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Houghton Hall & Gardens (Norfolk, England)

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The sunken fountain garden at Houghton Hall Back to the English garden tour! This is Houghton Hall and Gardens , which our group visited on July 25. It was another hot day, and this was the last garden on our itinerary. On the way there, we were told that our time would be tight because the estate closed at 5 p.m. There would only be enough time for either the house tour or the garden, so we had to choose our preference. Since it was so hot, I decided to take the house tour. Shortly afterward, however, our tour leader, Bruce, texted another member of the group and said that the garden was wonderful and not to miss it. When she passed that along to me, I immediately headed for the gardens! The House at Houghton Hall Houghton Hall was built by Sir Robert Walpole , the first Earl of Orford. He inherited the family home and decided to rebuild it on a much grander scale. The new house was designed in the Palladian style by Colen Campbell and James Gibbs, with interiors decorated by Willia...
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Grindelia integrifolia (Puget Sound Gumweed)

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Grindelia integrifolia (Puget Sound Gumweed): A Pacific Northwest Native For about a month now, I've had blooms on this interesting plant that I stumbled upon at Yard N' Garden Land last year. I planted it in July, mainly out of curiosity, but also because I try to add native plants to the garden whenever possible. The plant is Grindelia integrifolia , commonly known as "Puget Sound Gumweed" or "Willamette Valley Gumweed." It is native to the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.  The name "gumweed" comes from the sticky, gumlike resin that coats the flower buds. The resin isn't noticeable unless you touch it. It is a perennial and is sometimes referred to as an herb. Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest used the resin to treat ailments including coughs, asthma, and skin rashes from poison ivy. Aside from the flowers, the plant isn't particularly interesting-looking. It has tall stalks, reachin...
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Sandringham House & Gardens - A Visit to the Royal Family’s Norfolk Retreat

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Sandringham House and Gardens , in Norfolk, is one of the best-known royal residences in England. The privately owned country retreat has been associated with the British royal family since 1862 and is traditionally where the family gathers for Christmas.  Sandringham, along with Balmoral in Scotland, is a privately owned royal residence rather than a Crown Estate property. Unlike many of England's enormous country houses, Sandringham feels surprisingly intimate and comfortable. After touring the house and exploring the gardens, I could understand why generations of the Royal Family have been so fond of this place. Sandringham House  The Jacobean-style house at Sandringham has been called "the most comfortable house in England". It has been in the royal family since 1862, when it was purchased as a country retreat for Edward VII and his future wife Alexandra of Denmark. Edward's son, George V, called Sandringham his favorite place on Earth, and decades later, George ...
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The Chaotic August Garden

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It is that time of year when the garden seems to take a frantic leap with new growth and an  unrestrained protest. This year doesn't seem to be as bad as others, as I have more time now to devote to the garden. The weather has been tolerable with just a few extreme heat days so far. However, August is not off to a good start, with a major wildfire in eastern Washington and the next three days nearing 100 degrees. A few days ago, we had the perfect day - semi to mostly cloudy, temperatures in the low 70s and not a whiff of humidity. It was heavenly. I took a lot of photos that day, but many of these were taken back in July. The above scene, showing our front walk, looks rather tame. If you pan the camera to the left, however, it is a bit more busy - By this time in the season, watering is a drudge, but if you have pots, it is a must. I reduced our containers this year slightly, but it still takes me about an hour and a half to water every morning. Even some of the pots are bursting ...
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