Skip to main content

Featured

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

A vase before the frost

We've had a few frosts during the last week. There were still lots of blooms left in the garden so I cut a few of them before the cold snap. 

 The rose 'Gold Medal', one of our favorite hybrid teas, is sending up 6 feet stalks that we see outside the bathroom window. The hydrangeas are still covered with dramatic, dark purple balls of color. I don't have many dahlias in the garden and I don't recall where the orange one came from but it is very pretty. Dahlias are to be dug up after the first frost so that is a chore I must do this week. There is another pretty pom-pom dahlia called 'Lolipop' in the front garden that I purchased at a Master Gardener plant sale shortly after we moved.

 I have been very pleased with Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) although it has gotten much bigger than expected. It is too tall for the front of the border it resides in and I would like to transplant it before spring.

 And in the rear is the remnants of Goldenrod, a good filler flower for an arrangement but so, so messy.

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Email Post

Comments

  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 12, 2018 at 10:25 AM

    Such a striking combination of blooms. Those golden roses really pop in that color wave. Happy IAVOM.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AaronNovember 13, 2018 at 5:58 AM

    Nice combination! What makes goldenrod so messy -- just in a vase or in general?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2018 at 8:40 AM

      The dried blooms are very tiny and fall everywhere when disturbed.

      Delete
  3. Hoover BooNovember 13, 2018 at 3:47 PM

    Ohmygosh the color of those hydrangea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Endah MurniyatiNovember 14, 2018 at 6:49 PM

    Beautiful! The color of hydrangea is so stunning!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts