What a startling difference the beginning of June this year to that of 2018. The rain seems to be making up for lost droplets. In June 2018 we were facing the very real danger of a summer of drought. In 2019 we appear to be resorting back to old ways, the lawns could almost be cut twice a week at this rate. However, the cool evenings and high moisture has encouraged a great number of flowers to linger on. Our Rhododendrons continue to look fresh and have done for a month or so and we still have a few bluebells showing through the ever thickening wild grasses and flowers in Millennium Woods.
The Walled Garden continues to develop and the newly planted borders are beginning to really show their true intentions. It is quite startling to see bright reds and oranges in the garden where before we limited plant choice to cool pastel blues and pinks. Lewis’ long border design sets out bold blocks of colour, six in total; Yellow, Orange and Red blocks on the western side of the garden and Purple, Pink and Blue on the eastern side. Iris ‘Feu du Ciel’ is a welcome newcomer; bright orange and voluptuous. I am a lover of Irises and this one really justifies that. In front of this we have Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ again vibrantly orange.
What a contrast then to the purple block where the ever delightful Thalictrum delavayi and Salvia x superba are neighboured by Geranium x ‘Johnson’s Blue‘, Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ and Cirsium rivulare ‘Trevor’s Blue Wonder’.
The Paeonias are just about to open, holding onto their petals tightly awaiting sunnier weather no doubt, but Paeonia ‘Black Panther’ is a tree peony and has to have what I can only describe and the most indulgent dark – almost bloody – silky petals and has been in flower for around a week.
Throughout the garden many plants are in full bloom and none are more spectacular than the Meconopsis which grow incredibly well at Teasses. Meconopsis betonicifolia are happiest when in cool, rich, deep woodland soils, happy roots lead to stunning azure blue flowers or in the case of M. paniculata primrose yellow.
Davidia involucrata var. Vilmoriniana is a stunning tree, with branches covered in what looks like paper tissues. This tree has spectacular autumn foliage colour but every third year at Teasses we are treated to what appears like hundreds of white papery bracts hanging from the tree. Ours is underplanted with Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’, what a combination.
In Sir Fraser’s garden, which occupies a hollow in a conifer plantation the clotted cream flower buds of Magnolia wilsonii are just beginning to burst open. They are ideally suited to this cool semi-shaded space in the garden and planted on a steep slope allowing visitors to gaze up from below at the interior of the flower which cannot be missed.