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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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Hello Spring

Flowering Quince 'Double Take Orange Storm' and Veronica 'Georgia Blue'


It took its sweet time getting here but last week we had three really warm days that made a dramatic difference in the garden. Last Saturday the temperature got into the high 80s which was unusual. Sunday brought us back into more seasonal weather with more clouds and temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Remember that pathetic looking Japanese Maple that I posted about earlier. Just look at it now -

Acer palmatum 'Shaina'

Another nice Japanese Maple that is in a pot and unidentified - that is Camellia 'Donation' behind it -



Looking down the pathway in front with Cedrus deodara 'Feelin Blue' on the left and Japanese Maple 'Skeeter's Broom' behind it -



Daphne 'Carol Mackie'

Rhododendron 'Ramapo' and Viburnum davidii

Tulips and Barberry 'Admiration'

Rhododendron augustinii

Japanese Maple 'Dancing Peacock'

Dogwood 'Wolf'ss Eyes'


False Spirea (Sobaria sorbifolia)



Fatsia 'Spider's Web' and Rhododendron 'Taurus' in the background


Emerging Ferns

Geum 'Mango Lassie'


Pansy

Thanks for looking!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonMay 3, 2023 at 7:09 PM

    I love all the red touches in your garden, Phillip. I can't get over the incredible flowers on the Acer 'Dancing Peacock' either. I've never seen a Japanese maple that flowered so beautifully. Best wishes for a wonderful display throughout spring without any further blasts of cold temperatures.

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    1. Phillip OliverMay 4, 2023 at 7:58 PM

      'Dancing Peacock' certainly outdoes the others when it comes to those flowers!

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  2. AnonymousMay 4, 2023 at 8:36 AM

    Your Geum 'Mango Lassie' is divine. My attempts at growing any Geum have been pitiful. What condition do you have that help it look so good?
    It's interesting how some Japanese maples are fully leafed while others still show more bare branches than anything else. My red maple is in full glory, the coral bark maple lags behind.
    In the photo "Rhododendron 'Ramapo' and Viburnum davidii" I notice added garden art: the metal leafs on the left and three gorgeous pots on the right. I love it.
    Chavli

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 4, 2023 at 7:57 PM

      The geum is in a raised bed so perhaps that helps? I'm not sure either. The leafy sculpture is a trellis support that I use for a climbing fuchsia. The pots are part of a solar fountain that, surprise!, doesn't work well. Both were review products that I got through Amazon. I've contemplated removing the fountain. I'd love a natural looking rock waterfall there.

      Delete
  3. tz_gardenMay 4, 2023 at 9:27 AM

    Wow, your spring garden is looking perfect! I especially love the picture you took of the pathway, seeing all the colors together in harmony.

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  4. Lisa at GreenbowMay 6, 2023 at 1:30 AM

    So much color already. A beautiful spring despite any weather.

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