HOME AND AWAY

Sorry for not posting for a couple of weeks.  We'd been away and then what with the death of The Queen I wasn't really in the right frame of mind.  So this week I do have plenty of photos to show you some from the days we spent in Somerset and a few from my garden too.

I saw a documentary about Piet Oudolf a few years ago and I was very interested in his design process. My visit to Hauser and Worth was the first time I'd seen one of his gardens in real life.  It was a very overcast day, so I apologise for the photographs.  Although it looks like a solid field of plants, there are grass paths wandering in and out.

I quite fancy replacing the grass outside the stable with this type of planting (don't worry there are no horses living here).  I usually rely on Mr B to put the kybosh on these fanciful ideas of mine, but he seemed quite keen on this one and chose which plants he thought should be included.

We also made a trip to visit East Lambrook Manor, the former home of Marjorie Fish, whose entertaining book 'We Made a Garden' I greatly enjoyed reading.  Being very much 'cat people' we were delighted to meet 'Binkie' the unofficial garden guide.  She lives a couple of doors down but spends the day here. 

I had to restrict myself to just one plant (Penstemon King George V) from the on-site nursery because we were staying in an hotel.

Which brings me to the last garden, The Newt, which is where we were staying.  I hadn't visited Hadspen House in its previous incarnations, but I get the impression that much has changed.  This view is from the garden restaurant looking over the walled garden which is filled with trained apple trees. 

There is a large formal vegetable garden reached through this stunning pergola festooned with gourds such as Speckled Swan and Serpente di Sicilia.  There are definite echoes of the garden at Babylonstoren in South Africa, which is under the same ownership.

It was rather like a film set. slightly un real, but delightfully bonkers: recreated Roman Villa complete with working baths anyone?

Meanwhile, back at home, the plants in the greenhouse had been expertly tended by Bailey Jnr.  The peppers are ripening up.  

The roses are still looking very pretty despite our continuing lack of rain.  This is Buff Beauty.

To finish with I've chosen Salvia 'Amistad' which has grown huge.  It's actually in a much smaller pot and I've just popped it inside this larger one.  I'm surprised how much water it needs.  If I miss watering it for a day it looks very sad! 

That's all from my garden (and a few others) for this week.  Thanks as always to the Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.