Gardens & Countryside - Hampshire in May

Our holiday began simply enough for me and my Mum - a few days in Hampshire to fully recover from the nine hour plus flight to the U.K. and resulting eight hour time difference, and the chance to visit with dear friends and family.  Of course, I was not going to pass up the opportunity to observe and photograph the many gorgeous gardens and countryside that can be found throughout this lovely part of the world.  I adore cottage gardens - set amidst thatched cottages and idyllic villages - there were plenty to choose from...

 ...but first we had to get there.  I won't go into details regarding our first rental car, but needless to say - we had quite an extraordinary and exciting time, especially when the side mirror and an extremely large piece of metal scafolding  chose to fight it out in the tunnel leading to terminal one at LHR.  The car rental company staff appeared a little sceptical when I explained that their sat nav had sent us down the bike lane ('tis true!) but fortunately they were able to provide rental car number two, and thanks to my premonitions of doom (and tons of extra insurance) no harm was incurred - either financially or bodily...  Things did not get any better with the sat nav after this - as it appeared that someone had programmed it to avoid all traffic whenever possible!  We toured many lovely villages that afternoon in the surrounding counties - but I began to despair of ever arriving at our destination.

 

Finally in a fit of frustration, I turned off the unhelpful Tom Tom - and armed with "your guide to a smooth journey" and some excellent directions from passers-by, we arrived at our B & B.  These photos are all taken in and around the villages of Selborne and Upper Neatham near Holybourne. 

Simply amazing countryside, and gorgeous gardens greeted us at every turn.  I especially loved the weathered fences, wrought- iron gates, and stone walls which provide the perfect backdrop to the tidy yet prolific folliage and flowers which appear squeezed into every corner. 

Thanks to the extremely warm, dry spring experienced in the U.K. this year - early summer flowers were out en-masse.  We were also fortunate to have excellent weather during our stay (just one short but fierce thunder shower) which meant that Mum and I could relax outdoors and truly appreciate the beauty around us.

Splashes of red and yellow mixed with the soft tones of lilac, blue and violet were some of my favourites.  Cool whites contasted with shades of green.

Woodland paths tempted us to follow their lead - we were careful to watch out for the stinging nettles!

Blue flowers, lush green lawns and weathered fences are in plain sight, as well as stone walls with locked doors leading to secret gardens beyond...  So much to see and discover in such a short passage of time.



This wall hides Gilbert White's house and garden.

Possibly my favourite cottage flower if I had to choose...

Another gorgeous thatched cottage with pleached limes.

The river Wey in Upper Neatham offers a tranquil setting for both humans and wildlife.

This view of the Hanger in Selborne is so gentle and peaceful - the perfect antidote to our rather stressful arrival.  Following a perfect few days of rest, recuperation, including excellent company combined with local pub food and drink - Mum and I set off on the next leg of our journey - armed with a copy of the fully revised and updated "Trucker's Atlas of Britain!"

End of month view - April

This month's post should be called "the garden awakens".  Finally, after months of unseasonably cold, wet, windy and downright miserable weather, we have been treated to some warm days of spring sunshine.  The garden has responded - and it is as though everything is bursting into bud, blossom, and flower.  The last of the early spring bulbs are putting on a show, and the late spring shrubs and flowers are ready to burst!

Although the early flowering plums and cherry trees have gone over - there are still more showing off their lovely blossom.  Our 4 in 1 grafted cherry tree (ranier, bing, lapin, and one other that I can't remember) is loaded with delicate white blossom.

Tiny saxifrage flowers line the gravel pathway

 ...and the rhododendron is ready to bloom any day now.

Huge buds on the grapevine signal the beginning of its annual growth spurt.

Forget-me-nots (myosotis) basking under the brick in the sunny front border, have produced their sweet blue flowers.  These escaped my transplanting aspirations, and appear to have grown extra tall to compensate!

These fancy double narcissus are some of the bulbs remaining in bloom throughout the garden.

Flowers in many shades of blue and lilac blue (my favourite!) can be found in the garden at this time of year.

The new growth on the native ferns unfurls in fascinating curly fronds.

I found a checkered lily (fritillaria) growing happily in the border with the roses.

The pond goldfish and koi are swimming up to the surface, hungry and ready to be fed.



Not too many views of the front border this time around.  Little has changed other than the daffodils beginning to die back, and lots of new growth on the roses.  The rather chilly (and a bit mildewed) cosmos can be seen in the back, and the newy transplanted nigella in the front.  I had no choice but to plant them out very early on thanks to the need to make more space indoors for even more tender seedlings than these.  The green loopy plant supports are to prevent the cats from taking a short-cut through the fragile young plants - and will be removed shortly!

More lovely blue - this time one of many scilla scattered in the woodland.

Finally, a view of the erythronium self-seeded in the woodland garden - demonstrating once again that nature is the finest garden designer in these parts. 

This is the view of the garden that I will carry with me for the next few weeks as I venture out with my mother for a little vacation - the chance to re-connect with family & friends, see new sights (hopefully some gardens too!), and experience a world away from ours.  I leave Artgarden in the trusty hands of our other family members, and I will be interested and excited to see how much everything has grown when we return.

Swimming tortoise & the guilty one.

I must confess that I'm not a big fan of garden gnomery and other assorted decorations.  I certainly enjoy art and sculpture in the garden (hence the name of my blog) but sentiment aside, I most definitely prefer my garden decorations to be the green & living kind.  However, artgarden is a collaboration - the original vision was inherited from my parents a few years ago.  As their garden has become ours - tended with care and sensitivity by the family, we have added our own ideas while trying not to remove the spirit of the garden that they had dreamed of .  Although my mother is too elderly to actively participate in the physical task of gardening  any more - she is always ready to offer guidance, and suggestions - and to point out that the tortoise is swimming in the koi pond!

Mr. tortoise had occupied a spot on the above rock for many years (along with Bobby the ceramic mouse who met an unfortunate end when our rottweiler Luna accidently bit his head off).  However, that same rock now forms part of the koi pond, and offers an especially enticing spot to sit in the warm sun and watch the fish - especially if you are a cat.  Hannah is now comfortably established upon her favourite rock (no guilty conscience whatsoever!) and I personally think that Mr. tortoise looks far more appealing as he swims serenely in the pond with the fish...

Woodland gardening in the rainforest

Although I love all the different parts of our west coast garden (including flower borders, veggie plot, fruit trees, koi pond, etc.) - nothing can compare to the natural rainforest.  Sadly, much of the original old-growth forest has been replaced in many suburban areas by high density development,  resulting in postage-stamp size garden plots.  We are very fortunate that  most of our lot retains the indigenous forest, and that my parents had the vision to cherish the lovely old trees, and to disturb the natural woodland as little as possible. 

Looking up into the canopy of leaves and branches - mostly Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar predominate.  These trees provide a valuable service to birds and wildlife, and offer a safe perch for eagles and herons to sit and view the bay.  Although, my parents planted some smaller deciduous ornamental trees for additional interest and contrast through the years - nothing can take away from the impact of the original forest.

Sometimes nature has other ideas about the upkeep of trees in the forest.  Old age, fierce winter gales, and damage from insects and animals can all take their toll.  On several occasions, trees have actually blown down (fortunately none have landed on the house...yet).  We now have the trees inspected yearly - both for insurance purposes and our own peace of mind.  Very occasionally, we have had to have a tree cut down in order to avoid the inevitable risk of it coming down on neighbouring property and possibly hurting someone.  In a completely wild forest, this process would take place naturally, as new tree seedlings replace the older trees at the end of their life-cycle.  Our trees re-seed themselves frequently in the woodland garden, and we are careful to preserve these "gifts" in order to maintain the integrity of the forest.

A rotting, decaying, tree can be a thing of beauty.   In fact, these trees are still providing a valuable service by offering the ideal environment and vital nourishment for new growth in the forest.

A hollow log is all that remains of this tree - which will soon form its own natural planter.                 

This sapling is growing out of the shell of a tree similar to the one above, known as a "nurse log".  The forest is a magical place to observe the continuity of life - and to ponder on a small scale, the wasteful and environmentally damaging practice of clear-cut logging. 

Long, slender tree trunks that stretch up into the sky and beyond can be quite challenging to blend with the rest of the garden, so that nothing looks ridiculous or out of place.  By preserving the woodland garden intact and focusing on native plants - we have attempted to preserve the beauty of the forest and its fragile ecosystem. 

A old wooden cedar birdhouse (a gift from many years ago) has slowly weathered to a silvery grey colour.  It is placed in a clearing in the forest overlooking the koi pond.

An inside view of part of the woodland garden.  A gravel path winds through the forest and around the old-growth trees.  Natural groundcover  is combined with carefully chosen plants which complement the woodland environment.  Hellebores, primulas, spring bulbs, astilbe, and rhododendron (to name a few) share the space with snowberry, erythroniumm, and mahonia.  Towards the back of the lot, the dense natural forest grows unchallenged - providing a glimpse of how this land has existed for thousands of years.  

Springtime at last

A rare sunny day provided the opportunity for some photography in the woodland garden during this unseasonably damp and chilly Spring.  The soil is still very cold and wet.  Any warmth and sunshine produces lots of plant growth as the days become longer, and offer a hint of hopeful possibilities in the months to come.  There is so much moisture everywhere!

Flowering shrubs are showing off...

...and the gorgeous camelia is in bloom at last!

Verdant growth rises from the forest floor as the various plants compete for limited light caused by the canopy of Douglas fir and western red cedar that occupy the same garden space.

Plum blossom holds promise of delicious fruit to come.

Mahonia is putting on a show to rival the forsythia.

Daffs., Narcs., Hyacinths & More!

Forced blue hyacinth on the  windowsill overlooking the kitchen sink.  Its heavenly scent provides a  wonderful assist to anyone working there (especially those who would rather be in the garden!)

Close up and woodland views of erythronium.  Love their mottled leaves as much as the nodding blooms.  They grow naturally, and are plentiful in the dappled forest light.



Muscari (grape hyacinth) offer a welcome patch of blue.

 So many different variations...

Daffodils and narcissus are planted everywhere.  Some have yellow centers, others show dainty, frilly trumpets, and still others are creamy white all over.  All are wonderful & welcome signs of Spring!