OUR GARDEN 2018-22 | wgmblog.co.uk

In 2020 and 2021, we were unable to open the garden to the public under the Secret Gardens of Oxton scheme as a result of the pandemic. To compensate, we circulated some photos as a substitute and a publicity tool for the event. Here they are, with the advantage of seeing it each month of the year.

December

The garden shuts down for a month of rest; a few autumn plants struggle on in flower, while winter hellebores only just start to appear. The potted spruce, ignored all year, now gets the attention it was waiting for.

The last posting on this 'A year in the garden' page.

Cornus Alba Siberica and Kesserlringii

November

Autumn turning to winter and a good year for colour thanks to dry weather and light winds. The garden still has some new late blooms. The pond infill project gets completed: the first pond, pond liner removed, as a dry area in full sun and the second one, retaining its pond liner, as a bog garden -- an experiment to be monitored over the next year.

First pond area complete: for plants that like a dry sunny spot

Startlingly red Euonymus europaeus "Spindle tree"

October

A new project starts with the draining of the heron-damaged ponds and their conversion to rock and boggy beds with some Japanese influences. Some more work to be done of course removing the leaves from the lawn and the beds, cutting back and protecting for the winter. But there are still some surprise appearances: a small crop of raspberries, osteospermum that had been forgotten, and the aeonium heads that had fallen from last winter's apparently terminally frost-killed plants coming back to life. The garden changes colour overall from green to rusts and oranges, while nerines and nasturtiums add splashes of bright colour and roses make a final show before the frost sets in.

autumnal view from the front window

reincarnated Aeonium (see January)

Argyranthemum

New arrival: Skimmia japonica

Neighbours' trees add some splendid colour to the view from the house..........

second pond area - a bog garden - complete and including a new Equisetum hyemale

Winter jasmine framing the front door

starting the infill of the pond

late Osteospermum among next year's self-seeding forget-me-nots

Trapaeolum (Nasturtium) covers the remains of the dead Aeonium

Helleborus orientalis

....and deposit their leaves on our lawn

Last year's Chritmas tree has survived and grown and patiently waits to be decorated.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens Freckles

now with its Japanese-style water feature and awaiting gravel and pebbles

Nerine bowdenii

Rose in its final bloom of the year

Agapanthus in its winter form

Fungus colonises the old pear tree stump

September

A month with (at last) some decent rain. Some new dahlias make an appearance, roses continue with their second bloom and sedum, which seems quite happy with the months of drought, puts on an unusually prolific display. And the fascicularias take on their brilliant autumn red.

Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'

Sedum spectabilis

Fascicularia bicolor

Rosa 'Iceberg' (possibly)

August

A month of further drought with rain at last in the final two weeks. The time for dahlias, the usual glut of courgettes and runner beans and reluctant re-appearance of roses and hardy geraniums.

Very scary Dahlia 'Hollyhill Spiderwoman'

Dahlia 'Marmalade'

Hydrangea paniculata “Pink Diamond”, just starting to turn pink

Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'

Blueberries: first ever crop

Runner beans

Lobelia cardinalis

July

We complained about the lack of rain in June, but had no idea that it would continue almost to the end of July. Some plants were still happy, though, with minimum watering.

While others, including the lawn, of course, ended up in a perilous state.

The Hydrangeas survived, with copious watering, and this one changed from pink to blue, for the first time. And maybe it was the extra sunshine that gave us over 6kg of redcurrants from two bushes.

Pelargoniums

Formerly an Astilbe

Helenium autumnale

Formerly grass

And solitary bees laid their eggs in at least 8 rooms in the bee hotel.

June

Several weeks of almost continuous dry weather are taking their toll, but this is the month when roses come into their own -- some new, some well established residents of this garden -- and some special favourites appear.

Meconopsis baileyi (Himalayan Blue Poppy)

"John Clare"

"Benjamin Britten"

Aquilegia "Dragonfly"

May

Preparation for Secret Gardens of Oxton on 13th of the month

the first flowering year for the tree peony

very strange first flower on Clematis "Vanessa"; the rest were normal

not a poppy: Rnunculus glacialis

many varied examples of hardy geranium filling the shady beds

ready for the onslaught the next morning

the previous month's cool weather has allowed the spring flowers to survive well into May

over 2000 visitors to the garden on the day; best Secret Gardens weather for many years

including the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside

April

What a difference a month makes (see March).

These tulips multiply each year with little attention.....

Fritillaria meleagris

.....as do fritillaries on the lawn

Ranunculus dwarf tomer

Ranunculus are giving a spark of colour to the dull April days. These are bought as annuals but it will be worth lifting and over-wintering for next year.