Garden and Patio

Both the garden and patio remain works in progress. The patio is open during the summer season and is a sun trap at breakfast-time.

Much of the front garden was covered with building site rubbish during renovations but with a bit of help, the soil there is now starting the recovery process. At the beginning of 2009 wild grasses were allowed to self-seed and grow under the bamboos untrimmed. Allowed to take their natural forms, showing off their panicles and racemes, they looked stunning. Only grasses and bamboos were allowed to remain as all other self seeders were weeded out. The simplicity of this combination was something quite special; looking wild yet tended.

Eventually, dandelions introduced themselves in numbers along with creeping buttercup. With building works still in progress, weeding became a lesser priority. Slowly, other less attractive native plants began to make this garden their home and the effect was lost - it took on the appearance of a typical weed garden. Patches with dock, dandelion, buttercup and the like were thereafter dug up and garden plants were introduced in their place.

Areas with wild grass remain but much of it has been dug up in favour of more garden plants. Like the main garden to the back, the front garden at The Cloudesley remains a place for experimentation in form and colour. Areas of the back garden have been left undisturbed with above named plants for harvesting, ie. dandelion salad but in the wrong location they do not add to aesthetics.

For 2010 and 2011, Azaleas and Rhododendrons were introduced to complement the bamboos that at present are still in the process of taking shape.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons:

Azalea Koster's Briljant Red - Mollis hybrid, deciduous - intense, breathtaking flame orange red in May, 150 cm - 180cm in time. Featured in the azalea beds at Kew gardens. Against a dark graphite or black slate, the colour is spectacular.

Azalea Koster's Red - Not quite as bright a red as the above, probably the parent plant from which 'Briljant red' was hybridised.

Azalea Dr M.Oosthoek's Red - Mollis hybrid, deciduous - slightly paler than Koster's. Also at Kew. Beautiful.

Rhododendron Hatsugiri - Japanese Azalea with small, bright magenta flowers in April-May and small leaves creating a mound 50 -75 cm in ten years.

Rhododendron Hatsugiri

Rhododendron Leonore Auriculatum x Kyawi - This rhododendron was bought simply for its foliage. Late July-August flowering, hybrid cross with deep rose pink pendant flowers. Very unusual. Waiting to see it flower.

Rhododendron Leonore Auriculatum x Kyawi - new leaves almost twice as large as last year's

Rhododendron impeditum (Dwerg hybrid) - ground-hugging evergreen dwarf with tiny aromatic grey green leaves and flowers opening purple indigo, fading to a paler lilac blue. 30cm high by 60 wide when mature.

Rhododendron impeditum

Rhododendron makinoi - species rhododendron with thin, long leaves and attractive pinkish off-white flowers. Most unusual and rare.

Rhododendron makinoi - starts off pink, fading to white

Rhododendron 'Night Sky' - semi dwarf hybrid with deep purple blue flowers in April; one of the nearest rhododendrons to a true blue.

Rhododendron 'Night Sky' - dark purple blue fading to paler shades

Rhododendron Razorbill (Cox hybrid) - dwarf with stunning porcelain pink little bell-shaped flowers in April-May and small rounded leaves. Would make a very attractive bonsai.

Rhododendron Razorbill - a Kenneth Cox hybrid

Rhododendron roxieanum Oreonastes - rare species rhododendron with thin small leaves; length up to 15 times longer than width. Small, pretty white flowers with lightly speckled magenta throats in April - May.

Rhododendron roxieanum Oreonastes - my plant, recently purchased, is suffering from mineral defficiency, hence leaf tips slightly yellowed

Rhododendron radicans - ground hugging dwarf with tiny leaves and purple funnel-shaped flowers in May to June.

For bamboo selections for your own garden, please visit the bamboo page

Other plants:

Artemisia abrotanum - aromatic, a natural moth repellant that can be used in the wardrobe as an alternative to chemical mothballs but needs regular replenishing. Cut back severely in early spring, it always comes back.

Artemisia alba - another attractive Artemisia. Somewhat more upright

Salvia maxima - for contrast. Used in cooking too.

Quince Geisha Girl - beautiful shrub with salmon orange flowers followed by small edible fruit, can be used for cooking.

Acacia baileyana Purpureum - utterly stunning, particularly in early spring/ March, while other plants are still dormant, it explodes into a mass of bright yellow flowers. Pale blue-green, almost tropical-looking leaves turn purple in sun. Eventually a tree. Not fully hardy, thus needing shelter but well worth trying.

Patio Plants:

Pumonaria 'Majeste' - speckled silvery leaves and tiny, pretty mauve and blue flowers in spring.

Japanese Maples:

Acer palmatum Seiryu - upright version of Acer palmatum Dissectum.

Acer Seiryu in brilliant autumn colours, below

Acer palmatum Fireglow - intense red-purple in sun, lovely vase shape.

Acer palmatum Katja - fresh red leaves then green in summer, then stunning autumn colour, with pinks, salmons and pale to strong reds. A very striking maple.

First image: fresh red leaves starting to go green. Later in the season, the effect is more pronounced; Second image: Older green leaves against new red leaves.

Acer palmatum Kinshi - extremely thin 'spider leg' leaves. Most unusual.

Kinshi also shows stunning autumn colour

Figs:

Fig Brown Turkey - most reliable fig producing delicious ripe fruit last year and this year too.

Fig Brown Turkey

Fig Violeta - very hardy, reputedly able to withstand - 20ºC. Produced good fruit this year.

Fig Precote de Dalmatie - rare French fig with beautiful deeply lobed leaves. Too young to provide fruit thus far.

Ficus Precote de Dalmatie

The strawberry crop for 2010 was excellent. The 2011 season was good until the early summer showers. Many were lost due to the wet conditions.

The blueberry crop for 2011 did not fare as well but these were recently planted bushes. Mints and Lemon balm have been planted in the ground. They may be removed if proven to be too invasive. Please view the breakfast page for varieties on offer for tea.

Sage and half a dozen varieties of rosemary were much used in the kitchen. They compete for space with thyme, oregano and aromatics such as lavender and wormwood. Rocket salad self-seeded and has been left for later harvest.