This page is for members of Staffs and Worcs Gardening group to share photos and garden news. Although we can’t currently meet its good to keep in touch and share our gardens. If you are a member and would like to share your garden please email your photos and news to: swgc16@talktalk.net

26/09/2021

The last garden visit of the year was to to two members gardens in Sutton Coldfield. As the pictures show both gardens looked stunning.

24/08/2021

Monarchs Way, Coven, is a garden created in the past 10 years from the blank canvas of a 1¾ acre farmer’s field. On a damp August afternoon 18 members and guests explored a garden that now includes a Tudor folly, Jungle hut largely hidden by Bamboo and other tall grasses, a lily pond with bog garden, orchard and vegetable garden. Around the garden are many conifers, shrubs, ornamental and fruit trees plus borders with perennials and a sweeping rose pergola. The sweeping lawns were laid out as a 9 hole putting green – not something you expected to find in the garden!

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16/07/2021

36 Members and friends met in glorious sunshine for the first time since February 2020 for a tour around Johns garden at Ashwood Nurseries. The garden never fails to impress and lots of new features had been added since our last visit.

It was lovely to meet up with everyone again and we are hoping for another garden visit soon.

25/06/2021

Domino Six Alliums

In our front garden we have many Alliums and Eryngiums. They self-seed and often appear where you really do not want them but I am reluctant to take them out.

In a narrow border by a small rockery, a group of  self seeded Alliums (most probably “Purple Sensation”)  appeared this year in what looks like a Domino Six arrangement. Squashed up to them are a group of self seeded Eryngium giganteum “Miss Willmott’s Ghost”.

Elsewhere another self seeded Allium cristophii is fighting its way out of a Berberis hedge. – David Glennon

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19/04/2021

The Amelanchier lamarckii shrub/small tree in the foreground originally came as a tiny plant from one of Carol’s plant sales at a Group meeting over 15 years ago.  If my recollection is correct, it was propagated by Carol herself.   

It has been moved initially from our Worcestershire garden, then our Herefordshire one to its current spot here in Dorset.  Has seemingly settled in well, in spite of both these transplants and our current chalky soil. – Colin

15/04/2021

‘Springtime Images’ from Dorset – Colin and Elizabeth

31/03/2021

Lockdown is over so we left our household tasks behind and enjoyed the sunshine at Hanbury Hall just a short drive from home. Sadly no spring colour in the formal garden but the topiary was beautifully trimmed and it was such a joy to walk in the parkland after weeks of staying close to home. – Pat & Peter Orme

23/03/2021

A lovely  late March afternoon with plenty of sunshine. The Chaenomeles Japonica (Japanese Quince) just coming into flower. They were planted about 20 years ago and are somewhat straggly. The names have long been lost but they could be “Pink Lady” and “Nivalis” as these seem to be very popular varieties. The Hellebore was purchased some 5 years ago when  Mike Byford of Hazles Cross Farm Nursery gave a talk in the village. This is one of his hybrids “Upright Yellow”. The label somewhat confusingly states Heleborus x Hybridus – “Upright Yellow” without giving any further details.

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24/02/2021

A combination of Tulips and Ornamental Cabbage/Kale. Too late for this year but may be worth a try in a corner of your garden next year. We have to plan ahead!!

14/02/2021

Here are just a couple of images of reticulata type Iris showing their faces, in spite of the wet and now cold down here in the ‘frozen south’.  No snow in Dorchester however. Both are Avon Bulbs supplied.

They are : Iris ’Spot On’  (the purple one with interesting white throat markings)  &   Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ – Colin White

29/01/2021

Spring is on the way

16/01/2021

Nature has a habit of throwing up surprises, this plant appeared growing in the crack between 2 upright paving slabs that act as a retaining wall. Over this winter it has put on a spurt of growth and is now about to flower. I have no idea how it set its seed in that spot but is obviously happy and a welcome addition to the garden. I think the plant is Helleborus argutifolius but I am sure if I am wrong one of you will be kind enough to let me know. – Pat Orme

Sdal