Tropical Colour

If you fancy adding a bit of low-maintenance colour to your garden try some Hemerocallis. They are easy to grow, flower from late June onwards and are perfect for creating a tropical look when teamed with palms, grasses, bananas and bamboos. Available in a wide range of colours from white, bright oranges and yellows, pinks, through to divine deep purples. You can get some with frilly, picotee edges that are particularly interesting. They don't seem to suffer from the dreaded Lily Beetle and will multiply year on year. They only flower for one day, hence their common name - Day Lily, but when on day's flowers have gone there are plenty to replace them the following day.

Here is Hemerocallis 'Destined to See' flowering in my garden.

Llama Trekking

People choose to celebrate their birthdays in various ways, and this year I’ve chosen something totally different. My ongoing birthday festivities have been complex and self-indulgent, but the highlight was a day spent Llama trekking in Northamptonshire.

I dragged along my trusty friends Alex and Catherine and, of course, my partner Spencer (actually he organised it) and we set off for the Northamptonshire countryside. We arrived at Catanga Farm, were given a talk on Llamas and told how to handle them. We then set off on a 2 hour hike around the beautiful countryside leading our Llamas. If you’ve never encountered a Llama you should immediately book a trek. It was completely brilliant. I know it sounds a bit strange, but if you don’t know anything else about me you should know that I love Llamas – they are beautiful, gentle creatures. They are a little shy and not quite as sociable or huggable as horses and donkeys, but once you get used to their idiosyncratic ways I guarantee you’ll be hooked.

After the trek we had a tour of the centre, and got to speak to some more Llamas including some very cute baby Llamas. We polished off our day with a Champagne picnic surrounded by fields of Llamas –perfect!

My gorgeous Llama 'Felix'



Me and Felix



So gorgeous I had to post his photo again....



Another cute Llama



Resting Llama



Baby Llama

Contemporary Art

My partner (Spencer) discovered the work of artist Tessar Lo 18 months ago. He comissioned a gorgeous piece of art from Tessar and we now have several other pieces of his work in the house. Check out his Web site.

Case Study - Large Garden in Surrey - Update 8

The left-hand side of the garden is now complete apart from the planting – one of the terraced borders is planted and there’s a new Bay hedge along the top boundary, but we’re leaving the rest until the Autumn. The sunken garden is almost complete apart from its turf. The old pergola has been extended and given a coat of black paint and is awaiting its new climbers. The lower patio is laid and the lawn has been dug over and is receiving a top dressing of sand and topsoil.

Work has started on the right-hand side terracing. The structural wall was already in place, and now the blockwork has gone up to create the various levels and steps. The new front wall has been constructed and is just waiting for its gates and railings. The timber retaining wall for the raised borders is also being constructed.

All that remains is to complete the rear garden right-hand side blockwork, then clad and pave the terraces; build the decked terrace from the summer house; lay the driveway paving; install railings to front and rear gardens; construct the raised beds bordering the road; planting and then, inevitably, snagging. I say ‘all’, there is still at least two months work to be done.

Pesky Pigeons

The allotment is looking great and bearing a selection of fabulous fresh fruit and veg. However, on visiting to do some tidying up over the weekend I was greeted by six fat pigeons taking flight from in and around my plot. Not content with scoffing my spinach, rocket, and salad leaves those thieving avian rodents have stripped one of my blackcurrant bushes and started on the redcurrants. If I had a gun and it was permissible to shoot them I would do so – I can think of any number of delicious ways to enjoy pigeons, perhaps with a blackcurrant sauce!?

I have now netted round the fruit bushes and covered all my brassicas and lettuces with Agralan enviromesh which is excellent for protecting plants from all sorts of pests including airbone ones.

Relaxing in the garden - part 2

I'm not good at sitting around doing nothing, especially when there's allotments to weed, climbers to tie in, perennials to stake, borders to weed, and so on .......... Now don't get me wrong I enjoy doing all of these things (yes, really), but sometimes I need to be told. This week I was struck down by some hideous virus and have been forced to take it easy. So, here's me and my cat, Ellie, relaxing under the umberella with the scent of Rosa 'Rambling Rector' filling the air, reading Dennis Lehane (only me, not Ellie, its Pelecanos or nothing for her) and getting in the mood to go out to dinner with some friends this evening - doesn't get much better.



Enjoy the weekend.

Linsey

Relaxing in the garden

Here's a shot of my fiercest critic showing her appreciation of the new garden layout. Her majesty clearly approves of the new black Limestone paving, and doesn't seem to mind that the retaining wall is still waiting for its final coat of render.