Our Garden Ideas, Tips & Guides

The Portland Rose Jacques Cartier is one to seriously consider.

If there’s one thing that gets my goat, its, what’s in and what’s out in gardening. Now honestly I don’t want to alienate myself, of course everyone’s entitled to an opinion but don’t you sometimes think there is a bit of inverted snobbery going on. I have always loved gardens and gardening, I like the subtle garden with foliage of different hues and perhaps white flowers giving that relaxed feeling. I am mad about the Summer mixed perennial borders which give that great to be alive feeling. The Rose borders are charming, the Scottish Heather borders can look great. Here’s the crunch, I absolutely also love the in your face loud, brash, garish front gardens which are packed with blindingly bright Summer bedding, makes me smile, makes me laugh. Picture of our front garden, I promise it was once more packed when the flower borders were wider than this. Whats not to like.

The Perennial plant Crambe Maritima also known as Sea-kale is commonly found on shingle beaches.

Aucuba Japonica Variegata also known as the spotted Laurel will just about grow in any position in the garden.

Clematis Viticella Sea Breeze flowering well in its first year

Zantedeschia aethiopica, growing in Aberdeen. Most people liked it a few thought it was kind of funereal.

A welcome sight in the garden in March/April is the Pulmonaria Roy Davidson

Stipa Arundinacea  This evergreen ornamental grass is referred  to as being frost hardy, an indication that it may not survive in the North East of Scotland.

The Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium niponicum Pictum’. In our round garden it is an absolute treat, with soft silvery greyish-green foliage that has a hint of maroon finely etched through the fronds.

A finishing touch to the garden!  Doesn’t really make sense, gardening by its very nature can never really have what we may think of as finishing touches.

Well, it’s not curtain twitching in the true sense. However, if neighbours spotted me they may think, well dodgy! Really, it’s only about me taking pictures of the garden from indoors.

The Euphorbia griffithii fireglow is a very striking herbaceous perennial.

The Viburnum Tinus Spirit is a fully hardy evergreen shrub. Perhaps with a little more to offer than the regular Viburnum Tinus or the form Eve Price.

Several new plants were added to the garden last Autumn. Brunnera Jack Frost is the one I like best.

The Berberis Ottawensis Superba which was in the front garden of our Aberdeen house made a bold statement.

There are a number of Iris Reticulata, I always favoured the form Harmony until I came across Katharine Hodgkin, now I cant quite make up my mind.

Whether or not you are a fan of them, the Flower Carpet Rose Amber and others in this series of Roses gives a grand show.

The pink forms of Clematis Montana are not at all bad, but for me, the white Clematis Montana Grandiflora is outstanding.

The Holly Ilex Aquifolium Silver Van Tol, well it was a toss up between JC Van Tol with the green leaves, or the variegated form Silver Van Tol, silver won the day

Crocosmia Lucifer, thriving despite my misplaced attempts to eradicate.

 Continuing this week with a profile of plants for winter interest which also perform well in the shade, we have Skimmia Japonica Rubella

If you landed here expecting to find Humphrey Bogart or Katharine Hepburn, sorry!  this African Queen will not cope with getting waterlogged. 

Our garden pond. Comes alive in early Spring when the frogs arrive. Join me to find what’s in the garden pond.

The  Camellia x Williamsii Spring Festival brightened up this area of the back garden for a few weeks in April

Picture a Magnolia in your head, I reckon most of us would see Magnolia x Soulangeana

Miscanthus sinensis red chief,  relatively new introduction of an ornamental grass which I think will soon become very popular

I don’t really like the title which I have used for this post. Makes me sound full of myself, I can assure you nothing could be further from the truth.

SEO Drudgery, there you go, I have just started the post and repeated the title because SEO says its something I have to do. On top of that, I have already broken a rule by using more than twenty words in the first sentence. 

Hydrangea Macrophylia AB Green Shadow

The Rhododendron President Roosevelt with variegated foliage has the wow factor according to some who see it.

Here it is below absolutely thriving in a plant pot and positioned in the border of our back garden in Cheshire.

The Himalayan blue poppy is simply ideal for the Scottish climate.

The male plant Skimmia Japonica Rubella comes to life in the Winter

Chaenomelis x  Superba Crimson and Gold. I spotted this one below in a neighbours garden. Glad I am getting into the habit of having my camera in my pocket.

Courtyard Garden in Fife Scotland! well, its really part of our drive sectioned off. Take a look, see if it qualifies.

The  Elizabeth MacGregor-bred  Anemone Dreaming Swan, introduced in 2013 is the highlight of our Fife garden at the moment.