Oh là là, sagte ich mir, als ich kürzlich von einer Reise heimkehrte. Dieser Tage bin ich viel für mein Buch unterwegs, und so herrscht in unserem grünen Paradies ein wenig die Anarchie! Im Frühling ist das Wachstum kaum zu bändigen, vor allem dem Gras kann man beim Wachsen zusehen. Habt ihr einmal darauf gelauscht? Es flüstert dabei, heiliges Indianerehrenwort! Im Obstgarten lassen wir es teilweise bis in den Juni hinein stehen, damit das Laub von Camassia und Narzissen einziehen kann. Dort stehen auch die Strauch- und Wildrosen, die in Gesellschaft von Wiesenblumen und Gräsern besonders romantisch aussehen. Den E-Zaun habe ich letztes Jahr verstärkt, was Rudolf sichtlich das Leben schwer macht und den Rosen gut tut. Sie sind voller Knospen und Blüten. Rosenhimmel 🙂 Mirabel Osler, eine englische, sehr poetische Gartenbuchautorin, hat mich übrigens vor Jahren dazu inspiriert, Rosen in die Wiese zu pflanzen. Wenn ihr ihre Bücher noch nicht kennt, besorgt sie euch, sie sind einfach wundervoll. Was den Obstgarten angeht, so habe ich eine Entscheidung gefällt: Er soll nicht länger ein reiner Obstgarten bleiben, sondern andere, saisonale Akzente setzende Gehölze beherbergen. In letzter Zeit haben wir Paulownia, Heptacodium miconioides, Cornus kousa „Schmetterling“, Amelanchier und Clerodendrum gepflanzt.
Oh là là I said the other day when I got back home from a trip. I’m on the road a lot these days for my book and so there’s a bit of anarchy in our own garden! Growth in spring is difficult to control, especially the grass which you can actually watch growing. Did you ever listen? It whispers, I promise! In the orchard we let part of it grow long into June so that the leaves of Camassia and Narcissi can die back. There we also grow shrub and species roses which look particularly romantic in the company of wildflowers and grass. Last year I re-enforced the electric fence in the effort of giving Rudolf and extended family a hell of a time – successfully so far, touch wood, as the roses are full of flowers and buds. Rose heaven 🙂 By the way, it was Mirabel Osler, a delightful English garden writer, who inspired me to grow roses in the meadow. If you don’t know her books – well, go out and get them, they’re just wonderful. As far as the orchard is concerned I have decided that it won’t stay a pure orchard so we’ve already added Paulownia, Heptacodium miconioides, Cornus kousa „Butterfly“, Amelanchier and Clerodendrum to extend the season of interest.
Rosa Frühlingsgold mit dem neuen Kiwi-Love seat im Hintergrund / Rosa Frühlingsgold and a glimpse of the new Kiwi-love seat in the background
Rosa ScharlachglutDefinitiv Anarchie im Senkgarten! Noch nie hatten wir so prächtige Cerinthe major Purpurascens
Definitely anarchy in the sunken garden! We’ve never had such a fine display of Cerinthe major Purpurascens
Rosa Munstead Wood – vollendete Perfektion von Duft, Form und Farbe / Rosa Munstead Wood is as close to perfection as you can get with its scent, shape and colour
Rosa Penelope & Cerinthe
An der Hauswand ist Guirlande rose zum Leben erwacht / On the house wall Guirlande rose is flowering
Tulipa Marilyn will sich noch nicht von Allium, Nepeta und den übrigen Sommerstars trennen.
Tulipa Marilyn doesn’t want to part with Allium, Nepeta and the other summer stars.Dschungel…naja, ihr seht, was ich meine 😉 / Jungle…guess you know what I mean 😉
Rosa Martin des Senteurs…hmmmm, Duft/scent
Kir Royal lädt zum Blütentanz / Kir Royal invites us to dance
Martin des Senteurs & Geranium Tiny Monster
Erigeron, Nepeta, Clematis, Digitalis & StipaGeranium Elsbeth mit einer mir unbekannten, reizenden Rose / Geranium Elsbeth with a delightful, yet unknown rose
Rosa rugosa, Salvia microphylla & Helianthemum
Indigofera amblyantha, ein attraktiver Strauch, den ich jeden Spätwinter stark zurückschneide, ist voller Blüten.
Indigofera amblyantha, an attractive shrub which I prune hard in late winter, is full of flowers.Rosa Cornelia, Nepeta, Centranthus & Tulipa Marilyn
Im Gemüsegarten ist fast alles gepflanzt. Vor allem bei den Tomaten und Auberginen habe ich zugeschlagen…Bleue ozu, Tomate miel de Mexique, Cerise noire, Matt’s wild child (!), Prune noir, Purple Calabach, Clementine…ich kann’s kaum erwarten, sie alle zu probieren.
Most things have been planted in the potager. I have to admit I went rather wild with my choice of tomatoes and aubergines…Bleue ozu, Mexican honey tomatoe, Matt’s wild child (!), Purple Calabach, Clementine to name just a few…can’t wait to taste them.
Nerine, Basilikumminze und meine geliebte Schokominze in Töpfen; glückliches Tohuwabohu im Blumenbeet: Rosa Gertrude Jekyll, Allium nigrum, Verbena, Thalictrum Elin, Rosa Ferdinand Pichard u.v.m. Es ist ein relativ kleines Beet, aber die Entscheidung, strukturstarke Pflanzen zu wählen, hat sich gelohnt.
Nerine, basil mint and my beloved chocolate mint are lined up in pots; happy (planned) chaos in the border: Rosa Gertrude Jekyll, Allium nigrum, Verbena, Thalictrum Elin, Rosa Ferdinand Pichard etc. Fairly small border but the decision to plant BIG and structurally strong plants was the right one.
Fröhliche Stimmung hinter dem Haus mit Allium, Euphorbia griffithii Fireglow und den letzten Narcissus Baby Moon, die bald von vielen Clematis und Rosen abeglöst werden.
Cheerfulness behind the house with Allium, Euphorbia griffithii Fireglow and the last Narcissus Baby Moon…soon Clematis and roses will take over.
Nächste Woche bin ich in England auf der Chelsea Flower Show. Die RHS hat mich eingeladen, da mein Foto dort ausgestellt wird. Konnte ich kaum ablehnen und werde bei dieser Gelegenheit noch andere Gärten besuchen. Vielleicht treffe ich den einen oder anderen von euch? Ich wünsche euch einen wunderbaren Restfrühling mit vielen Sternstunden im Garten 🙂
Next week I shall be at the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK. The RHS invited me because my image will be exhibited too, very exciting. Could hardly refuse and will visit other gardens while I’m over there. Maybe we’ll meet? Enjoy spring 🙂
Well done on both your wonderful exuberant garden, its not a jungle but rather lovely and your photo for Chelsea, I have just looked and its terrific, even more wonderful thats its your own garden too. I really like the idea of roses within a meadow, how do you go about feeding them though as they are hungry and meadows are not.
Hi Julie, that’s why I’m twice as happy! I feed the roses once in early spring with special slow release fertilizer and as it’s just around the plant it doesn’t affect the meadow.
not so anarchic! Just blousie summer arriving. your Cerinthe look gret where you have them but seem very short, are they a special dwarf variety or is it just the camera angle? Enjoy Chelsea and look forward to your post about it!
They say they get 30-90cm high and mine are about 50/60cm…any higher and my roses start to drown 😉
Your garden looks fantastic. And a book… have I missed what it’s about? Congratulations! 🙂 My husband just bought me a Mirabel Osler book, but it might have to wait till autumn before I get the chance to read it. Looking forward to it though. And your Chelsea image is stunning. Which day will you be there?
Hi Louise, you definitely must make time to read it. Lovely husband to give you this book! My book deadline is end of August so lots to be done til then. When is yours for the new book? I’ll be in Chelsea on the Wednesday – will you go too?
He is! Good luck with the deadline. It can seem a far way off but they soon creep up on you. 😉 My deadline isn’t until next February although lots of mini deadlines along the way. I’m at Chelsea on Monday which is fab, but a pity we won’t get to meet. Our paths keep crossing. I’m sure they’ll meet one day. 😉
That’s the one advantage of being away from your garden on your travels – being greeted with such joyfulness on your return! Your roses are a delight and I am particularly fond of your ’sunken garden‘ but those borders near the house are looking interesting too. What are the tall green ‚things‘ in the second to last photo? Have a good week next week – I have not ruled out meeting up yet!
Hi Cathy, do you mean the Angelica or the artichokes? I plan to visit Batsford Arboretum…anywhere near you? So glad that Rudolf hasn’t spoilt the pleasure of my roses (yet)!
Ah – it will be the angelica! It’s a trek to Batsford but if you are staying with friends in Surrey then we may be able to fit something in when we visit ED, depending on timing of events.
What is ED? I shall be in Buckinghamshire.
Elder (expectant) Daughter.
Ich glaube, in deinem Garten könnte ich die Zeit vergessen! Auch wenn ich mich wiederhole: dein Garten ist ein Traum!
Ich wünsche dir viele tolle Eindrücke in England.
LG
Renate
Danke dir, liebe Renate, es ist mir schon ein wenig peinlich, wenn ich immer so verliebt von meinem Garten rede, aber voilà so ist’s eben ;
Your garden is looking so summery with all your beautiful roses and their friends. I have read a couple of books by Mirabel Osler and can thoroughly recommend them, they are full of very sound advice.
Have fun next week at Chelsea, well done for being invited, I will look forward to your post about it all!
Thanks, Pauline, roses are very early this year and I wonder how it’ll all continue but it’s definitely very enjoyable.
Perhaps it is more a gentle anarcho-syndicalism than a true wild anarchy. In any case, I am in love with that Kir Royal growing on your stone walled house.
It’s a beauty and flowers all summer albeit a little less passionate after the first flush…and then the scent, delicious!
Ein Gedicht, das würde ich gern in natura sehen! Übrigens bei uns herrscht noch mehr Anarchie, und ich bin froh, dass meine Rosen noch nicht so weit sind, den wir haben Dauerregen. Da wächst das Gras besonders gut und man hat null-Chance es zu mähen.
Ich beneide dich um die Chelsea-Flower Show, ich war noch nie da und hoffe, dass ich es noch in diesem Leben schaffe,vielleicht bringst du paar Fotos mit? Aber wahrscheinlich ist es zu voll. Auf jeden Fall wünsche ich dir schöne Tage in England, ich freue mich schon auf deinen Bericht. lg Marlies
Wenn du mal in meine Gegend kommst, darfst du dich gerne melden, Marlies. Bin nicht mehr so scharf auf Chelsea wegen der Menschenmassen und habe dort immer Heimweh nach meinem eigenen Garten, aber Bilder bringe ich mit. Gute Zeit für euch 🙂
Das kann ich mir denken, da ist die Hölle los, undich bei meiner Größe (155cm) würde wahrscheinlich gar nichts sehen. Trotzdem, einmal…
Noch ein Nachtrag, wieder war der Artikel nicht im Reader. Ich hoffe, das kommt nicht so oft vor. lg Marlies
Planned chaos is always good in my eye Annette, and that border with the artichoke and giant allium is wonderful! In contrast your veggie beds look very disciplined and well-behaved! The salvia next to the orange helinthemum is one of my favourite images this time… but it’s all lovely with lots of colour. Have a nice time at Chelsea.
It’s early days yet, Cathy, these veg will soon turn into proper anarchists as well…watch this space 😉
Hey Annette .. sorry if you get this comment twice. Just love your roses – so beautiful. And what a super idea letting the grass grow long. I love that pic that will be on exhibition at the Chelsea show .. gorgeous. Must come and see you one day 🙂
Definitely, Julie, guess you’d like our Kiwi-Love-seat too…and until then we might be able to harvest them sitting on that bench 🙂
Huge smiles back to you!
Congrats on that invite and image showing. Your garden is so beautiful and the roses planted in that manner, so romantic. I never thought of them as a plant to use in a meadow, but they work nicely. Roses here get too diseased without much ventilation, so they would likely not do well. The wild roses on the otherhand are great in a wild situation, yet they bloom for far to short a time. Plus the canes get aggressive and can really become a jungle in our area. The parks have them all over and are constantly cutting them back before they jump out and swallow people. Ha, ha.
Once the grass is cut, they get plenty of ventilation and species roses are pretty healthy anyway. Have to be careful in case and they jump out at me though! 😉
Es ist einfach nur wunderschön bei euch. Mehr kann ich gar nicht sagen. Fast nicht. Annette, du bist meine absolute Queen of Gardening. ❤
Knicks und vielen Dank, liebe Heike – ich hoffe, ich kann dich eines Tages durch meinen Garten führen 🙂
Beautiful! I hope you also find some time to sit and enjoy the gardens, and it’s not all work taming plants and borders. I love the lush look, and it’s surprising how everything is turning to summer already.
We had a few warm days and the iris have shot up bloom stalks and the daffodils are fading. I’m afraid the camassia will open and be over in less than a week…. But I will not complain. Winter is still fresh in my mind 😉
Yes, I do make it my business to enjoy it too and often take my manuscript/laptop into the garden to work…very inspiring to sit there among the roses 🙂
Wow! What a delight your return must have been Annette. Your garden is looking wonderful, almost dream like!
I note from your list of new plants you’ve chosen a Heptacodium, I’ve had mine for 3 years now and they are lovely. Although here in Scotland, we are said to be quite lucky if they manage to flower before the first frosts! Of course the remaining choices are lovely too. I hope they are all happy in your garden.
Enjoy what’s left of the weekend.
Hi Angie, now that the jungle is a little under control, it’s indeed very enjoyable. Can’t wait to see my Heptacodium in flower. As the first frosts are always very late it shouldn’t be a problem. Hope you’ve a good weekend too 🙂
Einfach zu schön dein Garten!
Wünsche Dir viel Spaß in England!
LG, Petra
Vielen Dank, liebe Petra, bin gerade am Packen…auch dir alles Liebe 🙂
enjoyed the photo tour of the garden – I’ve sown lots of Cerinthe major Purpurascens this year so I’m hoping for a good display ….time will tell! Have fun at Chelsea !
Just had to retrieve you from the spam box, dear Claire! My cerinthe didn’t do well at all last summer (didn’t like the heat one bit) but over the winter they turned into proper little Rambos and have been flowering for many months now. Good luck with yours 🙂
Hello Annette, I have just found this post, for some reason it didn‘ turn up in my reader, I thought you had gone very quiet. Your garden is looking fabulous, absolutely dreamy.
I hope you had a good time at Chelsea. I hope that next time you come to England you may get as far as Suffolk and visit me.
Hi Chloris, just got back from the UK. I enjoyed the private gardens but Chelsea certainly less. It would be nice to meet you and your garden some day 🙂
Hi again! I’ve only just come across your latest two posts. Like Chloris, they haven’t been showing up in my reader either.
You definitely have „rose heaven“ there! I’m especially fond of how you use roses among grasses and wild flowers – a really dreamy setting! If only I had more space!
I’m really interested in your book – you must keep us all posted!
Hi, don’t worry about it, happens to me as well but it’s nice to catch up. Yes, it’s roses all over at the moment and I enjoy it 🙂