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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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The 2023 Gardening Calendar

A look back at 2023 and one image from every month of the year -

January 
 It can be a challenge to find worthy garden subjects to photograph in January but 'Chief Joseph' Lodgepole Pine is at its most glorious time of the year. (Photo taken January 11, 2023)


February
Snowdrops are usually the first blooms of the season
(Photo taken February 9, Michael's b-day)


March
The Boxleaf Azara put on the biggest show yet this year.  The tiny yellow flowers are hardly noticeable except for the vanilla/chocolate scent that perfumes the entire garden. (March 27)

April
The pathway in the front garden - things are beginning to look a little greener.
(April 11)

May
Taken on the last day of May, roses on the pergola and arches (May 31)



June
The front pathway again, seen from the opposite side (June 10)


July
The gravel garden in front of the pergola (July 17)


August
By the time August comes around, the borders begin to take on that overgrown look. (Aug. 9)


September    
Flamingos, hydrangeas and fuchsias by the garden wall (Sept. 21)

October
Planting along the driveway (Oct. 13)

November
The fall colors were amazing this year. This one is 'Osakazuki'. (Nov. 9)


December
Euphorbia 'Miner's Merlot' (Dec. 8)



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 29, 2023 at 4:36 PM

    Stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kris PetersonDecember 29, 2023 at 4:51 PM

    You were MUCH more restrained than I was with my own year-end review, Phillip! Your garden is luscious every month of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 30, 2023 at 9:26 AM

    It must be a challenge to pick just one photo for each month; I know how lush and exuberant your garden is... I love the one from July: The gravel garden in front of the pergola, and always enjoy seeing Wolf-Eyes Dogwood, the Azara and Chief Josef. You have some magnificent trees.
    Chavli

    ReplyDelete
  4. HummingbirdDecember 30, 2023 at 11:31 AM

    So, so beautiful, Phillip! Your garden looks wonderful all year! Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  5. ElaineDecember 30, 2023 at 2:13 PM

    Wow those are some stunning photos of a gorgeous garden. Another gardening year coming to a close so hoping 2024 will be kind to you and your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  6. https://tzgarden.blogspot.com/January 3, 2024 at 12:27 PM

    Of all the "pictures of 2023" gardens I've seen, yours is my favorite. Such a beautiful garden.

    ReplyDelete
  7. PhillipJanuary 3, 2024 at 12:49 PM

    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete

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