Garden Photograph of the Week

 February 2012. Not added any photos for a while but here is a photo of my first daffodils of the year, quite early I think. The second photo is of my Camellia which, again, I think is flowering earlier than usual. The final photo is of an Orchid in my conservatory. I got this from Chester Zoo when on an Orchid course so I’m not sure what is is called but this is only the second time it’s flowered for me and there is another flower spike ready to burst open.

September 2011 and it’s been months since I’ve upload a photograph of the garden, mainly due to the fact that there has been nothing that has looked particularly good.

However, I felt I had to load this picture of my Acer Orange Dream which is looking absolutely wonderful; the best it ever has.

June 28th – I’ve not updated my photo of the week for a while now so here’s three to make up for it.

First is my Mitraria coccinea Lake Puye form (Gesneriaceae). This is an evergreen shrub which I have growing against a very shady fence. Despite the shade, every year it produces these wonderful red flowers. It likes partial to full shade and a well drained acidic soil. I bought mine from Crug Farm a number of years ago and, although they are out of stock as I write this, they still have it on their list.

My second choice this week is my rose arch which is just full of creamy, pink-tinted roses which smell gorgeous (The Garland).

Finally is my new water feature. I bought the base in kit form from B&Q (Corner Planter £49.98) stained it black and fitted a butyl liner in each of the three sections. I already had an established iris which I divided and planted into new aquatic baskets. I then added a four new plants; nymphaea pygmaea rubra, Lobelia Cardinalis, Cyperus eragrostis and Myosotis Scorpioides as well as a couple of water soldiers. I filled the bottom of each section with a couple of inches of grit and will nature take it’s course. The water isn’t too deep so I’m hoping the birds will use it for bathing and drinking and perhaps I’ll get a few frogs eventually.

Along with my Acer my favourite plant is my Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis). At this time of year (early May) it is covered in these amazing bracts then in autumn they turn into bright red fruits which last well until the frosts. I’ll post a picture at time.

I’ve fallen behind a little with my Photos of the Week, I’ve taken them but haven’t had time to put them on the website, so here are the last three weeks.

First is my lovely Tree Peony, I’m not sure of the variety but the flowers never cease to amaze me. They are a good 8ins wide and this year it produced six of them. The tree itself isn’t very big and, if I’m honest, a bit ugly, but the flowers are worth it.

Second is my Ribes again but this time in full bloom.

Any finally is my Acer (Japanese maple) collection. I call it a collection but there’s only three of them! The small red one is Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ and the yellow one is Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’, both have been in pots for about three years and are doing well. The big one has been in the garden for about 12 years and was tiny when I got it, now it fills the space beautifully and is my pride and joy. It is Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Garnet’, a wonderful tree for a small garden.

Here’s where you can buy similar: Ribes from Crocus.co.uk, Tree Peonies from Thompson & Morgan    and Acers from Gardening Express.

Here are my photographs from 17th April. Looking really good at the moment is my Cherry Tree – Prunus avium Stella; if the amount of blossom is anything to go by there should be lots of fruit this year. I just have to get to them before the birds!