All Creatures Great & Small...

Small Copper Butterfly

 https://butterfly-conservation.org

Seven Spot Ladybird

These stunning photos were taken
by a fellow member, Joan Thirlaway.

Do enjoy them.

 

 

 

     

http://www.ladybird-survey.org

Lowther Castle Gardens - September 2018

www.lowthercastle.org

Our opening meeting for our 2018 Autumn Season welcomed head gardener, Martin Ogle, from Lowther Castle Gardens.

In almost ten years, since English Heritage (1999) had initially approached the Lowther Estate with a view to preserving the remains of the 1812 Gothic castle, the garden development project has gathered a tremendous pace, especially in the last four years.

The garden was the key article profiled in Gardens Illustrated's Special Edition 2017, which revealed future plans.

 The Lowther family, in consultation with historic landscape consultant, Dominic Cole (Lost Gardens of Heligan / Eden Project) commissioned master gardener, Dan Pearson to develop plans for the garden's future.

Since the garden's inception, many head gardeners have worked the garden, leaving their historical footprints of horticultural taste and fashion. Now under Dan Pearson the gardens reflect a naturalistic, romantic style, “creating a sense of place and atmosphere” as the garden yields it's secrets as it evolves from being lost to found.

Martin has been head gardener since 2012 and over the last six years has been kept busy with extensive landscaping projects as well as overseeing and participating with the intricacies of propagating a huge array of perennials, often sourced from local Cumbrian specialist plant nurseries.

Martin hugely acknowledges the contributions made by volunteers, both whom help regularly and those who help with large projects, e.g. planting daffodils in the Patte d'Oie (2012) and 36,000 camassias (2017).

2014 – The Parterre

This is geometrically laid out to resemble a thread bare tapestry! This process was no mean feat as conifers and tree roots needed to be removed, concrete dug up. Later irrigation and timber edging for the beds was installed. Extra pressure was added as the hard landscaping and initial planting had to be completed before the filming of the BBC's summer 2014 Antiques Roadshow.

Martin allowed us to see the plans for this gorgeous garden. 

Here are some of the plants:

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo'

Potenilla napelensis 'Miss Willmott'

Baptisia australis

Nepeta govaniana

Campanula 'Purple Sensatiom'

Selinium wallichinum

Rosa rubiginosa

Actea simplex 'James Compton'

Cephalaria gigantea

Eurybia divaricta

Thalictrum 'Elin'

Sanguisorba 'Tanna'

Gillenia trifoliata

Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'

2016 – Stable Courtyard

With increasing visitor numbers it was decided that that facilities of the courtyard would benefit from some refurbishment and that the courtyard per se would be enhanced by adding columns and standards of hornbeam trees. Under these trees new benches have been placed so visitors can enjoy an Italian piazza type of experience: a place to enjoy refreshments, watch the comings and goings of visitors and to take in the Gothic castle ruins.

2017 / 2018 – The New Rose Garden

Again we were so lucky to see Dan Pearson's evolving plans for this garden;

from

the initial soil/light/ground relief survey

to

the inspiration of an old rose itself providing the shape

to

the construction (using the existing water feature) and rose planting scheme

(inner cool colours with warmer colours radiating outwards)

Martin, thank you so much for coming to talk to us about this jewel of a garden on our doorstep.

"Interesting comments - one for future thought perhaps"

Revealing the plans...

 

Written by PMR

Various reference sources used

Social Evening at Oak Howe, Wetheral Pasture - 26th July 2018

Many, many thanks to Janice & Nick Stewardson for hosting the club's social evening; allowing us to share their gorgeous, inspiring new garden. As usual, a great time for us all to chat & exchange our gardening experiences in what has turned out to be an amazing summer of sunshine...

Thanks to Lesley & Isabel for these great photos

Day Trip - Scottish Borders & Northumberland - Thursday, 12th July 2018

After leaving sunny Cumbria, a couple of hours later we arrived in Northumberland via Kelso where the softest of rain drops welcomed us, after so many weeks of drought.

Specifically we came to visit Kirky Cottage Garden, Mindrum.

www.mindrumestate.com

Ginny Fairfax is known as the creator of the fabulous Mindrum Garden. Five years ago she began creating a new garden at Kirky Cottage. This is a gravel garden in cottage garden style, with her favourite plants from Mindrum and many others, which have matured beautifully. It is an abundant garden, full of interesting plants.

These gorgeous, abundant blue plants are annuals – Echium Blue Bedder (available from Sarah Raven)

Like all great works of art, our responses to the garden varied. Comments ranged from “warm and soft” to “distinctly untidy”.

We then journeyed over the border to Sir Walter Scott's dramatic Scottish baronial home at Abbotsford, Melrose. Here, as well as enjoying the garden, we took a tour of the house when we were entertained and informed by Hamish, the guide.

The ceiling plaster cabbage in the dining room!

 Our next stop was just fifteen miles away to Carolside, a Georgian House and Garden near Earlston on the A68.

www.carolside.com

I am sure that for many of us Carolside was the jewel in Thursday's day trip crown! It is the home of Rose & Anthony Foyle.

“The late 18th century mansion is set in beautiful parkland, flanked by wooded hills, nestling in a bend of the River Leader. Carolside garden has been cultivated for over 200 years. Today it is best known for its soft and delicate herbaceous planting, striking Delphinium beds and subtle colour schemes, its design of rooms with a Secret garden, Winter garden and Herb garden backed in espaliered pear trees and yellow and white roses. Sweeping lawns lead to an oval walled garden where an Historical Collection of ancient roses is housed including a National Collection of pre-1900 Gallica roses. Kenneth Cox in his book "Scotland for Gardeners" describes Carolside as "one of Scotland's finest private gardens.”

Our final stop was at the private garden of an extremely pleasant gentleman retiree's home at the converted Stables of Maxton House, St Boswell's. 

Wonderful herbaceous Clematis heraclefolia Cassandra was just about to flower. 

Euan, the gardener, recommended an online visit to 'Taylors Clematis'.

 

 

Thank you Janice & Jude for all your hard work and inspiration for organising this day trip.

Written by PMR

Various reference sources used

Annual VGC Holiday ... Shropshire & Welsh Border

At last some snaps from the Herefordshire holiday. Powis Castle & Wollerton Old Hall were on the itinerary.

Getting ready for the day ahead...

Promenading

You'd think school was out - well it is July!

Oh, take care by the Ha Ha Anne

Charity Evening Garden Visit - 7th June 2018

June continues to flame. What a sunny, light evening we had to explore secretary Cate's gorgeous garden in Crosby-on-Eden and raise some money for Carlisle Carers.

Thank You Cate, Mark & Your Tea Girls