Heathers at Emmetts Garden

Our visit to Emmetts last Sunday was not only a chance to get out for a walk in some sun, but it was also a chance to test out the camera on my new phone. And I was pretty pleased with the result, even though the title of this post keeps making me think of that film Heathers, rather than the plants.

They were one of the few plants showing colour, even the cyclamen weren’t out. I’m sure it won’t be long before there’s more springing to life, but for now it’s the heathers.

And how welcome are they?

These did remind me of the heathers at Compton Acres, though clearly not in as many numbers, which we visited in March a few years ago. It’s clearly the right time of year to be Heather spotting.

Blue skies and mud at Emmetts Garden

Sun and blue skies, what a treat for January. And way too nice to be indoors, like many others we headed out to a local garden this weekend to make the most of the weather. We arrived at Emmetts Garden at lunchtime on Sunday, with plenty of people arriving before us, and some after us too.

Despite it being just a little over thirty minutes from us, it was our first visit. We’d planned to head out in Saturday, but one thing led to another and then it was almost 1pm, and while not late, we didn’t want to rush around somewhere on our first visit.

So better, and earlier plans were made for Sunday. Even though the sun was out, even at 1pm there was still evidence of the morning’s frost in the Rose Garden, at the shadier end.

BLUE SKIES OVER THE ROSE GARDEN

But what a bench, and what contrast against the skies. Imagine sitting on the bench surrounded by the scent from the roses, warmed by the sun. Sounds great doesn’t it? I’ve a feeling that now that we’ve found Emmetts Garden we’ll be back throughout the year.

MOSS COVERED TREE STUMPS

Of course, the gardens weren’t lost. We’d driven past them, or close by, many a time. Me in the car, MOH on his bike en-route to his mums, and it was nice to explore the inside of the plot for a change.

The gardens boast of great views over the surrounding countryside, and we weren’t disappointed. MOH was soon pointing out local landmarks, like the reservoir in the distance.

The paths are up and down, and mostly hard standing, though the longer routes around the woodland have a more natural feel. With the more natural paths, especially in recent weather, comes mud. Though I was feeling relatively smug, having thought ahead and pulled on my timberlands before leaving the car park.

They were needed. I’m not really a fan of mud it must be said, but with the right footwear it was manageable. Being able to stop to liken the lichen (that still never gets old!), also helped.

LICHEN LOVE

Even though the gardens were busy, many of the muddier paths were quiet and it was refreshing to just have a wander. Even MOH slowed down a bit once we got more into the woodland, there was no need to rush through such beautiful scenery.

And choosing the right path, or mud route, needs consideration.

FI FI FO FUM

We did have a chuckle though as a little lad went past with his parents teaching him the start of the Fi Fi Fo Fum rhyme, with mum hastily explaining that it was because of the ‘giants steps’. The lad himself wasn’t so sure, and had the look of suspicion as if his parents might be having him on, but also happy to be the ‘giant’ and bellow his new knowledge and rhyme.

I bet this place holds memories for them all, maybe in years to come. Even this one. That’s what gardens, and nature, does, even if we don’t know it at the time. Or even if we do.

For our part we followed the Ram Pump Walk to the pump, then strayed onto the red route, it was only when we got to the road with a sign to the garden pointing the way that we’d just come, we questioned our wisdom, and the time, and turned back. I’m sure the rest of the walk would have been fine, but it wasn’t quite our plans, which as you might guess included a cup of tea and a slice of cake, or at least a look in the door.

And look in the door was all we did, the queue was still to the threshold so we headed on and through the South garden, then into the Rock garden. For me, this is the part I want to see how it changes - right now, there’s heathers, bare patches and primroses starting to flower, and a leaky pond with great reflections.

But for now, that’s where our visit to Emmetts ends, I’m saving the photos of the flowering heathers until Friday…

The 10 biggest garden trends for 2020

Everyone’s at it, aren’t they? Even gardeners and garden magazines. Modern Gardens is one of my favourite garden magazines for its fresh, everyday approach. And because it looks more like a glossy magazine than a gardening magazine, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to take a look through their list and share my views.

1 Indoor/outdoor furniture

This apparently follows on last year’s big trend of bifold doors, which we also have, but before that. Just saying. Our indoor/outdoor furniture is from before that too - at one point it was so indoors, it was in our front room and we used it for longer than we should have done in all honesty. It’s since moved into the conservatory, so closer outside, but still inside.

I think we’ve used it outside once or twice, and it can stay outside, but it’s not something I’m willing to leave outside for the elements to do their worst.

Verdict: I’d definitely recommend, even though we keep ours indoors!

2 Dark and moody blooms

Deep purple, maroon, rich burgundy and almost-black flowers are top of the plant trends for 2020 according to the article which says they grab the attention of anyone and everyone who visits your garden. Dark colours also make a small garden look bigger, in one of those colour tricks I’ve spoken about here before. A bit like how bold colours and patterns in the smallest room make them appear larger too.

We always used to have some chocolate cosmos (colour, not flavour or smell) in our dark pots, but somewhere along the way we’ve stopped that tradition. i’ve had dark tulips too, until the squirrels dug them up, ahem. One to restart I think!

My verdict: Where’s my seed/plant catalogue?

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

3 Baby’s tears

Soleirolia soleirolii, baby’s tears or Paddy’s wig and mind-your-own-business are all names for this plant which forms a mini lawn of tiny leaves. I’m a fan and MOH isn’t. So we have it in our garden. He tries to weed it. I’m propagating it. I think it looks great on paths, and to soften the edges of where the slate meets landscaping. It’s a constant battle for MYOB in our garden, or old nonsense as MOH calls it.

My verdict: I’ll be waving this trend in front of MOH’s nose regularly through the year.

4 Retractable roofs

Now this one I’m interested in. The magazine says we’re all looking for more floor space (well, actually we’re not but…) and we’re starting to consider our gardens as outdoor rooms and extra spaces. We do use our garden as another room, when it’s nice, and we do have that gazebo from our 110th party which was scuppered by bad weather with water pooling on the canvas which bent the metal frame.

Quite soon after I had the brilliant idea of repurposing some of the frame to change the shape of the gazebo and introducing a flat top - as that seemed way easier. And on that flat top I’d sew a humongous roman blind, which would lay vertically across the top, and which could be folded back when needed.

Of course, I haven’t done anything about it yet. But I’m definitely claiming to be ahead of the curve on this one.

My verdict: This one has legs, and may even spur me on to repurpose ours.

5 Zero-care furniture

I’m all for no-faff furniture, aren’t we all? But it needs to be comfortable too. We’ve got a wooden table and chairs, and metal ones too. They’re fine for sitting on for a while, but are only really comfortable with cushions on, and then we have to find somewhere to store cushions.

Our sun loungers are more resilient and more comfortable, but they’re not quite zero-care. They are left out in nice weather, but the weather’s not always predictable is it, and so they’ve a bit of rust appearing. We’ve not treated it (yet) but we could, though it would be better if we didn’t have to. I suspect that when we replace our garden furniture - we have no plans to - then we’d be looking more carefully at something like this.

My verdict: Definitely useful if you’re replacing garden furniture, or buying for the first time.

6 Growing veggies in pots

This has long been my way of growing veggies, and it’s one we’ll be returning to now that we’ve no longer got the allotment. i’m also ahead of the game as last year, after a failed previous attempt, I finally got square and oblong pots to edge our greenhouse. I only managed to grow lettuce last year, but this year Rodney, I’ve got plenty of plans.

My verdict: Yes, yes, yes and yes.

7 Pink pampas grass

Apparently there’s a big interiors revival for all things 1970s coming this year, and apparently that will also include Pink pampas grass. Hmmnn. Wasn’t pampas grass the sign for swingers back then? Or was that just a wishful rumour?

My verdict: No, no and no.

8 Succulent window boxes

Now if you’ve spent any time on my blog you’ll know I’m a succulent fan. Window box, perhaps not so much, but mostly because we don’t have any and nor would they fit with our house. But succulents growing in things. Yeap, count me in.

In fact the photo, while not a window box, just goes to show how versatile you can be with planters, even picnic baskets. You’ll have seen that photo before, it’s from my visit to Gardeners’ World Live.

My verdict: Yes, to anything succulents.

9 Gentle blues

The thinking behind adding gentle blue flowers into our gardens is the calmness they’ll bring. So whether we’re trying to forget Brexit, the weather or something else entirely, apparently introducing touches with gently blue flowers and painting our plant pots pastel, everything will be ok.

I think it’s going to take a lot more for things to be ok, and pastels aren’t really my thing. I won’t be getting MOH to paint pots pastels, but I get the calming elements that colours and plants bring. I was once told that adding blue plants at the end of your garden would make it feel longer, and I think there’s something in that too. Colour can be used in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways.

My verdict: Pretty, but not for me.

10 Face pots

Yes, what you think. Pots with faces. My initial thought was perhaps not, but when you add a succulent or too, then maybe they would have a certain charm. I suspect though, for me, it’d be the succulents that held the charm, though I can see that the pots would make great gifts.

My verdict: Likely to be popular, but not for me.

So, what do you think - will you be trying any of these in your garden this year?