Some may recall that earlier this year I set out to visit Stockton Bury Gardens, a garden local to me, on a regular basis. I have to admit I failed to make a monthly visit for far too many reasons to bore you with and so I missed the high summer months. However, today in need of an escape and some horticultural therapy I dug out my season ticket and returned.
As I think I said last week I really struggle with getting the garden to look good at this time of year as my preference is for spring and early summer plants so I am trying to visit a couple of gardens over the next couple of weeks which are open almost all year to see how they address this.
Interestingly at Stockton Bury the approach seems to be mixed herbaceous borders with some early summer plants and some later flowering plants. Unlike me the dead flower stems are generally left in place presumably for a big tidy up later in the year or next spring. I struggle with this approach as my obsessively tidy mind can’t cope with the idea
I have also decided that I need some pink Japanese Anemones. I have some of the white ones which seem to move around the garden depending on my mood but the pinks will be wonderful especially against the mauve asters which I already have.
Lots of crocosmias were in evidence and I have noticed that I seem to be bringing quite a few home. Today Emily McKenzie slipped into my shopping bag along with a rogue Babylon that had slipped into the pot. I love the vibrancy of the colours and will be following recent advice I received and plant them in moister locations than I have in the past.
If you look back at my previous posts you will see how the pillar border has transformed. I’m quite taken with the Solidago but I think my garden isn’t big enough to accommodate yet another imposing plant.
Though the shorter varieties in this photo are quite appealing!
Stockton Bury Gardens might not be cutting edge in its design and some may not like the planting but the reason I love it is because it is a personal garden and loved and cared for by skilled plantsmen with a pedigree of plantsmanship. I can relate to this garden as it is like my garden but on a huge scale. Every time I visit I learn something, I see a combination I like, a new plant, or a plant used in a way I hadn’t thought of. Every time I visit I chat to the owners and learn something from them. They are generous with their time and knowledge and yes every time I visit I come home with plants. Today I also came home with some seed pods which I had been given permission to pick.
I hope to squeeze in another visit before they close next month.
