Well the sun has got his hat on and it's all kicking off here at Harlow Carr!! In terms of planting of course! All teams have been steady at it this week, getting out all those lovely tender plants that have been nurtured from tiny seeds and cuttings started months ago.

 

Last year we had a fantastic temporary member of staff working with us who had the opportunity of designing one of the summer displays in the 1950s garden of gardens through time, unfortunately she no longer works with us, but her impression will last a little longer, as the latter part of the week I have been busy planting up her bold colourful design. This plan includes Dahlia Ruskin Tangerine, Dahlia Pembroke Pattie, and Clarkia Mixed, to mention just a few of the exciting combinations to be seen at their best a little later on in the year.

 Other members of my team have been busy planting up the slightly delayed planting of the new potager garden in garden two, the mid-Victorian garden of Gardens through Time. The area is a very long narrow border which for most of the time that Gardens through Time has been in existence  has been a bedding display of some type, both traditional bedding from the era to a sub-tropical display last year.

 This year the potager display will demonstrate the combinations of flowers and vegetables in one area in a very aesthetic yet productive way.

 

 Also this week we have started the very enjoyable task of container planting, this  as I have said before is one of my favourite things we do here. I like the fact that everyone comes up with such different things in such a limited space, displaying  insights into their personalities through their creativity.

 

 Well I hope that’s enough to get you gardening and being creative in your own gardens this weekend, and marking a date in your diary for later in the summer to see all the above displays at their best.

Bye for now!!

Russ, Gardens East, Harlow Carr