As a preface to this entry to my garden journal I should say that on Monday I cancelled the ‘pop-up’ NGS day planned to take place on 14th February. Quite simply : the parking field is waterlogged. This is such a shame because despite being tested by wind and rain for two months solid, the grasses are in great shape.
Hard on the heels of a disappointing decision two consecutive days of frost and dazzling sunshine created a very welcome change of scene in the garden. Tuesday and Wednesday started with wonderful predawn skies to the south.
Promising first light was followed by flamingo-pink sunrises to the east.
An early morning moment spent watching the low angled winter sun filtering though the Thujas and illuminating the terrace in front of the house is my idea of wintry heaven.
Transitory rays of sunlight struck two young birches in the winter garden behind the grasses, all too soon they’d moved on. One lone anemanthele in the row lining the drive was momentarily set ablaze.
At first glance the indefatigable miscanthus hedge looked untouched.
At its knees a hint of frost lingered here long enough to add a lacy fringe to the seedheads.
Among the crystals riming them the melt had begun, the droplets refracted the light daring me to capture them. The fuzzy results reveal a myriad of glistening rainbows.
Sodden turf strewn with long shadows in the deserted dogs’ paddock made me shiver and sigh, beneath a crispy coating the clay will stay saturated like a sponge for weeks to come.
Atop tangled stems, echinacea cones become more curiously ragged by the day revealing secrets of their structure. Does this one look like a miniature prehistoric monster?
Frosty shows like this have been in pitifully short supply this winter making their brief midweek cameos extra special.
For two whole days the view through the north-facing boot room door remained heavily frosted until Thursday morning, reminding me to reach for the hat I hate wearing.
In contrast to the east side of the house, here tall windows bounced light around to cast cunning shadows across the lower terrace. They had me outfoxed for a while – standing square-on and looking across the patio the sun was to my right, not left.
In the back garden I put my winter blinkers on, in its smaller areas some of the planting is patchy. Among the things I enjoyed most this week were the pennisetums, especially the leafy mound of ‘Fairy Tails’ on sentry duty at the entrance to the orchard.
But, the most memorable sight was the hakonechloa glorying in sunshine beneath the yellow bamboo canes. As with many grasses, slightly damp dried leaves show richer colours, even on a dull day.
In February over a hundred gardens across the country are opening for the NGS to take part in its very first Snowdrop Festival, including several on our muddy doorstep in Gloucestershire. Now we know why so few amateurs open their gardens in late winter, we’ll make the most of those who are brave enough to fling wide their gates in celebration of the heralds of Spring. And, we’ll really appreciate being able to park our car on firm ground.
Kate, your garden is wonderful. It must be really uplifting to see the rising sun highlight one treasure after another. Not going ahead with the opening was a hard decision to make, but having seen the car park at Wimpole after a heavy weekend with lots of towing, it sounds very sensible.
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Thank you for your kind reassurances Alison, I didn’t know Wimpole Hall had encountered problems. Short of having a tractor on standby or advertising ‘mud-loving cars only’ we couldn’t see a way around it. And yes, the front garden is a source of delight … even on a grotty day.
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Your garden is my idea of wintry heaven too. The hakonechloa is so beautiful as is the image of sunlight briefly on the birch trees. Sorry you had to cancel the NGS open day-do we now have to wait till next year?
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Thank you Sue, the garden will be open for the NGS April-September by appointment with a ‘big day’ on 26th June. This year a nearby friend’s garden, Greenfields, is opening for the first time with us too which is exciting.
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Your whole garden is looking wonderful in the winter sunshine. You certainly prove that grasses are at least a three season pleasure and some shine through for all four seasons. Your garden looks like a magical place to be so it is a shame that you had to cancel your open day. Many people would have learnt so much by visiting you.
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Thank you Christina for your thoughtful comment, that was exactly what we hoped to show a few peopl, that there are so many grasses looking good despite the wet, windy winters that are becoming commonplace. I think it’s all very well being shown how such plants work at their ‘peak’, the thing is to know how they fare in an average amateur garden on the ‘off peak’. The subtext is that good evergreen/woody structure is endlessly helpful even a grassy garden 😉. And, smaller numbers of interested people are always welcome ….
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Hi Kate:
A frosted garden has a beauty all it’s own, doesn’t it?
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I think so Cynthia, even if the subjects are ‘only seed heads and dried leaves’ as some might people say they’re still special beauties to me.
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Many wonderful winter scenes, Kate. I think grasses make a great contribution to the garden, even in a relatively small one like ours. The bamboo looks stunning in the sunshine, I will have to venture out early one sunny morn to see if I can capture a picture of ours looking that good.
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It’s a good point, maybe while you’re trying to catch your bamboo in action you could snap a few of the grasses too? I think they’re colourful even on a grey day, the sunshine was a bonus.
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Hi Kate I’m contemplating whether to be vicious with my anathemele lessoniana, which sweep down a well-drained slope but after 3 years, or is it 4, are rather drowning in old growth. I seem to remember you said they can be cut back in February. Am I right? Shall I be bold? Bridget
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Hi Brdget, good to hear from you. No, best not to, especially where we live. I leave them til spring, May even, then cut back by 2/3. Old plants do get thatchy, if you’d like young seedlings to grow on to replace them I have lots. Expect you have your own? Do pop in if you’re passing, I have yellow Crocosmia for you if you’d still like some.
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What a shame you had to cancel. Wonderful, magical photos; Here in Suffolk we only seem to get such a wonderful hoar frost about once a year. I foolishly missed the photo opportunity last week. Your grasses certainly earn their keep in winter as well as summer. Absolutely stunning.
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Thank you for the commiserations, Chloris, I guess in the scheme of things our disappointment is a trifling matter. Hoar frosts are rare beauties here too, there have only ever be one or two good ones these past few years, the deepest and loveliest of which I missed myself. I hope Winter provides us with another treat before the season is out and that you get to enjoy it too.
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Yes, such a disappointment for the two of you and those anticipating visiting you. However, you have captured some magical photos with the frost and the shafts of sunlight and the early morning skies. We can see from your pictures how effective the structure of your garden is – you can be justifiably proud of it and those of us just learning about grasses are very grateful for your knowledge and advice. Thank you Kate
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That’s a kind comment, Cathy. The grassses lend a lot of structure to the garden for so much of the year, by the time we get to mid February, when I start cutting them down, I always feel a bit sorry to see them go. I guess we all get attatched to our plants, for me, some are like old friends, and we enjoy sharing the joy they bring with other people.
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Yes, I had forgotten that you would have that in-between stage when you cut them back…
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So sorry you had to cancel your open day Kate. This water logging is awful isn’t it. We are squelching about in mud instead of meadow at the bottom of our garden by the pond this month. Your garden is looking beautiful as always and at least we can all have a quick visit via your blog. Roll on lovely warm spring days!
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I think lots of people are looking forward to Spring more than ever this year. Thank goodness for wellies! I hope your meadow will be okay.
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How absolutely gorgeous!! Not a sight I see very often as no frosts here just north of Auckland!! More of a Central North Island sight, or Christchurch, Queenstown etc!! Your grasses and the light you have captured lovely!! Very hot 29 degrees c here and even the pool was 28.9 this morning! A late start to summer so can’t moan, just stay out of sun and garden and water after 5pm and have several swims!! Look out over green paddocks, Gulf Harbour, The Gulf, beautful blue! Gran’s Resort, Paradise!!
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Frost was one of the few winter weather effects I missed when we lived in south east asia, but enjoying beach life yearround was pretty special too.
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So so so beautiful!! I leave for work early so I miss the beauty of frost. It does cast a magical glow. :o)
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It’s an elusive treat here too. I know I’m lucky to enjoy it – my husband tips me off before he leaves for work.
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Well Kate those shots of your garden are beautiful. The light and the hoar frost is a fabulous combination which as you mention has been in short supply this Winter. The bamboos and hakonechloa are stunning.
I sympathise with you having to cancel your NGS opening. I am on heavy clay and puddles of standing water remain on the lawn and in the beds. Given that it has also frozen and then had more rain added to it I fear there will be some casualties. Great post.
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Perhaps a winter day was always optimistic! Sorry to hear you’ve areas of standing water in your garden, I hope the plants fare better than you fear.
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Love your frosty shots and your early morning sunshine, they look so good together. Your grasses give such good structure to your garden, what a shame you had to cancel your opening, however there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a field of mud!
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Exactly, the vision of visitors’ cars being hauled out of the muddy field was just too much. I hope your grasses are doing well this winter, it’s been a pretty extreme test for many plants.
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You have shown yet again the wonderful contribution grasses make to the garden. I shall plant many more this year. I walked out over part of the garden a day or so ago and did literally sink, it’s awful. I hope the latest storm didn’t hit you too hard. There just seems no end to it although of course there will be.. there will, won’t there?
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Gertrude was comparatively kind to us, no power for several hours was all. Poor folk in the far north, what a winter! I hope we’ll all be standing on firm ground soon, meanwhile, what would we do without wellies and waterproofs?
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Glorious pictures of an equally glorious garden, Kate, I’m impressed! The grasses look fab. Cornus, grasses and Betula are such a great combination too. I had to start cutting my grasses back as they’re already making new growth and start falling about. Hope the flooding will soon retreat and let you and others enjoy the garden. Will you open again on other days through the year?
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Glad you like the combination too, Annette, sometimes the classics are the best! I know what you mean about early growth, I’ve been thinking about cutting the cool season deciduous ones back, but it’s always so hard to say goodbye to my winter companions. We’re open right through the summer by appointment, plus there’s a general open day on June 26th to look forward to.
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well, I hope to make it one day :)
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That would be wonderful!
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Gorgeous shots of your gorgeous garden. I just love the texture and the shapes and the repeating patterns you have going on – it is so pleasing to the eye and a real lesson in how to plant for maximum effect. Your notes are always so informative too, I learn so much visiting you here. Thanks Kate.
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How kind of you, I confess, these are the best bits on a very special day! I’m still learning what does and doesn’t work, perhaps that’s what makes gardening fun?
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