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Agatha Christie's Greenway (Devon, England) - The House

I can think of two places that we visited where I enjoyed the house more than the gardens. The first was Greenway, not for the house itself, which was surprisingly small and cramped, but for the history behind it and the fascinating mementos on display. Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan were enthusiastic collectors. You can see their collections on display throughout the house - European and Oriental ceramics, pottery, African tribal masks, Egyptian artifacts, Tunbridge ware, china, trinkets, and books. The Morning Room has a portrait of Agatha Christie as a child and her doll Rosie, sitting in a chair - The Drawing Room was where the family would gather in the evenings. Christie would entertain guests by reading chapters from manuscripts of her latest books.  Agatha Christie's bedroom. Max always slept on a smaller portable traveling cot (you can see part of it in the foreground). It was his favorite bed and he carried it with him on all of his archaeological travels. N...
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Stepping Into May

Rhododendron 'Klondyke' and Geranium maculatum


May is already here and the garden suddenly explodes with growth. We spent the weekend watering (already?) because there hasn't been significant rainfall in a while. We don't have a sprinkler system so it is all manpower, dragging hoses and sprinklers. It takes two days - one for the back and one for the front - to water everything. It is possible to get it all in one day if we start really early.

The rhododendrons are beginning now -

'Mandarin Lights'


'Jean Marie De Montague'


'Percy Wiseman' - beautiful but suffers from lacebug. I'm considering replacing it or maybe I will try and treat it.


A favorite right now is the Chilean Potato Vine (Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'). This plant is hardier than you might imagine. Some sources list it as a "9", others an "8".  It is going on its third year in our garden, having been moved once. It is sheltered somewhat by a fence but it is on the east side of the house. It gets sunlight until around 1pm and shade the remainder of the day. I love this color, it is probably my favorite. 

Chilean Potato Vine (Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin').
The flowers you see are actually cascading down from the top. The vine is actually planted on the opposite side of the fence. 





Some perennials are just getting started - 

Geum 'Starker's Magnificent'


Geum 'Mango Lassie'


Lydia Broom (Genista Lydia)

Creeping Gold Wallflower (Erysimum kotschyanum)


And some foliage interest - first, Clematis recta which I've wanted ever since seeing it in Laura Scott's garden. I finally had to mail-order it through Brushwood Nursery in Athens, Georgia. It has really shot up and is looking great.



Picea abies 'Pusch'



Epimedium


Barberry 'Aurea Nana'


Euphorbia 'Blackbird'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM

    I love all the golden color tones in your spring garden, Phillip. I can't imagine watering everything by hand. Virtually every home in my area has some kind of irrigation system but then that reflects the pronounced difference between our climates.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM

      Most people have them here too. There used to be a system here (we still have the sprinkler heads in the ground) but I can't remember if we just didn't know how to use it or because it no longer worked. I think it was the latter. It would be difficult to water our garden with a low sprayer head. There is just too much in the way!

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  2. Linda's Relaxing LairMay 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM

    Beautiful photos. Warm greetings from Montreal ❤️ Canada 🇨🇦

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  3. tz_gardenMay 15, 2025 at 8:11 AM

    I feel your pain, I hand water as well. Or rely on sprinklers to save time. Your garden is really the epitome of May loveliness! The clematis foliage color is striking.

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