had to miss out that garden too.

Thus the first of the themed gardens we explored was the “Cool Garden” designed in 2019 by Jo Thompson and was based on imaginative use of water rills lined with granite setts with curved stone walls. The planting features grey foliage and blue, white and pastel flowers.

Sculptures of birdlife added liveliness and extra beauty to the Cool Garden. The wren added a strong contrast to the birds of prey.

We also enjoyed how the crisp white pieces featuring seabirds and a barn owl sat within the greenery.

It never ceases to amaze me how sympathetically sculpture fits into gardens. The RHS is very good at exhibiting sculptural pieces in their gardens and over the years we have enjoyed several.

The next garden room we entered was a strong contrast to “The Cool Garden” being “The Hot Garden”. The planting was so different as was the feel of the garden. It was a clever decision placing these two gardens next door to each other.

There was a strong contrast in the planting within “The Hot Garden” utilising stronger, brighter colours.

Another of the themed gardens here at Rosemoor that we have always enjoyed is the Cottage Garden, so I will share some photos of that area next. On the way to the cottage Garden we stopped to have a look at this lovely wildflower bank and these two strongly coloured, cheerful looking roses.

The Cottage Garden itself was full of interesting plant combinations and some old apple trees.

I will finish off looking at RHS Rosemoor with a gallery of photographs taken as we explored these wonderful, inspirational gardens.

We will be visiting other RHS gardens before too long and we know we will really appreciate the expertise of the staff and volunteers.

Tags flowers, garden, gardening, nature, photography

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A Monthly Wander around the Garden at Oakgate Nursery and Garden – September

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date October 4, 2024

On a dark sky day with frequent showers, some of them very heavy, we visited Oakgate Nursery and Garden as we needed some plants to redo a section of our garden and some compost.

As usual we started off with coffee and cake and while doing so the heavens opened and hefty storms followed closely one after another. We were hoping for a break in the clouds so that we could get out into the garden or nursery.

Eventually a time came when the rain became much lighter so we decided we would don waterproof jackets and go into the nursery. Further storms broke up our perusal of the plants so we took refuge in the covered areas. We were eventually successful in making our purchases. Then as the rain stopped we quickly took off on a wander around the gardens.

Many perennials were showing early signs of autumn, seed pods were forming and petals drooping and beginning to dry.

Other perennials were just beginning their flowering periods, those autumn flowering plants that give extra colour at autumn time.

Foliage on some trees and shrubs were showing premature signs of autumn colours in their foliage.

One change in gardens at this time of year which is appreciated by ourselves and even more so by birds and mammals is the appearance of berries.

One of our favourite features of gardens at this time of year is the spiral seed-heads of clematis. I will finish off this report of our September exploration of the Oakgate Gardens with a couple of photographs of these seed-heads.

Tags flowers, garden, gardening, native-plants, plants

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A Short Break in Devon – part one – RHS Rosemoor

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date October 2, 2024

In mid-June this summer we took off southwards for a long drive down the motorways for a mid-week break in Devon, taking in some visits to 3 gardens, RHS Rosemoor, Wildside and Yeo Valley Organic Garden. The weather forecast promised heavy rain!

Day one saw us breakfasting at the restaurant at the RHS garden Rosemoor, which we have visited a few times before.

There is so much to see at Rosemore that we never know where to start or which route way around the many acres to follow. The above rather beautiful map helped us in planning our route.

We made our way towards the woodland area passing some beautiful plants along the way such as this Cornus kousa and deeply coloured rose.

Just as we reached the woodland edge we were surprised to find this beautiful rustic building.

Behind the building a stone wall covered in plants acted as the boundary to the woodland.

We enjoyed wandering along the footpaths through the cool calm woodland, an antidote to the warm humidity outside.

In the woodlands we came across some sculptural pieces, starting with the wood carving of an acorn above, and still within the trees a bronze deer, a wooden cone and an owl carved into the trunk of a dead tree.

In the children’s woodland play area were large metal sculptures of insects and invertebrates.

We discovered other sculptures in wood and stone, the one stone piece being a balancing work.

It wasn’t long before we met the first of the themed gardens which we were looking forward to exploring as they had been developed since. we last visited. I will continue with these themed gardens in the next Rosemore post. As weather often seems to be at the forefront of gardeners’ minds I will look at the Cool Garden and the Hot Garden.