Wednesday 19 April 2017

Garden Photos Event preview


  Somewhat coincidentally, I've just been out in the gardens of Castlette DeVice taking some photos of some of the blooms and new growth, and what do I find upon opening up the blog to deposit them all in? A timely reminder from The Very Mistress for all of us Infomaniac Bitches to prepare for her Seventh Annual Garden Photos Event!

  Well, without further ado, may I present a much more comprehensive (and better, in my opinion) selection of triffids and such than the last lot.  And, may I say, the ferns are not quite as scary/vulgar-looking as Dinahmow's cyclone-surviving ferns...

Gorgeous new growth colour from a fern behind the lake pond, in the shady area. The name of which I don't know because I couldn't be bothered to bend down and look at the label.

Another fern at the back of the garden. This one I appropriated from the woods behind the Castlette a couple of years ago.


Rheum palmatum bursting forth

Another small fern at the top of the mighty trickling waterfall

A type of Asplenium fern in the shade of newly sprouting Gunnera manicata

This Saxifrage is spreading out nicely around the pond

A violet growing under a miniature rose

Slightly behind Jon's early bloomers, here are the earliest flowering aquilegias of Castlette DeVice

Agapanthus (with Aquilegia and Creeping Jenny) - They'd better flower this year!

Overwintered in the greenhouse, this is the only pot of Echeveria that haven't had all their roots and stems devoured by woodlice and the like.

The first bluebells

More Aquilegias

This elaborate double-flowered Narcissus smells absolutely heavenly! Better than Hyacinths

And finally, a better look at my favourite paperwhite daffs

  All these photos were taken with Phone rather than Camera and, I must say, have come out much better and are far less hassle to get onto the 'pooter.
 

17 comments:

  1. It's all looking lovely, Mr DeVice! Jx

    PS I hope those are proper British bluebells, and not the thuggish Spanish invaders...

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    1. I have a feeling that my garden is indeed full of thuggish Spaniards...

      In my defence, they were here when I moved in!

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    2. There are certain plants I'd never want to have in the garden - inherited or otherwise. I have seen what those Spaniards, as well as Anemone japonica and Lysimachia punctata can do if left unchecked (the boys in Essex have been digging them all out, massive root/bulb by massive root/bulb), and some gardens round here are overrun by Green Alkanet (Pentaglossis sempervivens), pretty though it is. The biggest self-spreaders we have are the anemones and Verbena bonariensis... Jx

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    3. That Lysimachia and Green Alkanet are bloody sods to get rid of, aren't they?! They haven't taken root in the gardens here, but were a bit of a pest in the previous Castle DeVice grounds. And I didn't realise that Japanese Anemones could be stubborn, too. I have some in a pot, but there are no shoots yet, so perhaps they didn't make it through the winter (although the dahlia did)?
      This might make you squirm, but I can't get the verbena to spread enough! I have to keep molly-coddling it to get any of the seedlings to take.

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    4. we find Verbena bonariensis one of the easiest of all plants. Just sow it now (now that the days are warmer), in some pots in the corner of the garden and don't mollycoddle it - believe me, it will grow... Jx

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  2. Oh, nice ferns!

    I had Cycads and palm trees in my last garden. Some volunteer wild ferns appeared and completed the primeval look.

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    1. I am envious of your previous garden, LẌ. As a young witch, I yearned for less English trappings & surroundings, and furnished my rooms with palms for an exotic look. Sadly, they never flourished in the dark, dry, central-heated rooms. I even had a cycad for a couple of years, but that went the way of the dinosaurs, too.

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  3. I rather admire ferns as well. Was it the boy's day orff? - I'm sure he'd have bent down and read the label for you.
    Very difficult to get an innuendo out of a lot of pictures of stamens and pistils. Oh dear, there I go again.
    Oh, would you believe Zippy once tried to persuade me Narcissus was hetero? Doh!

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    1. I've given up on getting the Redshirts to do anything! Last week, I asked one to pick up some dead leaves and he ended up impaling his brain (through his eye socket) on a garden cane. And I couldn't possibly do it lest I show my axil!

      Knowing Zippy from your recountings, I would believe it. But I still can't believe it!

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  4. My staghorns are NOT vulgar or scary! Wait a minute...I'll look from another angle...hmmm might be a wee bit spooky on a dark night.
    Your un named fern might be a Blechnum.
    I didn't buy any narcissi this year.Probably saved myself some grief there!So I thank you for these.

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    1. Well, you'd only end up with a fridge full of bulbs again.

      I think you might be right about the Blechnum. It sounds very familiar. Thank you!

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  5. Everything is so lush!

    *returns to frozen tundra*

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    Replies
    1. Are you still walking around on tennis rackets over there? Does Justin Trudeau need a rub down to warm him up?

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  6. Absolutely spectacular! What a gorgeous garden you grow! The flowers are vibrant and stunning and the ferns are magnificent. The red fern is sensational--what a fiery color! My fave is the Echeveria lotus blossoms--astounding and captivating. I feel very Zen and enlightened as I gaze upon its desert glory. Now all you need is a small gong and you've got yourself a meditation retreat next to your pond. Chanting and incense burning optional.

    The only thing better than a beautiful blooming flower is a wonderfully scented beautiful blooming flower. Puas (Plumerias) and Jasmines and Gardenias are some of my faves.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Oh, yes, the heavenly scents of summmer! I must try growing more flowers for their scents.
      Perhaps if your sweet potato thrives, you could try your hand with one of your favourites?

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  7. *sigh*

    My garden is a mess of nettles and dandelions.

    Unfortunately, until I can clone myself, I'm not sure that's going to change any time soon.

    You have beautiful plants in your garden. Thank you for sharing!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I grow them so you don't have to!
      And your dandelions and nettles will provide a bounty of sustenance for bees and butterflies.

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Tickle my fancy, why don't you?