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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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Little Cypress Natives

Thanks to the big box stores, our locally owned nurseries have either closed or turned to being landscape-only businesses. Fortunately, there are a few left and one of the most unique is Little Cypress Natives, owned by Harry and Linda Wallace. Even if you are not shopping, the picturesque location is well worth a visit. They are located on a bluff overlooking Cypress Creek, just right across across the road from the historic Forks of Cypress. The Wallaces have landscaped their property with beautiful native azaleas and other plants which are peaking now.

 The nursery specializes in native plants and hostas. You will find a wide variety of oakleaf hydrangea (like the new dwarf varieties "Munchkin" and "Ruby Falls"), native azaleas, ferns, and shrubs and trees. During my visit this past weekend, I saw the exquisite Carolina Silverbell Tree (Halesia), Franklin Tree (Franklinia) and a large variety of redbuds in stock. These are plants that you probably cannot find at the local Home Depot or Lowe's. As for hostas, they have over 200 varieties!

 I came home with a few plants that I couldn't resist.
This is Lilac "Declaration" (Syringa). This was bred by the National Arboretum and is said to be more tolerant of heat. I've only tried to grow lilac once before and was not successful. They are notoriously fickle for the South. We will see what this one does.
Hosta "Fire Island". I loved the bright yellow color and was torn between it and "Dancing Queen". Being an Abba fan, I almost bought "Dancing Queen" for the name alone but the reddish stems on "Fire Island" changed my mind.
Hosta "Empress Wu" - not much to look at now but this one is the rage now. It is a monster of a plant and is said to reach 4-6 feet high and 5-6 feet wide. Take a look at it here!

Little Cypress Natives is open on Saturdays from 9-5 and other times by appointment. They are having an Open House on April 13th, 20th and 27th. 



Directions:  Take Cox Creek Parkway west (Hwy.133) past Belle Foods / CVS Pharmacy (Hwy. 157) to County Road 41.  Turn right.   After about two miles, you will pass the Forks of Cypress ruins on your left.  Turn on the first driveway on the right.  Come to the end of the drive.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. RandyApril 24, 2013 at 5:22 AM

    I - want- an Empress Wu! Fabulous!

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  2. C. C.April 24, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    Love your purchases! I bought Empress Wu last year, priced ridiculously low for some reason. It faded and shrunk with our drought + 100s temps but seems to be coming back strong. I planted it in a huge empty space which I hope it will eventually fill!

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  3. scottweberpdxApril 24, 2013 at 10:49 AM

    I hope that Lilac does well for you...there is nothing that can quite match that scent! 'Empress Wu' looks might impressive...I'm a sucker for those enormous Hotas (like 'Sum and Substance' and 'Big Daddy').

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  4. SkeeterApril 30, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    Good Purchaes and Oh my, Empress Wu is such a big boy!

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  5. Edith KentMay 6, 2013 at 5:17 PM

    This is the fourth spring for my Empress Wu and it is VERY large this year. Very impressive hosta. Love it.

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  6. JESSICAMay 22, 2013 at 6:58 PM

    I just found your blog....who knew I lived that close to you!! I live in Killen with my husband. I have just gotten into gardening some the last couple of years. I have an oakleaf hydrangea in my yard and it is just getting to big. How and when do you trim these so you don't kill it? Thanks so much, Love your blog!! Jessica

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  7. JESSICAMay 22, 2013 at 6:59 PM

    I just found your blog....who knew I lived that close to you!! I live in Killen with my husband. I have just gotten into gardening some the last couple of years. I have an oakleaf hydrangea in my yard and it is just getting to big. How and when do you trim these so you don't kill it? Thanks so much, Love your blog!! Jessica

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  8. Phillip OliverMay 22, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Hi Jessica! You can trim the oakleafs just about anytime (except winter) but if you do it now you will probably be cutting off your blooms. So, the best time would be after the blooms turn brown.

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