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Hidcote pt. 2

I am continuing my last post with more photos of Hidcote, this time focusing on the outer perimeter of the garden. Like most gardens, these areas were less formal in design. Along the outer fences, you get serene views of the English countryside with nary a building in sight. One such vista occurs at the top of a long avenue called the "Long Walk". This expanse of lawn surrounded by hornbeam hedges is a stark contrast to the previous garden rooms that are packed with plants.  The angle of the hedges gives an optical illusion, making the avenue appear longer than it is. Once you reach the summit, an open gate leads to a view of the countryside - One can choose to walk back down the way they came up or take a route back through "The Wilderness" which runs alongside The Long Walk. The Wilderness is a woodland area with winding grass pathways that meander through mature trees and densely planted shrubbery. If you walk to the opposite side of the Long Walk, you will stro...
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Who Needs Flowers?

Dwarf Birch (Betula 'Trost's Dwarf')
Well, now that I have your attention - taking a look at some of the interesting foliage going on in the garden -


Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'


Chamacyparis O. 'Maiesii'


Variegated Asian Jasmine (Trachelospermum 'Ogon Nishiki')


Orange New Zealand Grass (Carex testacea)


Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'


Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'


Aralia 'Sun King' and Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (Snakeroot)


Tatting Fern (Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizellie') 

Fuchsia 'Enstone'


Hypericum inodorum 'Pumpkin' (St. John's Wort)

Ferns and Epimedium



Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' and Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle)

Picea pungens 'Globosa' (Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce)


Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' (Purple Fountain Grass) and Bacopa


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. AlisonAugust 6, 2019 at 8:05 AM

    I need flowers! When I first moved here I was so amused by the antics of the hummingbirds in my garden, fighting over the flowers in my garden. Then I bought into the whole "foliage is better" thing and took out a bunch of wonderful flowering plants in favor of foliage in order to be trendy. Guess what happened? No more hummers. Now I'm putting the flowers back. Your photos are lovely, and foliage is nice to look at, but leaves don't feed the birds and bees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverAugust 6, 2019 at 8:11 AM

      I'm with you 100%! We have more hummingbirds this year than ever before. It is my #1 gardening motivator!

      Delete
  2. Barbara Blossom AshmunAugust 6, 2019 at 8:23 AM

    Ooh, you've created craving again! I need to get that Hypericum 'Pumpkin' very soon. I have one with pinkish fruit that I love, lost the tag, and always on the lookout for others that have staying power.

    ReplyDelete
  3. danger gardenAugust 6, 2019 at 9:02 AM

    Oh that photo of the Aralia 'Sun King' and Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hoover BooAugust 6, 2019 at 1:40 PM

    I may be a Flower Floozy, but Foliage is Fabulous, too.

    The color of the Picea, the bubbly texture of the Hosta, the gloss of the Acuba, the drama of the Trachelospermum--oooohhh!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ksAugust 6, 2019 at 5:59 PM

    Oh the foliage ! Love my flowers but foliage carries the day when flowers start to fade. Beautiful photos and combinations every one. The Picea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 7, 2019 at 4:31 PM

    This time of year the foliage does begin to come into play in a big way. When the drought time descends on our area that is about all you get. I like seeing your foliage. Foliage is what is the backbone of the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  7. chavlinessAugust 8, 2019 at 11:06 AM

    The Dwarf Birch is a riot. That and the 'Ogon Nishiki' call for a little research. I love them both.

    ReplyDelete

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