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Iford Manor (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1) ... I knew that Iford Manor was my kind of garden when I saw the statue of "Dying Gaul" perched on top of a wall. We can't afford one for our garden but we do have a little version inside the house - The garden continues uphill with areas that are naturalized as well as manicured  -  A very theatrical area with some of the statuary from Peto's travels - Peto loved curved benches. In addition to Italian gardens, he was influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement. Some think that his love of curved benches came from the paintings of Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Some copies of his works were found in Peto's files - "Expectations" by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema Small buildings also dotted the landscape - The largest building was the cloister which housed more of his classical treasures - There is even a Japanese garden - Various pathways and woodland trails led to a road above the gardens. This set of stairs was roped off, but there were more ...
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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for September 2018


Is it really September already? It has been a long, warm, dry summer but autumn is on the horizon. The temperatures are steadily back in the upper 60s and low 70s and we are getting sprinkles. There are autumnal hints everywhere in the garden - the Japanese maples and the dogwood tree are beginning a color shift and fall flowers, like Anenome and Goldenrod are blooming. The garden has been full of goldfinches during the past two weeks and hummingbirds have increased dramatically.

Gardener Blogger's Bloom Day, hosted by May Dreams Gardens, is the place to see what is blooming in gardens across the United States. Check out the blog for a list of links.

In the meantime, here are some of the flowers in our garden this month...

Goldenrod (Solidago 'Fireworks') is a sure sign that the season is changing.


 

Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' finally beginning to bloom.

Aster dumosis 'Wood's Purple' and Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)

 Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' still going strong, laughing at the drought, the sun and the heat.





California Fuchsia (Zauschneria septentrionalis 'Select Mattole'


Veronica longifolia 'Marietta'

Portulaca (Moss Rose), probably our most successful annual. We grow it in pots, in the ground, everywhere!

Coreopsis 'Big Bang Star Cluster'



Hybrid Musk Rose 'Buff Beauty' and Abelia 'Frances Mason'




Kangaroo Paw


Climbing Rose 'Don Juan' off to a slow, slow start and just now beginning to bloom. I suspect there may be a problem with the plant. I have already had to remove two canes that looked diseased. The blooms are so seductive. 

Compare to 'Double Delight', a rose that doesn't stop blooming.

The blooms on the Pineapple Lily (Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy') are dwindling 
but I love that foliage.


Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) and Rose 'Emma Hamilton'



Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum) with Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose' in the morning sunshine following a rainy night.


Saxifrage (Saxifraga fortunei 'Magenta')



'Mary Rose'


Hydrangea 'Pistachio'


Japanese Shrub Mint (Leucosceptrum Japonicum 'Golden Angel')

 
Santa Barbara Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion')

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. LisaSeptember 16, 2018 at 5:48 PM

    Such beautiful photos. I have to try asters again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LeaSeptember 17, 2018 at 12:50 AM

    Beautiful blooms!
    I had forgotten about Moss Rose - so pretty! I am making myself a note to grow it again next year. Thanks for the reminder!
    Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 17, 2018 at 6:07 AM

    Your front porch looks so welcoming with all of those healthy looking plants blooming. All of your blooms are lovely. Happy GBBD.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlisonSeptember 17, 2018 at 8:58 AM

    Oh, I would love to find that Dynamite crape myrtle somewhere. The foliage on yours doesn't look quite as dark as what I've seen on some California blogs, though. We've gotten quite a few deluges of rain up here, and our morning temperature was down to 46 today.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara H.September 17, 2018 at 11:59 AM

    I was always inspired by your Alabama garden, but you've outdone yourself here. Your thumb is not only green but magical.

    ReplyDelete
  6. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comSeptember 18, 2018 at 6:36 PM

    I'm jealous ! my Crape myrtle didn't bloom .

    ReplyDelete
  7. AaronSeptember 21, 2018 at 6:01 AM

    Very nice!

    I can't help but notice that certain plants I grow (the goldenrod, the pineapple lily) look much better in your garden.

    Maybe it's the cooler temps in the PNW? Lower humidity? Better soil?

    Do you irrigate too? (I rarely do anymore.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 21, 2018 at 7:35 PM

      I would guess lower temperatures and less humidity. Maybe the soil? I am not sure. I do have to irrigate. We have not had any significant rain since June, which is typical for this region. It is Mediterranean climate - wet winters and dry summers.

      Delete

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