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

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

Summer bouquets

Views of the back garden

July 2009

Front of House

117 Croydon Road
But first, let's take a proper look at the front garden,
starting with the view from the front window
June/July

Below : David Austin "Portmeirion" shrub rose

June 2009

Below: view of the front door

25th May 2009


Below: Siberian Irises

mid-late May 2009



Below: view, looking towards the front door,

Mid May


Below: towards the front door

Early-mid May (the azalias are in bloom) 2009

Into the back garden

Into the back garden

To the right of the back door, a mural
The virtual avery


Below: hanging basket

July, 2009

Below, the patio mural

May/June 2009

Below: looking towards the back garden from the back door.

The pelargoniums in full bloom. July 2009

Below : The Rambling Rector (Seagull)

rambling rose in full bloom, June 2009

Below: zoom-in

The Seagull and Blue Skies, June, 2009

Below : the clematis in bloom over the midden

Below: crocosmia (Lucifer) and borage

July 2009

Below: Looking towards the garage door

Foxgloves in bloom, June 2009

Below : Looking towards the backdoor of the house,

Foxgloves in bloom, June 2009


Below: the back garden meadow

July 2009

Below: Acer in the woodland garden

Below: Azalia in bloom

May 2009


Below: Gloriana climbing rose

June 2009

Below: Patio in the rain, 17th May 2009


Below: looking towards the garage door

May 2009

Below, looking towards the back door.

Irises and Aliums in bloom

May 2009

Below: The Midden in May

Below: Aliums and Irises

May 2009

Below: The Happy Landlord

May 2009

Below : the patio in early May

Below: looking towards the back of the house from the garage door

July 2009

Below: Salad days, June 2009

Below: the back garden in winter

January snow 2009

Below: looking towards the garage door

Below: the Jasmin under snow

Below: House Leek with a touch of frost

Below: frozen paw prints

Below: frozen ferns

Below : the trunk of the jasmin under snow

January 2009