‘Tis moonlight, summer moonlight,
All soft and still and fair;
The solemn hour of midnight
Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere,But most where trees are sending
Their breezy boughs on high,
Or stooping low are lending
A shelter from the sky.Emily Jane Brontë (1818-1848)
At the start of a welcoming summer coronavirus restrictions are easing and all gardens in Wales able to open again.
My small garden is so short of space that I am constantly seeking areas to accommodate new purchases. The walls are proving invaluable and I have just purchased Clianthus puniceus, the ‘lobster claw’ plant. A native of New Zealand it requires a warm wall and a neutral or acidic soil but satisfied in those regards, it is easy to grow. It frequently starts to flower in early spring and can throw odd flowers at any time.
Another favourite is Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Geisha Girl’, which is a totally hardy and easily pleased plant. It is not particular as to soil and was formerly cultivated for its edible ‘quince’ fruits and known as ‘Japonica’ but is a separate species to the true Chaenomeles japonica. ‘Geisha Girl’ has apricot pink flowers and starts flowering in early spring continuing to early summer. Left to its own devices it will grow into a large shrub but trained on a wall and judiciously pruned it creates a curtain of colour.
Actinidia kolomikta is an extremely hardy climber hailing from the far east. It is grown for its leaves which are pigmented in pink and white over a large area of their surface. Easy as to soil, it is said to require full sun for best colour, however my own plant occupies a west facing wall and only receives evening sun.
Many National Garden Scheme gardens are now opening for charity, (subject to government guidelines).
A newcomer to the Scheme is Cwm Farm, near Welshpool. This is a charming C19th farmhouse approached down a wooded cwm with an impressive crag. The 5-acre garden is in a stunning location with panoramic views of Corndon and Roundton Hills. There are displays of bluebells, herbaceous beds, a Welsh apple orchard, pond, stream, and wildflower meadow, with wide lawns and paths to wander and sit. Weather permitting, there may be live light classical music in the garden.
Cwm Farm
Skanda Vale Hospice Garden is a tranquil 1-acre garden built for meditation, relaxation and fun, maintained by loyal volunteers. A pebble lined rill meanders from a circular pool to a Sacred Space under a huge beech tree and sets the tone. A series of lawns and glades, link extraordinary garden buildings with a willow spiral, wildlife pond, sculptures and stained glass. Planting schemes of blue and gold at the entrance inspire calm and confidence, whilst red, orange and white by the hospice, lift the mood. “Feel the garden, Open your vast sky, Let spirit fly ” says Brother Francis.
Skanda Vale Hospice Garden
Another newcomer, Ffynnon Las is a 2-acre garden in a beautiful area. It delivers on many aspects of gardening including a small lake and two smaller ponds separated by a Monet style bridge with waterlilies. A wildflower meadow is a work in progress but already has wild orchids in spring.
Ffynnon Las
On the outskirts of Newport, Croesllanfro Farm belongs to garden designer Liz Davies and her husband Barry. It is an informal 2-acre garden featuring mass planted perennials, grasses, wildflower meadow and exotic area. Spring and summer is a tapestry of green with emphasis on leaf form and texture. It deals very cleverly with a sloping site, being designed on 6 levels for easy maintenance with many intimate places to rest.
In Gwynedd we find Pant Ifan, which is a lovely garden set around a farmyard with poultry, ducks, geese, donkeys and ponies. This is a 2-acre mix of formal and wildlife garden with herbaceous borders, vegetables with greenhouses and polytunnel, fruit, ponds and recently planted woodland. Enjoy field walks and sitting areas in the sun or shade.
Pant Ifan
Back to Dan-y-Coed, Cardiff where Alan and Miranda Workman tend a medium sized, much loved garden. The owners share a passion for plants and structure, with new acquisitions resulting in a shrinking lawn size annually! Acers and other trees combine with the Nant Fawr Woods to form a woodland backdrop. The garden has year round interest with a wildlife pond, many climbers and a greenhouse with a cactus and succulent collection.
Dan-y-Coed
Staying in the south, Annette and I are opening our small coastal garden at The Boarlands, after missing last year. Our garden has panoramic views over Port Eynon Bay and contains many rare and unusual plants and shrubs. Both front gardens have a largely southern hemisphere theme with puyas, agaves, gladioli species and small shrubs. The back garden is more cosmopolitan but also has some rare plants and the best views from strategically placed seating. New additions this year, thanks to the lockdown, are small ornamental and wildlife ponds.
The summer solstice is imminent, and days long and (hopefully) sunny. The best time of year to enjoy gardens reopening for the NGS and help support the nursing and other charities that have lost so much funding in the past year.
NGS Open Gardens
Welsh Country has two NGS open garden sections. The first ‘Open Gardens’ are gardens that are open on specific days and the ‘Long Term Open Gardens’ which are by appointment only. There is a search facility on each page so simply search for a garden name or an area of Wales (i.e. Swansea) you’d like to visit.
Words: Rob Dyer
Pictures: National Garden Scheme, Annette Dyer
National Garden Scheme: Frances Bowyer
