plants – WrAnTz

Sussex Prairie Garden

Yesterday, we met up with my sisters for lunch and culture. This irregular event is something we do as we live about 90 miles apart. We choose a venue around the midpoint between us, meet up for lunch, and have a good old chinwag. Sometimes, like yesterday, we manage to fit in some fresh air and exercise too.

So lunch first. Our chosen meeting point was The Wheatsheaf at Woodmancote, Henfield, where the food was very tasty, with a Brazilian twist. Needless to say, I couldn’t resist the Moqueca, a Brazilian fish and Tiger Prawn stew. It was delicious 😋

Lunch over, we headed, just a few hundred yards along the road to The Sussex Prairie Garden.

In their own words …

We are Britain’s largest “Prairie,” or “Naturalistic,” garden, with eight acres of stunning garden to roam around. Unlike most gardens of a comparable size, we have no castle or stately home! We designed and planted the garden ourselves, on Pauline’s family farm in West Sussex. Instead of armies of servants and gardeners, we planted all 35 000 plants with help of amazing friends and family!

Our garden encourages exploration using a network of small wood chip paths which snake through the huge borders. Come and visit, please do walk on the grass and in the borders! Sussex Prairies-an extraordinary garden created by ordinary people!

On entry, the winding path leads you past “Audrey II” the banana tree, standing guard.

Past a glass encampment. All that was missing was some lighting.

And on to a pair of very friendly pigs. We soon discovered they like their backs scratched

But we were conscious of the many signs informing us that “Pigs Bite”

Moving on we entered the gardens proper where we were presented with this view.

The tea shop was ignored at this time as we set off to explore. Here are a “few” snaps that I took to give you a taste for what this garden offers.

Although there are formal paths and open lawn areas, you are encouraged to go “off-piste” and wander amongst the plants to better enjoy the scents and textures.

Bottle Birds – All Made From Milk Cartons !!!

Bison Approaching – Majestic and “Rust”ic

And There They Go
Marching Across The Prairie

Throughout the garden, there are many sculptures. Many featuring stained or painted glass.

The changeable weather, sunny then cloudy, meant that they were constantly changing with the light

The beauty of these gardens is the huge variety of colours and scents. Also, the textures of the grasses. Chris, my sister, spent a great deal of time fondling the grasses, commenting on the softness or coarseness.

The gardens are laid out in such a way that, typically, you can’t see everything from a single vantage point.

Rather, you catch glimpses from one area to the next. The paths gently curving, leading from one area to the next.

I don’t know if the kids being at school has any real bearing on things, but it was really peaceful here.

There were times when I was truly on my own. No others in view or earshot.

Just the occasional face peering out between the plants

To be honest, before starting out from home, I was fully prepared to be disappointed. Any doubts I had were soon dispelled. This place is lovely. We actually spent around two and a half hours here, but the time flew by.

So, at almost five o’clock, we slipped into the tea shop to grab cups of tea, ice creams and flapjacks.

Then, sadly, it was time to wend our way home. A lovely day, good food, good company, and an agreement to return to the Sussex Prairie Garden later in the season.

Aliens !!!

My daughter is currently on holiday in Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands. I for my sins have been tasked with watering her plants. Imagine my horror when I note that her Lupins are looking very sorry for themselves. Suspecting that I had failed the, one and only, task I had been given I gave the plants a closer look.

Both plants are infested with what I believe are Lupin Aphids (according to Google).

I have treated them with a proprietary bug spray but I suspect they have gotten to great a hold and the damage is done.

Only time will tell if the plants will recover.

Time To Recycle

My shed is overflowing with polystyrene cartons.

Large ones, used by my meat supplier to ship deliveries. I have, for some time, been pondering what to do with them. The local binnies are reluctant to take them. Unless I break them up, which is messy, and disguise them in black bin bags.

So I have decided to re-purpose them. They are going to become planters. We are going to use them for both floral and veggie planting.

Phase one is to coat the exterior with masonry paint. I have chosen battleship grey, as a nice neutral colour, which will provide a good backdrop for the plants.

My thoughts are that the planters will be light enough for me to move around on a whim. The polystyrene will provide a thermal barrier, keeping the plant roots warm.

I might even try some other colours and possibly textures / patterns as my confidence grows.

I’ll post more pictures as the planters are utilised.

View From The Conservatory

I know we are still officially in Winter, but a little bit of sunshine and elevated temperatures soon convince the plants to venture above soil level.

This is one of two Amaryllis, a gift from my sister. I’m ashamed to say they were neglected and started to grow in the delivery package before I acquired suitable soil and pots. With suitable nurturing it is leaping skywards although at this stage it does remind me of The Little Shop of Horrors.

Outside, on the decking, I now have a number of pots and troughs, starting to show the fruits of bulb planting late last year.

Only yellows at the moment, but time will reveal more, I’m sure.

Friendship – Gwen

Hydrangea - Called Gwen after the lovely lady who gave my wife this beautiful plant in a pot, many years ago. This is the best display ever and Gwen, the lady, would be very pleased that her present is giving so much pleasure. — Hydrangea – Called Gwen after the lovely lady who gave my wife this beautiful plant in a pot, many years ago. This is the best display ever and Gwen, the lady, would be very pleased that her friendship present is giving so much pleasure.

View From The Conservatory

Today the post is more of a View In The Conservatory.

Over the last few days, with the glorious weather that we have been “suffering” (tongue firmly in cheek), the temperatures have been as high as 41 degrees. While that is far, far too high for a wilting pansy such as myself there has been at least one plant that likes the conditions.

We have three orchids that we have, so far, failed to kill following their initial blooming. In fact we one plant with two fresh shoots growing rapidly and we have this one which is just gorgeous.

You can see why I have entitled the photo “Pretty Maids All In A Row”.

View From The Conservatory

Today I ventured out into the garden. Thought it was probably safe since the rain and the winds had subsided. The sky is still very grey but all the plants are looking very lush. So here is a sampling from the Wrantz Estate.

The first offering is one of the thousands of Aquilegia that grow in our garden. As soon as they go to seed I shake the pods all around so they pop up in the most surprising places.

The next is just a little humour. This game of chequers has been on the go for several years or perhaps they are just trying to out stare each other.

Gardens are for fun. I’m certain these two are enjoying themselves.

And last of all, for the moment, is this plant which grows in my neighbour’s garden but shares the colours, shapes and style with us by hanging over the fence. Delightful. Just one problem, I don’t know what it is. It does look a bit like Holly though.

Anyone out there know what it is ?

You can just see the leaf shape which is very much like a Holly Leaf. Answers on a post card……

Spring Show

Springtime has to be one of the best times of the year. Nature showing all her best bits. Have just driven past thousands, if not millions, of beautiful Pansy’s, Primula’s, Daffodils and Magnolia Tree blooms. So here is a small contribution from our front garden.

Had to snap the back view because they were just so bright. And here they are from the front, some might say from the proper side.

Obviously we are all waiting for the Cherry blossoms to begin their display. Unfortunately, I have noticed that one of our two trees looks to have finally succumbed to the disease which was causing its leaves to wilt. It had managed to give a magnificent display each year even though the leaves would die back. This morning I can find no sign any buds forming. I guess we’ll have to replace it after giving us great pleasure for thirty years or so.

View From The Conservatory

This Chinook crossed the skies yesterday. As you can see the sky was a dull grey at the time. 24 hours later and the sun is shining, the sky is blue and look what I can see today.
This is Masher, showing his metal to the nettle….. he used to live in our kitchen but we caught him scratching at the inside of our stainless steel saucepans. Apart from the appearance we were a bit concerned about the shards of metal turning up with our bangers ‘n’ mash. So he was relegated to the garden.