Windy weather at The Exotic Garden…
Posted on | July 17, 2009 | 5 Comments
Hallo all – I hope you have had a joyous week in your gardens and that everything is blooming wonderful!
Hosta ‘Sum and substance’
I am writing this in my studio at the back of the house (on my laptop as my main computer is still being repaired) which overlooks the xerophytic (desert) garden, though it’s all but arid at the moment as it’s teaming with rain. The sky is leaden with rippling thunder rumbling like some invisible beast all around. I do love a good storm, there is nothing like it to clear the air and make you feel invigorated.
The garden has come along in leaps and bounds over the last week or so, especially with all the rain of late. So far it has been an excellent summer here with a good spread of sun and rain and warmth, just perfect for lush plant growth.
I may have mentioned in past blogs that I do a phone-in every Wednesday on BBC Radio Norfolk, and last Wednesday a three hour program was broadcast from the garden. If you would like to hear it, go to BBC Radio Norfolk and then to listen again – the Graham and Karen show 16/07/2009 it will be available until next Tuesday. There is a music festival this weekend on the borders between Norfolk and Suffolk called ‘Latitude’ so on the program we took a hippy-ish root to the show. I even managed to find one of my old psychedelic shirts!! After the show had finished, there was a quick tidy up before a coach part of avid gardeners came to the garden in the early afternoon, followed by another coach party in the evening.
It was such a busy day that I didn’t manage to finish watering all the container plants until the twilight time of 9.45pm, hence I felt totally pooped! Unfortunately it was such a windy day, many of the larger container plants kept blowing over, annoyingly breaking off many flower heads and snapping stems. I also find that windy weather dries out all the containers even more quickly than hot weather, hence a thorough soaking was essential!
On Thursday morning bright and early (all plants now propped up) a coach party from Cornwall arrived – another enjoyable though tiring day.
I have been going photographically crazy in the garden over the past weeks, recording as much as I can. It is so easy to miss plants coming into bloom as some flower for such a short period. Below you will find a few of photographs taken over the last few days. Enjoy…
Roscoea
Solanum quitoense
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
Hedychium ‘Dr. Moy
Tilandsia species with wireman on a rust chicken!
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5 Responses to “Windy weather at The Exotic Garden…”
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July 17th, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Excellent picture of the Pokeweed – very nice!
July 17th, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
I nearly bought a Solanum quitoense at Hampton Court, but sanity prevailed (in the sense that I already have too much to do this year without worrying about something new). Next year, though… I think they’re amazing.
July 18th, 2009 @ 12:43 am
Hello there Will… a few clicks through other blogs have brought me here!
I am thrilled to see that you are blogging… you have a fantastic eye for plants and I do wish I had been close enough last year to have visited your garden when on holiday in Norfolk
All the best with your blog and garden… BTW your pics are great too
July 22nd, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
Chris -Congratulations on your proposing to Siobhán on bended knee in the tree house, here at the Exotic Garden – Good job she said yes…
Victoria – Solanum quitoense are amazing plants – they also produce edible fruit!
Hi shirl – thanks for the glowing coments…
July 22nd, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
Thanks Mr Will!