Urban Eden

22/05/2010

The Garden Studio, May 2010

(Above) The view of the studio looking from the garage towards the house.

(Below) The view of the garden from the studio window.

(Below) Peering through the studio window from the garden towards the patio and the house.

Views of the back garden, April/May 2010

(Above) Looking up the back garden path.

(Above) Eddie

(Above) Windchimes by Les

(Above) The Patio Clematis

(Below) Closer views of the back garden plants, first Veronica, then the patio clematis

The front garden in full colour May 2010

A view of the front door behind the azalias, May 2010
(Below) : Bluebells and Cerastium, followed by a closer look at the azalias.

23/03/2010

Spring Colour, end of March 2010

After the long winter, a bit of colour is now returning to the garden. Here's a view from the back garden of the path leading to the garage. There's a bank of primroses in bloom at the top.

Here's a closer look at the primrose bank.

And some more primroses, because "one can never have too many primroses" (as I often say to my mother).

These Algerian Irises (iris unguicularis) are in bloom in the front garden. They are a very early flowering variety and provide some much needed colour at this time of year. To read more about this plant, check this article : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/4208463/How-to-Grow-Iris-unguicularis.html

(Below) The view of the front garden (in the rain), looking up the path from the front door.

The Pyracantha under the front window is doing well. It's growing against a north-facing wall and I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't get any direct sunlight at all, but (happily) it seems to be thriving.

More primroses ! These are under the Pieris in the front garden, again in the shade of the north front wall of the house: a good area for the "woodland" garden.

There are a few Tête à Tête daffodils in both the front and back garden. Not enough though. I shall have to do a mass-bulb-planting campaign in the autumn !

Ditto for the snowdrops, which are gradually colonising the garden. Careful observers might spot the bluebell leaves: they are populating both gardens too and will be in bloom fairly soon.

A bit of woodland planting in the shade area of front garden.

And some woodland planting in the shade area of the back garden (again there's some bluebells coming through).

The heather is also providing some nice colour in the front garden.

As is the Skimmia, which is in large pot in the back garden.

16/09/2009

Autumn Colour in the Front Garden

Above : front garden path, mid September

Above and below: looking towards the house from the road (September)

Below : Pieris, a new addition to the front garden

Below : the Abelia in bloom

15/09/2009

Autumn Colour in the Back Garden

Above : the back garden path (looking from the garage towards the house) : mid September.

Above : the back garden patio in September.

Above : the back garden midden in September.

Above : Back garden, September views

Above : detail. Back border. Early Autumn colour.

Above : a corner of the back garden under development.

Celebrating Gold

Beautiful Bromley Competition 2009

Best Front Garden Gold Award and Best Back Garden Silver Award

Saturday 12th September 2009 : Les and I were invited to the presentation of the Beautiful Bromley 2009 Awards, which took place in the Queen's Garden, Bromley. The event was well attended by gardeners of all ages from all over the borough, which, judging by the slide show that evening, can boast a lot of lovely gardens ! So, I was very surprised and delighted to receive the Gold award for the Best Front Garden category and Silver for the Best Back Garden.

The evening started with the awards for the primary and secondary schools. Downe school was amongst the winners.

During the interlude, there was a talk on Darwin's work at Down House, which is now the subject of an application for World Heritage status : a campaign that is apparently supported by, amongst others, Sir David Attenborough.

Les and I weren't surprised when the landlord from "The Change of Horses", Farborough, was called to the stage to receive a Gold award for Best Business Premises. The container garden in front of the pub is always stunning.

Next year, in addition to the Back Garden category, I hope to enter the "Garden for All Seasons" and "Container Garden" categories.

The Beautiful Bromley competition is organised by Bromley borough council :

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/leisure/parksandoutdoor/celebrate_bromley.htm

For more information on Down House, the home of Charles Darwin :

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.14922