Garden Improvements

[garden-improvements]

[garden-improvements]

Some seasonal shots of the Blagdon Estate open day yesterday, in aid of the British Red Cross. Although the main attraction was clearly the autumn tree colour, it was an opportunity to explore the grounds and gardens and to enjoy the many vistas.

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A few choice examples of vintage horticultural machinery today at the Northumberland Vintage Tractor Show near Alnwick.

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It's been an expensive week with several van repairs. Can't blame me for looking into alternatives...

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Pyracantha - named from the Greek words for 'fire' and 'thorn'. ...which becomes self explanatory if you've ever had to prune it. #pyracantha #firethorn #autumncolour #berries #garden

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So much autumn colour at NT Wallington. Inspiration for the October garden: cotinus, aster, sedum, rudbeckia to name but a few. I appreciate how they leave certain 'dead' plants in situ too for their tones and structural interest.

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September's bounty aka the perks of being a gardener. Organic, locally grown Apples, damsons, sloes and lavender all ready for their new culinary journey to the otherside! _________________________________ #autumnsbounty #september #fruits #damsons #sloes #lavender #apples #organic #growyourown #growyourownfood #foodforfree #gardenersdelight

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Working lunch today on the balcony at Ouseburn Farm cafe. Tasty, wholesome and excellent value food, much of which is grown on site. Highly recommended if you're in the area. Plus, service with a smile! #whatmorecanisay #workinglunch #ouseburn #ouseburnfarm #ouseburnfarmcafe #homegrown #youarewhatyoueat #familyfriendly #safeplace #tasty #wholesome #food

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Before, during and after (clockwise from top left). A small front garden in Jesmond was becoming too much for its owner. So I pared it back to her essential favourite plants and mulched with bark chippings. Sometimes you have to subtract rather than add to achieve the right garden for a client. Everyone's needs are unique to them. It's good for the environment to keep a 'green' space if you can, no matter how petite!

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Phormium tenax or New Zealand Flax. Sturdy and architectural, it's long spiked leaves can get in the way sometimes. An efficient way to carry a bundle away is to simply tie them up with a few leaves! The Maori have used this plant extensively for medicine, food, clothing, construction, fishing and hunting. #phormium #phormiumtenax #maori #flax #newzealand #newzealandflax #medicineplants

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As if to balance today's holly tree removal, here's a reminder a bed we renovated back in April this year, removing a mass cotoneaster and planting up a new bed of perennials: euphorbia, geranium, penstemon, nepeta, sedum and more. Below is how it looks today, five months on in September. Filled in beautifully. #garden #rejuvenation #cycle #growth #perennial #investinyourgarden

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Aquilegia (yellow) and Helenium (reddish). The gardens are signalling we're switching seasons now as this is the last of the blooms on any aquilegia up here and the late summer/early autumn bloomers are coming into their own, such as this Helenium.

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Before and after. And thus began hedge cutting season 2015. Hope my forearm muscles are ready... #stihl #gardensculpture #hedgecutting #conifers

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🌲🌳 Tree Doctor: another day, another suffering tree rescued! You can see the dampness on the lower trunk of this Acer palmatum. This shows how high the compost level was in its pot. Left like this, the tree would struggle to grow, perform quite poorly and you'd be left wondering what you'd done wrong and why it eventually died. 🌲🌳 Simple solution: carefully remove the top layer of compost from any pot-grown tree and look for the 'root flare' - where the lowest part of the trunk naturally widens before the roots. There may be some aerial roots on the wet trunk (as in this case). Simply rub these out if tiny, or cut them back to the trunk with secateurs. Plant the tree with the root flare at soil level and it should reward you with years of happy growth! #tree #root #rootflare #treeplanting #treesurgery #treecare #acer #palmatum #containergrown #treedoctor

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Tree doctor: You can just about make out this poor, spindly Sorbus tree (top right). It’s been growing poorly for some time because it’s planted too deep (left pic). Here I’ve exposed the lower trunk and root flare so it can ‘breathe’ and lignify. It may be necessary to raise and replant it at the correct level in autumn. #treesurgery #treedoctor #rootflare #sorbus #tree #plantproblems #troubleshooting

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Walwick Grange gardens, opened last weekend in June for the Red Cross.

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Newbrough lodge, Newbrough hall and the Blue House garden. Opened today for the Red Cross.