Monday 11 May 2015


A BUSY WEEK IN THE GARDEN,  AND PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR EUROPE.

The garden in Boussac

Penny loves a day out in the garden.  We had a busy day last Tuesday cutting back in the herbaceous garden and planting more Geranium 'Chris Canning'. I love this plant for a few reasons.  The flowers are a  bright, clear blue and they flower throughout summer.  The plant forms a mounded shape and the dissected leaf is also very pretty.  Despite the cold windy weather this past week,  there is still so much colour in the garden.  I took a few photos


Geranium 'Chris Canning'

Miss Penny keeping an eye on things..

I got here first...



Some of the summer blooms that have bravely resisted the cold icy winds...

David Austin's  'Heritage' rose arching gracefully over the entry pathway.

 Penstemon

Blue Scabious

Pink Echinacea

Verbascum still attracting the bees

The Echinacea looking a little scraggly


Not long before the succulents start tumbling over the edge of the Acanthus pot.

Mounds of emerald green moss are growing between the brick pavers as well as in some of the flower beds.  I decided to lift some and placed it around my buxus pots.






  


I had some fun in the potting shed this week, potting up tete daffodils and hyacinth into indoor containers. I love bringing bulbs into the home.






I love the pale, acidic yellow of these orchids I've placed in the living room.  I'm hoping they will last until we return from our holiday...



I couldn't resist these proteas. They remind me so much of Cape Town where they grow wild on the mountain slopes.

I am always very hesitant about going away.  I don't like leaving the garden, the dogs or my indoor plants!... does this sound ridiculous?  Probably...  

At last count,  I have 16 indoor plants.  I know each plant intimately.. by touch and sight, knowing just what they need.  It's like leaving a pet behind... A very kind friend has offered to look after them while we're away.   I will give them all a good feed before we leave.

Some of the indoor plants.

It's been touch and go whether we would be leaving on this trip on 18 May.  Mr R-I has had two key-hole surgeries in the past three months and happily,  the second surgery seems to have done the trick.  We are beginning our holiday in London.  Chelsea Flower Show and a visit to the Garden History Museum to see the Russel Page exhibition has been planned as well as other outings.    

    Petersham Nurseries,  Ham House, the walled gardens at Regents Park and Kensington Palace  are also on our list.    We then leave London for two weeks in the country.  We are staying at Gravetye Manor, Lower Slaughter Manor House,  Dormie House,  Les Manoir quarte saisons, and Rosemary Verey's Barnsley House. We have lots of gardens on the list and will endeavour to visit as many as we can.  I plan to post as often as wifi will allow so stay tuned and hopefully I can share some amazing garden experiences with you all!  

Les Manoir aux quart'saisons



Barnsley House
Lower Slaughter Manor House


After visiting the gardens in England,    we are travelling to Gorde in Provence.  I'm so looking forward to holding little hands and strolling into the village to visit the markets or get supplies.  After our time in Gorde we will move on to Boussac for the rest of the holiday.  


Gorde
Only a few more days left to get organised! Tomorrow is the last garden day.  All of the bulbs need planting as well as many other jobs!

Hope you all enjoyed a happy Mother's Day!  My youngest daughter and her fiance visited us for the day and we talked about their wedding in November and walked our dogs.  

Happy week everyone and any other suggestions regarding our garden visits will be most gratefully received!



20 comments:

  1. Hi Jenny,

    I do enjoy reading about your garden, particularly as mine is shared so I don't really get much say as to how it is maintained. This is a big minus when it comes to apartment living but for now I can live vicariously through your garden. I can only imagine how rewarding it must be putting such effort into your garden and seeing it bloom to life. Have a lovely holiday, your plans look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nicolas, Your borrowed landscape from your beautiful surroundings in Scotland are also quite beautiful. So happy you enjoy my garden ramblings as I would imagine some would find it rather tedious!! Thank you so much for holiday wishes and also wishing you a wonderful summer! xx

      Delete
  2. Gorgeous Jenny! Sounds like such a wonderful trip...I look forward to following along on Instagram as I imagine I will up a lot in the middle of the night with a little one feeding. Safe travels x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beth you will be very much in my thoughts as it seems like only yesterday when I was sitting up alone in the dead of night feeding a little one. I loved those quiet times ...All the very best with the birth and I and am sure like many many others, we cannot wait to welcome the new little one! xxx

      Delete
  3. wow this sounds amazing.

    I love the moss around the buxus and I am so jealous about the Russel Page exhibition. Think of me as you look!

    I went to Barnsley in 2013 and thought it was lovely. The vegetable pottage is so pretty. There was a really cosy pub right across the road.

    All I ever want to do is travel, but then as the date gets closer I get so anxious an don't want to leave anyone, the house or my garden!

    Hope Mr RI is ok and can't wait to see the photos on fb xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you FF ... So looking forward to the RP exhibition... and hopefully will be able to take photos for you! It's funny this not wanting to leave feeling isn't it... and yet when away it's so wonderful to experience other beauty and interests. xxx

      Delete
  4. Have a wonderful trip Jenny. I can't wait to see your photos and updates. Safe travels.Tracey

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Tracey! I will do my best to post as many photos as I can as I love looking back and remembering too! xx

      Delete
  5. Love your pictures of your garden and plants. Safe trip away with your family. I look forward to your pictures with envious delight.
    xx Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've been thinking about your lovely sitting room all morning. That tobacco coloured linen is really attractive.

    I also thought of a place you should go for lunch. It's calld the Wheatsheaf Inn and is really pretty. I had lunch there in the sun and it was beautiful with delicious food. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The dogs love those chairs so much FF ... they are becoming decidedly grubby! I have noted the Wheatsheaf - thanks so much - it's these little treasures that make a holiday xxxx

      Delete
  7. So looking forward to posts of the gardens! Lucky the medical issues sorted themselves out in time for your trip. It’s so much fun planning a wedding with a daughter, especially if you have similar tastes and get along well. Following and loving Instagram - Stay safe and have a great time. Tonkath x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tonkath... thanks for your wishes and please let me know your Insta name so that I can follow you! xx

      Delete
  8. That acanthus leaf pot is just so divine… I've been umming over it, but you might have tipped me over the edge with the succulents in it! Your trip sounds fabulous. Glad to hear Mr R-I is on the mend, and afraid I'm so out of the loop with the UK that I've got no recommendations for you! I will look forward to your posts on the gardens, restaurants and museums that I won't be visiting any time soon (very sadly)!! The house and garden are looking so settled Jenny, it's hard to believe that you've only really just moved in. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Heidi.. I must say that I'm thrilled we moved the Acanthus pot over to this garden - we would have anyway since we've wold in Sydney. It always looks lovely - even empty! I am so looking forward to seeing lots of garden beauty and hopefully will post as often as wifi/time allows. xxx

      Delete
  9. Jenny
    Have a wonderful trip - but don't let him R-I overdo things while you're away. We're currently in South of France and weather here is gorgeous, around 22-24 max each day. We had a lovely lunch in Gorde last year at a hotel called La Bastide (I think) in main street with a terrace at the back and lovely view. It was super. It's such a charming little town, I especially love the church (the one that was earthquake damaged) and the beautifully decorated walls with traditional textile designs.
    I believe there's a garden arts exhibition (I think paintings of gardens) at BP around the time of your visit. If we have the time I hope to get there. We've booked in for lunch one day at Sky Gyngell's new restaurant called "Spring" at Somerset House. Hopefully will be lovely. Might be worth a visit for you both? I think there's also a garden expo in the Tuileries in Paris some time in the first week of June. We're planning on checking it out.
    Your garden looks spectacular despite the weather and season. Understand your worries, mine is nothing, a few pretty roses really, but I still worry too. And especially about outdoor pot plants. Best wishes, Pammie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pammie... I was so thrilled to read your comment and of course, I went over straight away and booked a lunch at Spring!!... thanks so much for the tip! You are a gem for sharing all these ideas and so glad you're having gorgeous weather in France. I loath the heat and May/early June is the best time in Europe! Today is hectic getting ready! Best wishes to you too, Jenny xx

      Delete
    2. Jenny, Love to do it as have received so much good advice and tips from others. They've given us heaps of great new experiences and pleasure. Kind of returning others' favours - or paying it forward. Just the other day we had a wonderful visit to Chateau Saint Martin near Vence because Naomi of Coulda Woulda Shoulda recommended it to us, a fabulous day. We would never have known about this place if not for Naomi!
      So glad you liked the idea of Spring. Hopefully it will be lovely! Best wishes, Pammie xx

      Delete
    3. Dear Jenny
      In place of La Bastide in Gorde (I recommended above - but we've now discovered it's closed for major refurbishments and will probably be quite different when open again) -
      suggest you might like to try Le Mas Tourteron which is within easy short driving distance of Gordes, charming and in the countryside. We had a very happy lunch there today, wonderful food, all home made even the bread with locally sourced ingredients. http://restaurant.michelin.fr/restaurant/france/84220-gordes/le-mas-tourteron/2dfyihw

      Best wishes, Pammie

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...