A winter visit to the Wisley veg plot

Whenever we go to RHS Wisley there’s always a couple of places that are on my “must visit” list. The first of these is the vegetable garden for some inspiration, but also to marvel at how ordered and orderly their vegetables grow. For a long time I’ve hankered over growing brassicas in rows, but of course it never quite works out that way. Usually I beat myself up about it for a bit, then I remember that I’m growing vegetables on a much smaller scale, both in terms of space and time and likely number of seedlings too - though at times I think I can out-rival anyone on that!

So I end up forgiving myself, but the admiration rightly remains. So when we visited the Giant Houseplants Takeover at the start of February, I also engineered our route around the garden to include a stop off here. MOH now feigns mock surprise, which of course is no surprise at all.

The artichoke leaves and plants are always so structural and dramatic, but they take up a lot of room. We always had plans to move the one on our now-given-up allotment plot, but never got to it before it started growing, up and through the crab apple tree. They’d make a great ‘screening’ plant if you had a plot large enough in your garden, as they’d be a great way to transition from your garden to veg plot, working well in both areas of the garden. I must remember this for when/if I get the opportunity for a veg plot in the garden.

Do you see what I mean about the orderliness? But also the size. The colours of the ruby and yellow chard were welcome though. They’re also great plants to grow, though MOH isn’t so keen on eating them which is a bit of a downside. Because really, if you’re not going to eat what you grow there’s really very little point, and if there’s only one of you eating your way through a glut that could be quite dull indeed.

I always like to peer into the greenhouses and netted cages as much as I can. This time I remembered that camera trick, which I learnt on my visit to the Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - yes the one where I went down the huge, huge slide and actually wondered if I’d survive. The ‘trick’ which makes a lot of sense is to put your phone (all my photos on the blog now days are taken with my phone camera) right up against the netting, and the result is a pretty clear picture, like the sprouts above.

I hadn’t actually got into the netted cage, which with a proper camera might have been my only option, and one that probably would have got me thrown out. Now imagine having to explain that.

This final picture is a great burst of colour, but also a reminder to me to not be bound by ‘norms’ on what can be grown in pots and containers. There were several different shaped pots with radicchio in, which looked great and I’m sure, when they get to the table, will taste great too. The options should be endless, and it’s good to remind myself of these as I’ve those new pots around the greenhouse which i plan on making work hard this year, I’m just not sure with what!

The parterre at Helmingham Hall

We’re getting about a bit this week with the posts I’m sharing, so in between quick visits to Lisbon on Tuesday and Italy tomorrow, today we’re somewhere a little closer to home and have landed in Suffolk. In the parterre at Helmingham Hall to be precise. It’s a great garden to visit, another independent garden where you’re never quite sure what you’re going to find.

We visited during our Suffolk break, and I was surprised to see I’ve only shared a single post from our visit so far, and if you’re a fan of knot gardens, then this is worth a visit if you’re in the area. I originally planned to share photos from the Potager, but somehow my fingers had other ideas, but who am I to argue?

While first off this garden might look very traditional, and its choice of plants - box hedging and santolina, it’s not quite as traditional as you’d expect. It’s in good company as that’s the combination used in the formal gardens of Chenonceau too, though the santolina (the light coloured plant) was more densely planted in Suffolk, which brought a bolder ‘stripe’ to the parterre.

The other less traditional thing, but gorgeously so, are these pink cosmos which on our visit were used in the central bed.

From a distance, I assumed they were roses, so it was quite a discovery when I got close enough. While I’m converting to roses, i think because these weren’t roses, it was even more of an exciting discovery. It’s quirks like this, or the plant you don’t expect to see that makes a garden a garden and not a forumaic reproduction of what we know works.

It’s a great space, calming and viewable from the house across the moat - which if I’ve not mentioned before is pretty and fascinating, though sadly not open, but I mean, it has a moat. And surely that means you can imagine anything you like about the place and the reality would never match up to it.

The other thing this garden has, which appeals to me, is those gates which lead to the Potager. So soon, I’ll share more of what’s behind them as I’m rather partial to those too, as i discovered at Cheverny.

A fine farm for florists and regal roses

Today I'm taking you to another part of the Chateau de Chenonceau estate, and a part you might not have heard of before, the farm. Yes I wasn't expecting to find one here either, and it was a lovely discovery. Especially as it was so pretty. And so French. We approached past the duck pond who, as you'd expect living so close to such a grand chateau also had some rather plush duck accommodation.

The farm is a group of 16th century buildings and includes Catherine de' Medici's stables. One of the buildings houses a floral workshop where two florists work all year round creating the stunning flower arrangements which I've already shared. And it provides easy access to the vegetable and flower gardens nearby. But before we go there, just look at this honeysuckle I spotted. It's huge, and was lovely and fragrant when we visited, but growing in a way - like a cordon - that I'd not seen before.

Moving through one of the farm's arches, I got my first glimpse of the productive part of the garden. And I wasn't surprised at how orderly it was. I loved the grass between the crops - which is a similar approach I have in my allotment, it's just that in my allotment the grass is almost knee high!

The cordoned fruit trees were in fruit too. And I promise when I took the picture below I was still on the right side of the path.

There's twelve square plots each of them edged with apple trees and Queen Elizabeth rosebushes, hence the regal roses reference in the title. And lots of alliteration throughout this post. The whole space covers more than a hectare and like many of the potagers we visited is pretty as well as functional. 

Throughout the garden there was added interest, with wicker ornaments and metal wells. The sunflowers were growing tall and strong. And straight. Take a look at how thick their stems are. 

And we were there when the peonies were out. They are still a June favourite of mine and were part of my wedding bouquet too. I always wonder at how they stay upright with their heavy blooms, and it seems they don't always. I think if I were a peony I'd be like this too.

Actually if I was a peony I'd be more like these fuschia ones!

What struck me about the roses - apart from the sheer volume of bushes in flower - was the supports they were growing up and against. Most were growing against quite humble wire fencing. But how it transformed it.

In other parts of the garden there were bushes of lilies growing like I've never seen before. But if you've a house the size of Chenonceau to keep in fresh flower arrangements then it makes sense. These also look like they've got their own irrigation system too.

The heritage greenhouses are also hosts to roses, these ones were the palest of peach which complemented the stonework so well.

WHAT A PLACE TO TAKE A REST

Close to the greenhouses I spotted an extra pot similar to those around the wall in Diane de Poitiers garden, although here it was planted with some spare santolini, rather than geraniums. Well, I assume it was spare. I guess using as much as they do in the formal gardens, it's always worth having some spare. 

And it's a plant that is going on my plant list. I've been stalking it for a while so next year, is the year. Remind me if I forget!

Before I go, a puzzle. In the squash bed there were several of these wicker baskets on a stick (that's my name for them) and I've no idea what they're for. We've considered all sorts, but each of our suggestions seem just a little too odd, but maybe our ideas aren't quite as far fetched as we think. 

If you know why the ten gardeners, who keep the gardens at Chenonceau so well kept, have "planted" these wicker baskets, please leave me a comment and let me know. And if you don't know for sure what they're for, I'd love to hear some of your wacky suggestions too.

Soon we'll be back on the bikes and back on the Loire a Velo cycle path heading towards Tours, which was the last stop - and biggest town - on our trip. I've mixed feelings about Tours. I love a big town, but had been enjoying the smaller countryfied towns and villages. I was pleased to get to Tours as I was keen to visit Villandry, but equally being in Tours and visiting Villandry meant our trip would soon be over, and that was less pleasing. But all that's for another day, until then let me know about those wicker baskets on sticks!