While taking a long look at the garden yesterday, it wasn’t the flowers that grabbed my attention, but the beautiful, delicate leaves that are all unfurling from their cases. There are so many different shades of green as well as the purples, golds, creams, blues and silvers.
The view looking across the back lawn towards the woodland is one of my favourites. The dark foliage of the Japanese azalea in the foreground contrasts so well with the frothiness of the new foliage in the background.
Looking towards the gravel area at the back, at the bottom left is a dwarf berberis, above is Eucalyptus gunnii, behind the bench is Leylandii and at the top right hand corner is Pittosporum Irene Patterson. Next to the bench is Euphorbia mellifera with a Chusan palm in front. I’m a bit worried about the palm, it is looking rather yellow, it should be a nice green, I’m wondering if it didn’t like our winter.
Looking from the woodland back towards the house, the airy delicate foliage of the silver birch contrasts with everything around it, the spiky Yucca, the azalea and all the shrubs in the background.
Round to the front where Neil, my gardener, clipped the Lonicera hedge and Lonicera Bagessens Gold yesterday. These form a contrast with the new foliage on the roses on the left, the Mahonia behind and the purple berberis.
Here the box balls in the rose garden are framed at the top by the new foliage of the oak/copper beech hybrid.
Still framed by the oak/copper beech hybrid, but this time with Euonymous Emerald and Gold on the right.
Bark also plays its part. Here there is Betula jackmontii by the driveway, contrasting with the Pyracantha behind it.
Looking across the rose garden with Mahonia Charity in the background and Euonymous Emerald Gaity on the right.
From the backdoor, the variegated box links across the lawn to the conifer, which is in front of the Viburnum plicatum Maresii. Behind them all is my Amelanchier lamarckii with hardly any flowers but lots of lovely new leaves.
Foliage has such a lot to offer the gardener, colour, shape and texture have a big part to play and keep the interest going while the flowers are having a rest. Even now , when the flowers are flowering on all cylinders, the foliage still makes it’s presence felt, especially when highlighted by the spring sunshine.
Apologies to anyone who has been trying to contact me, another blip in the ether meant I was unable to access my blog for about 4 days, hopefully all is back to normal now.
You have some beautiful contrasts Pauline – the photo of the clipped Lonicera with the Mahonia, Berberis and evergreens on the left is especially lovely! 🙂 And I always admire your nicely kept box balls – the golden Euonymus looks gorgeous opposite them.
Thanks Cathy, when planting a border I think of foliage first and then the flowers. I can’t take any credit for the box balls any more, my back protests too much, they are down to Neil now!
They are lovely shrubs Pauline and all looking so fresh at this time of year. Brilliant contrasts of shape , colour and texture as well.
Thanks Sue, I love all the fresh new leaves, they look so delicate but cope very well with the weather we are having at the moment.
Your garden is just beautiful Pauline. You make a very good point when you say think of foliage first. Something I think I need to pay more attention to. Love the Luytens bench and the surround. I could just grap a cup of coffee and sit there!
Thank you Denise. The blue bench is the only one I have taken from under its winter covering so far, yes, just so that I could sit there with my coffee, come and join me!
The framework of hedges and trees act as a wonderful backdrop…and within all the different forms. As you write all the greens within are particularly attractive at this time of the year.
Lovely to hear from you Noelle, a lot of our trees are a couple of hundred years old, they are a wonderful addition to the garden. This time of year is wonderful for all the delicate foliage, it forms a wonderful green tapestry.
Oh glad to see that your blog is back up and running Pauline 🙂 As always I’m held spellbound by all that fine foliage in your garden.
Yes Anna, I’m glad everything is back to normal, it’s so frustrating when things go wrong for no reason. The fresh foliage is a delight at the moment, soon the garden will be private once more, essential when I garden early in the morning in my pjs!
I like the different shades of green, from light to dark.
I do too Jason, they make a lovely background tapestry for all the flowers.
The photos in this post remind me of another garden I’ve seen, which also has good contrast in shape and color of woody plants. The name of the garden is Great Comp and I believe it is in Kent. On my first visit, in 2001, Mr. Cameron was still living and the group was mesmerized by his stories and enthusiasm. I do hope your palm is okay, though the yellow looks amazing with the blue bench.
I’m honoured Marian, to have the garden here compared to such a great garden, thank you! I will just have to wait and see if the palm is ok, I have lost a few plants with the cold icy weather we had, 2 Astelia Silver Spears have succomed, which is a pity, and my phormiums don’t look too happy either.
You do have some stunning foliage, it’s just wonderful seeing those fresh young leaves!
Your garden is looking lovely, a little like fairyland at the moment, and those sculpted box balls are a work of art!xxx
Thanks Dina, I really love the new leaves at this time of year, they make the whole garden look so fresh. The box balls are quite old now, about 20 yrs old. They started off as little tufts costing 50p each and now they are so solid, I could almost sit on them!
I enjoyed seeing all these images of your garden, Pauline. I was not familiar with some of the long views. I agree about the importance of foliage and how much it contributes to the garden. The view with the Mahonia Charity and Euonymous is especially nice; it demonstrates so well the power of foliage. I love all the different foliage colors, textures and shapes in that photo.
The first gardening book I ever bought was about foliage Deb and I think it has influenced me ever since.
Hi Pauline, Your garden is lovely and bursting with color. I love the different colors of unfurling and new leaves, as well……I saw beautiful lime green leaves today. Before long, they’ll be dark but, right now they look so delicate and bright.
Thanks Sally, I too love all the different shades of green along with the other colours of foliage. Driving along our country lanes is a delight at the moment with all the delicate beech tree leaves in the most delicious shade of apple green.
There’s something so vibrant, full of promise and joy about fresh spring foliage. I always want time to go more slowly at this time of the year so that we can savor the excitement a bit longer.
New foliage looks so delicate Peter, contrasting with the evergreens. I agree about slowing everything down so that we can appreciate it all, but then I’m also waiting for the next lot of goodies to develop!