Dixter Diary – Day 17

While it hasn’t rained in about 10 days or so, the morning dew is still quite heavy as seen on the cosmos above.  I continue to enjoy my morning walks before work out in the gardens.  I sometimes run in to a photographer but really enjoy the quiet and all the bird song which is quite significant.  The big Plant Fair is looming this weekend with “all hands on deck”.  I think I’m helping with the parking detail which requires quite a few people as parking can be tricky along the edges of the gardens.  I worked on significant garden clean-up today as well as preparations for the Plant Fair and some “pricking out” of seedlings.  Fergus shared more “tricks of the trade” and seems to be everywhere at once!

 love this golden prickly briar (Rubus cockburnianus ‘Golden Vale’…I think) coming over and through the Cotoneaster horizontalis….awesome
grove of Melianthus major I stumbled upon today
wet little bird footprints today!  cute
compositions abound
one of three compost piles in the large Vegetable Garden
monkshood (Aconitum henryi ‘Spark’s Variety’) nestled amongst ‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii)
apples (Malus) above photographed in this beautiful area below (morning light)

 

excellent lighting on perennial geranium above and fern (Dryopteris wallichiana) below

 

I spent lots of time tidying in the Exotic Garden (seen above)
Frank (left) and Lewis getting the grill ready for the weekend
Rachel (top) and Jana getting hay bales ready with Mike (below)

 

dried strawflowers (Helichrysum sp.) will be used as decorations
Frank (above) and I potted up seedlings.  Frank used to be in the Queen’s Guard and wore the red uniform and tall hat!
double sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) above – perennial
border above in the Barn Garden
afternoon light coming through this arch separating the Wall Garden and Barn Garden (foreground)