Plants for a Green Winter 2012 at IKEA

From time to time the gardening department in IKEA has some really interesting and cheap pots.  Their actual plant stocks tend to be limited to indoor plants, which are also extremely reasonably priced and usually very healthy too, however, their stock of outdoor plants is sporadic.  They always seem to have new ideas in terms of containers and plants to go with them, so I think it's great that this might inspire people who aren't so confident with their gardening skills to put some green into their lives!

It was with great pleasure, though, during a recent visit,  that I discovered some excellent winter plants in stock at great prices (I guess IKEA are so large they can buy in humungous quantities and thus keep the prices down).

Cute little conifers at less than 5 Euros for 3 plants.  I'm using mine in winter windowboxes

Jolly curvy colourful metal containers in all shapes and sizes with serrated edges like pie crusts (or tartelettes au fraises here in France) to cheer up the house or the white for a touch of elegance.  Good for inside or outside

Christman Cactii in pretty colours

I thought these inside heart shaped cactii were really cute and would make a welcom present

A fantastic collection of small cyclamen in jewel colours.  Perfect to cheer up winter pots or winter windowboxes.  Make sure they don't dry out though otherwise they will shrivel up and die.  You might think because it's not hot, that plants don't need watering but in fact, the wind is a drying factor too, so keep an eye out.  There's less rain than we think!  Cyclamens look great if they are numerous and planted together or to fill in little gaps in an arrnagement or pot or corner of the garden.

Here's a new thing from IKEA that allows you to display your plants.  The pots can be inclined or up straight making a more interesting display.  I like this but I think there is perhaps something slightly wrong with the proportion of the pots and the structure, I wanted the pots to be larger but maybe with hanging or bushy plants it will look very effective.  Sorry didn't manage to remember the price, around 30 Euros I think...

And the final winter pot result is.........

Ta da!  This photo does  not do the arrangement justice.  It is very cheery and when the maroon pansy comes out and grows foilageand the ivy mixes with the grass, it will be real boost as I step out of the front door in the snowy months.  It may have been even more beautiful in a brown or cream pot, as below but the ivy looks good against the green of the container.

This was my inspiration, well, where I copied it from you could say!  I'm always searching for arrangements that will last the year round and especially ones that will be cheerful in the winter.  I so hate the cold weather and all the bare trees, I'm a real summer person.

I found this beautiful composition in an excellent book that was a gift: 'Container Gardening Through The Seasons' by Jim Keeling with beautiful photos by Andrew Lawson.  The book in fact is about the Whichford pottery in Oxfordshire and the book shows some exquisite pots, including the creamy coloured one above.  The chapters take you through the pot making process and there are many many arrangements to copy or take ideas from for all the seasons.  A true inspiration if you are limited to pot arrangements for your gardening.

I found this arrangement in the winter section and the author writes that they are able to leave the Cordylines (the red plant with long floppy leaves) outside because they use a method of protecting the inner growing point by binding the leaves into a bundle using dogwood (thick twine would do the trick also).  So, I'm hoping to use the same trick, which will add a casual and slightly less structured feel to the pot, and crossing my fingers that it'll last the winter.  If it's next to the door, it should be quite sheltered too and maybe slightly warmer.

I'll do a proper post about the book, but here it is on Amazon just in case you're desparate to get some ideas.  it's only £4.39!  What a small price for so much inspiration!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D64&field-keywords=Container+Gardening+Through+the+Seasons+Jim+Keeling

Cheer up your doorway with a winter pot

Here's the ingredients........

20 Euros the pot
3 Euros the ivy
4 Euros the barquette of pansies (only one used)
24 Euros the Cordyline Renegade
8,50 the Carex comans 'Bronze Form'
12,60 for 40 litres of earth (not all used)

And the result??????

Ding Dong - L'atelier du forgeoron, Villedieu-les-poeles

A fleeting vist to this little garden and the shop attached to the forge of Villedieu-les-poeles left me wanting to see the forge itself.  It's not a great garden, nor large nor a remarkable one.  However, it was very peaceful and the patina of these old bells, made in the forge, made me think what lovely unusual garden decorations they are, particularly when placed against the old mossy walls.  The deer and dolphin are a bit more tradition in terms of garden decorations, but they looked lovely all the same.

Here's a slightly bizzare video of a plant pot support designed and made in the forge with music so Frenchy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xemC19ri4RM

The sign that tells you all you need to know

View of the beautifully designed fence and gates
 from the road

By the way my mother in law was born in this town.

Arley Hall, Cheshire, England

I was pleased to have the chance to visit the gardens of Arley Hall during the summer.

Arley Hall is a Grade II listed country house in Cheshire.  It was built in the Jacobean style in 1832-1845.  The gardens are on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and are also Grade II listed meaning that the site is 'particularly important:  of more than special interest'.  The gardens were created in 1830's.  The Herbaceous Border is one of the first in Britain and remains one of its finest.  The house is approached by an impressive avenue of bleached lime trees, ending in an unusual clock tower with only one hand.

The Arley Estate is part of land held by the Warbuton family since the end of the 12th Century.  The formal gardens cover 12 acres.  Sir Peter Warbuton developed pleasure grounds and a walled kitchen garden.  During the second world war, the gardens provided food for the house and a skeleton staff ensured that the grounds didn't remain untended.

The herbaceous border is the first of its type in Britain and planted with four levels of flowerbeds.  It  is considered amongst the best in UK.

The Greenhouse is called the Vinery and was built in 1872-3 and has a large sloping roof.  The fig trees in it were planted inside shortly after it was built and there is an abundance of figs and flowers and passion fruits in this elegant white structure plus some beautiful period details such as the floor grid above.

The vegetable garden next to the greenhouse is full of produce with a gorgeous flowering border which would have been used to provide cut flowers for the house (and maybe still is).

The ha ha was built by George Latham.  A ha ha is a sudden drop providing an abrupt end to the formal gardens leading the eye to a magnificent view over farmland and grazing sheep, a very English landscape.  I guess it's called a ha ha because that's the sound you make if you don't know it's there and you fall off the edge!  Actually if you want to know more about ha ha, here's the Wilkipedia page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha-ha

The drop occurs immediately after this sundail in the centre of the garden after the steps and is unseen and  imperceptible from the garden unless you venture close up (careful not to fall!)  It ensures that the livestock cannot stray into the garden but gives an uninterrupted view over the lovely countryside without the need for a barrier.  Very clever.

There is much topiary in the garden, including these enormous tubes which are very impressive and many metres high.  Scaffolding is needed to trim them.

There are also some smaller, less mamgnificent but nevertheless impressive examples of topiary dotted around.  Lots of ideas to steal for your own garden here.

The modern flower sculpture in the pond is by Tom Leaper and is in keeping with its surrounding garden.

All around the garden you'll find beautiful vistas, paths leading into other gardens and some beautiful architectural details - gates, fences, doors, chairs, well placed vases, statues - everything is harmonious and well considered and tasteful.

And just when you think you've seen everything, you come across the alpine garden with waterfalls, ponds, bridges, little hiding places, informal stone steps leading up, down, amongst the luscious ferns and greenery with the sound of rushing water to soothe the senses.  All beautifully harmonious, on a grand scale, informal with a natural, wild feel and in sharp contrast to the orderly topiary and charming sets of small enclosed gardens.

And don't forget to visit the smaller enclosed gardens such as the Herb Garden and the Scented Gardens.

And the larger lawned gardens.

And when you really have walked enough, go have a cup of tea in the barn.  You might even want to get married in the Barn or give thanks for nature in the Grade II listed chapel.

And when you've got your energy back, take a walk in the woods and a peek through the modern sculptures.

And return home knowing that you have seen and appreciated the work of many lifetimes of gardeners and the product of much dedicated hard work by the current gardeners.

The Hall, Chapel and Gardens are open to the public - go take a look!  The barn is a licensed restaurant and cafe and there is also a restored building used for weddings and events.

Some filming has taken place in the Hall and Gardens - for 'Cludeo', 'The Forsythe Saga', 'Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' and recently two Coronation Street weddings have taken place there.