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The Garden House (Devon, England)

The destinations are beginning to blur but looking at the tour guide booklet, I see that we are now in Plymouth. Today, we visited two gardens designed by Keith Wiley.  The first is The Garden House , where Wiley worked as Head Gardener for 25 years (from 1978-2003). The 10-acre estate was purchased in the 1940s by former Eton schoolmaster Lionel Fortescue and his wife Katherine. It was formerly home to the  vicars of Buckland Monachronum. The Fortescue's renovated the gardens and ran a market garden business and raised cattle.  The remains of some of the original buildings in the vicarage still stand in the garden and serve as a romantic backdrop in the Walled Garden - I loved the way they had massed ferns together. Just stunning! Surrounding the walled garden and venturing out away from the house are more naturalistic plantings  - Today, the head gardener is Nick Haworth, who was previously head gardener at Greenway , which we visited earlier.  Keith Wiley lef...
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Fall is not over yet!

Despite the recent band of cold temperatures and even a snow threat (rare for November), there is still some beautiful foliage in the garden and the sasanqua camellias have been blooming nicely. This is Alabama Snow Wreath  (Neviusia alabamensis), a native shrub along the north fence next to the street. The leaves have been spectacular this autumn. 



 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. David - Pinewood CottageDecember 2, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    it really has been a beautiful fall here too.

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  2. GailDecember 2, 2011 at 3:32 PM

    I still a few blooms but, I don't think they can last much longer. Love the Snow Wreath.

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 3, 2011 at 12:24 AM

    Isn't it amazing how the last yellow leaves look like beacons in the late fall sunshine.

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  4. DDecember 3, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Fall is not over yet in the PNW either as the leaves on the Sweet Gum still cling to most of the branches, but this morning's hard frost may help it along. Happy Fall and winter, Phillip

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  5. sweetbayDecember 5, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    The bright yellow leaves on the snowwreath are lovely!

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  6. BoDecember 5, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    I love the yellow foliage on that shrub...no fall is not over here...I've been wearing short the past couple days.

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  7. sherryocalaDecember 11, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    That's a great shrub. Hope your fall lasts a little longer.

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  8. Digital Flower PicturesDecember 12, 2011 at 3:45 AM

    Not familiar with the Alabama Snow Wreath but it looks great. You are lucky to have any foliage left. Our landscape is bare and dreary.

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  9. RandyDecember 16, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    My gardening bug is really starting to kick back in now. I think next year is going to be a much better year. BTW I got your email about catching you up. I promise I'll get around to that sooner or later. :-)

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  10. Peggy HillDecember 18, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    This shrub is on my list for 2012. Thanks for sharing the lovely fall color. Merry Christmas Phillip!

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