The moment I arrived at my new home over thirteen years ago, I was able to identify one of the few perfect spots for a small garden. It is triangular in shape and sits in a hollow at the bottom of the drive, so it was possible to make it almost totally windproof in a short space of time. I quickly planted a traditional hedgerow, but added some lovely shrubs to bask in the good-quality soil and to provide some variety. I imagined spending sunny days relaxing in a comfortable chair and enjoying the dappled shade from a few ash trees. I discovered my mistake the first summer! I decided to spend a morning weeding and tidying up the area. After a few minutes of a relentless attack from horseflies I had to admit defeat and retreat to the windy hillside garden. This process has been repeated often enough, so that I now avoid the area in summer and have to make do with the windy upper garden. Horseflies one, me nil.
One of the shrubs enjoying the excellent soil and shelter of ‘Horsefly Heaven’.
At last, a butterfly in the garden, but it does not have many companions so far. The few warm days have also been very windy. I suspect that these are not ideal conditions. On the other hand, the wild heather and herbs are attracting a multitude of bees and insects so I have to be content with that.
I tend to neglect the bottom of the drive, as I have so many other things to do. However, it seems to do very well without my help and the rambling and climbing roses flower for months on end. It is one of my favourite spots.
At last, some butterflies have appeared in the garden – Red Admirals are the most frequent visitors to the Buddleia, followed by Small Tortoiseshells and then Peacock butterflies. These latter are usually the most common here but the few that I have seen have been unusually small. All appeared for a few warm hours but none remained for long. I have about seven varieties of Buddleia and all three blue varieties have been largely ignored. Buddleia Davidii ‘White profusion’, Buddleia golden globe and Buddleia x weyerian ‘Sungold’ are firm favourites. This is a good thing this year, as they all flower a few weeks after their relatives which are no longer producing many flowers.
This is the original semicircle of hydrangea that were growing at the front of the house when I arrived. They make a dramatic display all summer as well as providing a shield from the south and east winds.
Details of the small bed at the front of the house. The Inula Hookeri is usually a magnet for butterflies and shield bugs, but is sadly is not attracting anything this year so far. Each summer I contemplate digging it out as it smothers everything that grows near it. I restrain myself out of respect for the butterflies, but am having second thoughts in their absence.
This filled nail hole in the side of the house, does not look like much but is a sign that the leaf cutter bees have been active despite the bad weather. The corner of the house is one of their favourite spots for nests and usually I have a number of enjoyable evenings watching them arrive with their cargo and packing the walls. Sadly, it has been too wet and cold for me to catch them at their work. The nail hole is always the first to be utilised and gives me hope that the rest of the walls are packed as usual.
I have been revamping the small flower beds in front of the house but will probably keep this very pretty and graceful Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ despite its tendency to run rampant.
A couple of years ago I found a wild teasel in a neglected pot in a corner of the garden. It never produced any offspring but this small group of plants have appeared very appropriately in my newly designated wild garden this year. They have survived the recent strong winds and I am hoping for better luck with their seed dispersal although as usual I will leave this to nature rather than trying to force the matter.
This Hemp Agrimony is on my wish list for my wild flower garden. For the first time in my experience, it has appeared on the side of the road on the way into the village. I am hoping that some of my regular visiting birds will disperse the seeds here.
Hydrangea involucrata ‘Tokada Yama’ with its unusual bud which closely resembles that of a peony. It is doing well in the semi-shade under some willow trees by the side of the house and is one of my favourites.
One of my least favourite tasks is removing all of the ferns and blackberry plants from neighbouring properties that threaten to take over the garden every year. I have started to plant rambling and climbing roses at the boundary fence in an effort to create a clear delineation and to soften the look of the intruders. So far, the roses seem to be holding their own despite my neglect.
Selfheal is one of the many wild flowers that is supposed to have healing properties and was once used to staunch and heal wounds. Even if it did not, it merits a place in the garden because of its beauty.
I am not very fond of the colour orange but as with the creeping buttercups in the picture I am going to have to try. This is a popular bath for the small birds in the garden and when I bought it I had it sanded and painted at great expense. The renovation did not last a winter of salt winds and I have not the heart to try the process again. The birds seem happy so I will have to be content with that. I think that it will have to be stone features from now on.