The Garden at Glen Villa

I’ve been focused so closely on my new garden at York House that walking today around my old garden at Glen Villa was a real delight. Yes, I saw much that needs to be done — when does any gardener see only the good parts? But seeing the garden with fresh eyes gave me a huge sense of pleasure and accomplishment. 

The hawthorn trees by the pond are looking particularly good.

The Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ near the front door of the house are almost at their peak. Or perhaps they are there already?

I enjoy the contrast between the dark Weigela leaves and the citrus leaves of the spirea. Predictable perhaps but effective.

The same Weigela is blooming at the Cascade along with another hawthorn tree and yellow flag iris.

Controlling the spread of the Darmera peltata is a constant battle. But I love its broad leaves.

A black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is blooming in the Upper Field, its pendulous white blossoms a scented wonder.

Soon the lilacs in the same field will be finished, as will the buttercups and lupins and ragged robin now colouring the field. But for the moment, they are glorious indeed.

Ok, there are no lupins in this photo but believe me, they are blooming everywhere else!

The Big Meadow, previously known as the Big Lawn, is spiked with colour.

Elsewhere there are pink and mauve lupins as well as purple and white.

In the Asian Meadow, fish swim above a sea of pink, thanks to the ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi).

Do you call these wildflowers by another name or are they ragged robin to you too?

The bed at the entry to the China Terrace is finally coming into its own although the dark-leaved Cotinus is getting a bit too big for its britches.

The spirea on the right is a nice balance to the citrus of Aralia Sun King.

The dining room table on the China Terrace needs its annual centrepiece but the bed there is happily spread in curly green.

Sweet woodruff will soon be blooming, adding a froth of white to the bedspread of green.

There’s even a magnolia still in bloom in the Lower Garden.

Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’ is a reliably hardy variety in my climate.

Seeing the garden looking so good makes me happy. Yet it also makes me a bit sad. This was my garden for so many years and now it belongs to my daughter and her family. But thankfully I can leave my front door and be in that garden in only a minute or two, even while I have the challenge of creating something new around my current house.

Timelines, the trail that moves beyond the garden and into the surrounding fields and woods, is looking good as well, with only a few wet places. There’s a lot to do on the trail as well — ideas are never in short supply. (Look out for a post about that. I plan to write one soon.)

In the next week or so, several groups are coming to visit the garden and, possibly, to walk Timelines. I hope they will enjoy their experience as much as I enjoyed mine today.

Are you are interested in visiting the garden? If so, do get in touch. Put together a group of 15 or more and we’ll find a mutually convenient time. I can lead your visit or it can be self-guided — your choice. If you are interested in a particular topic — photography, design, native plants, etc. — let me know and I’ll focus the tour on that issue or find an expert in the subject to lead you around.

Or book me to talk about Glen Villa Art Garden, British or Italian gardens, using art in a garden or one of my other signature talks. Check the website for details.

In the meantime, happy gardening!