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Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Just right down the road from Hidcote is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This garden was created by Heather Muir beginning in the 1920s. Muir's daughter, Diany Binny, came to live at Kiftsgate in 1954. She would add the half-moon pool and redesigned the white garden. She also first opened the garden to the public. Today, the tradition continues as granddaughter Anne Chambers and her husband maintain the gardens.    Heather Muir was a friend and neighbor of Hidcote's Lawrence Johnston (their houses are within one mile of each other), and he inspired her in the garden's design. However, the two gardens differ in character and have their own unique characteristics. While Johnston's garden is laid out in strict geometric lines, Muir took a more naturalistic approach. Muir added many heirloom shrub roses to the garden and is famous for the 'Kiftsgate' rose, which occurred from a seedling in the garden. Unfortunately, we were too early for the roses. There were a few like t...

Container combination


Coleus "Defiance" and Variegated Plectranthus (Swedish Ivy)


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. I love the container. And your pedestal behind it with the ladies!

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  2. Beautiful...I love the combo! Have you been having rain lately? We've had quite a bit and the plants look happy now!

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  3. Love it! I do coleus in containers every year. It is one of my favorite container plants. What are some of your tips on keeping it looking so good? When do you pinch it back/trim it? Yours looks so good, I know that you have to have some tricks up your sleeve!!

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  4. Awesome color - I love that coleus. I am saving it's name so I can add it next year.

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  5. These look great together! Coleus is just the most beautiful summer foliage plant.

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  6. It does catch your eye, beautiful.

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  7. Hi really like these combinations Phillip~You've got texture, color and different leaf shapes! gail

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  8. Yep, I like this combo. The coleus is such a surprising plant. They look so small in spring and then they take to the heat and humidity and grow large giving such a lovely show with just those leaves.

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  9. Simple and elegant, I like it. My coleus isn't doing well this year. I've about given up on that container
    Marnie

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  10. I do love Coleus(es?). The colors (and name) of 'Defiance is so vibrant. I actually sowed some Coleus and they turned out great. The recent rains have made my container with them in it double in size (um, the plants, not the container itself, though it would be nice if it could expand alongside!)

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  11. Granna, we got about 1/2 inch on Monday. Not a lot but it helped.

    Lisa, actually I don't do that much to them except occasionally pinch them back if they start to get too tall. Some years coleus does better than others - last year they didn't do much, this year they are. I don't know how to explain it!

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  12. I love coleus. Your's has an award at http://chickenesque.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-been-long-enough-but-i-got-some.html

    ~Randy

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  13. Really pretty combo. I like how you have it displayed also.I have been following your blog for some time and enjoy your posts.

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  14. Excellent combination. I like Coleus too. Wonderful foliage for great containers.

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  15. Mmmm, pretty. Love your new background BTW.~~Dee

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