Garden News from Molokoloko: Let's Party...

....Chelsea Flower Show and back at home too...

Sentebale

RHS Chelsea Flower Show always falls in May. It is huge, said to be the biggest most prestigious flower show in the world. Probably is. I did go one year, and decided that it was too much to see in one day and that viewing it on the telly gave me a much better view and much less cost - entry doesn't come cheap. However, it does offer loads of inspiration and information. For gardeners it is worth watching it on whatever technology you prefer.

My favourite garden was Prince Harry's Charity garden Sentebale (Forget-me-not) for the HIV kids in Lesotho - charming. Utterly uplifting and charming, designed by Matt Keightley.

At the opposite side of the design scale was this one designed largely on computer...

Orange is the 'in' colour.
Fernando Gonzalez’s Chinese-inspired white walls.

Look at the lovely white wave curls of that wall - and the loose sunny planting. Also lovely.

Anyway...all that inspiration I had to treat myself...after all...

Verbascum chaixii var. album

Verbascums are back and I know they do very well here in this garden...remember Tobias who seeded himself in this garden that first dismal (from garden point of view) year I was here?

The Guardian says: Foxgloves are a Chelsea standard, but this year they were usurped by another dreaming spire: the verbascum (aka mullein), with its rosette of felted leaves and blooms that open one after the other up the stem, like a rocket’s vapour trail.

On the strength of that I ordered a packet of seed and some Cow Parsley too, for it's lacy effect. Though I have to admit I haven't had any success with it in the past...maybe this time.

Sean Murray's Front garden incorporating a car parking area.

Chelsea aims to influence more than just garden fashion. This year there were two aspects it was promoting. The first one is to get the public to 'green up' the largely concreted/tarred or gravel front gardens that are now used as parking spaces. To this end they gave the winner of a recent competition, Sean Murray, the task of designing a front garden. The result, bearing in mind he is an amateur, is wonderful. I really MUST get on with my front garden which has been sadly relegated to second place in garden priority. Sean's has given me inspiration ...his old tin can sculptures have given me an idea.

One of Sean's tin can sculptures.

The other promotion has been to highlight the connection and research between health and gardening. Wouldn't it be amazing if a trip to the GP for a general feeling of malaise resulted in a prescription for a week of communal gardening? Seriously...the research is gaining a lot more recognition and backing. Have a look at these links - you will see what I mean. Click Here ...and Click Here.

Leaving Chelsea behind then, let's move on...

My own little garden doesn't compete with the amazing Chelsea gardens, but then again, neither has it enjoyed the money and expertise that they have lavished on them.

This May has been cooler and wetter and a great deal windier than most Mays. However, with weather you get what you get, and you have to get on with it. The garden has done just that.

Too many red poppies, but they are fun.

There are too many red poppies. I love a big poppy but I am not overly fond of red. It can be overpowering and aggressive, or blousy. I will probably remove a couple of them and replace with something less ...well, less RED. Next year.

Peonies are good too. I can handle the pink, much easier on the eye.

Pink peonies foreground, red poppies
and the yellow is the Geum.

Potatoes...oh my goodness, they are romping away!

Potatoes

I am just slow - I don't know where the day goes...yes, I do. Quite a chunk of it is in walking Seren for miles so she doesn't dig in the garden!

See her peeping out of the window?
Waiting for a walk...as usual.

Strawberries are coming along nicely, the hanging baskets need sorting out, the melon is getting huge, the tomatoes are blooming...the Virginia creeper is dying...I have NO IDEA why. Must have a closer look. Maybe Seren has nibbled it. She also chases the bees and in so doing jumps on plants and breaks them...she will, I hope, grow out of these puppy habits. The roses are in bud - give us a day or two of sunshine and they will bloom - so will the aliums and lavender....