Monday 13 July 2015

Harlow Carr In July

There's so much to see at Harlow Carr at the moment that you really need to allow plenty of time to get round everything.  I'm really pleased that we decided to make a visit each month this year as we see so many changes each time. The grounds are looking really fabulous just now, all the trees are fully clothed in beautiful greenery and the flower beds and borders are bursting with plants.


There are a number of these large planters around the entrance and they display different plants each time we visit. I enjoy seeing so many different displays. It gives me ideas for my own garden.


You may remember the candelabra primroses from my last visit, they're looking splendid by the stream at the moment, such a fabulous display of many different colours.


Another plant gracing the banks of the stream are these primula vialii or orchid primrose. I've never grown them myself but I'm very tempted.


This summer house is situated by the stream, it's such a relaxing place to sit for a while as you can hear the water trickling by.


I like the natural looking planting of these foxgloves.


A white foxglove. I've only got the purple ones in my own garden.


More natural planting with these knautia or scabious.


Allium christophii are such huge flowers, they always remind me of fireworks with their star studded heads.


I showed you a lion in my Photo Medley - May post, here he is again but this time you can see the pair along with the six Doric columns which they're guarding. This used to be the main entrance to the gardens and is the area where the rhododendrons are planted.


I've always fancied having a stone trough filled with plants, these are wonderful examples.


We ventured in to the greenhouse where they're using the Straw Bale method to grow tomatoes. They're growing quite a few different varieties.


This information explains all about Straw Bale Gardening.


There were some impressive looking cucumbers hanging from the plants, this variety is Femspot. My cucumber plants aren't looking their best this year but they're just starting to fruit.


On to the Kitchen Garden where the beds are really filling up now. It won't be long until it's in full production.



These pea pods just need to fill out. I wonder how many people have a sneaky taste, I'd be very tempted.


The sweet peas are flowering and need picking to keep more flowers coming.

 
I've never tried globe artichokes, they always seem a bit too fiddly for me.


The border I'm following has really filled out and there's no sign of the persicaria which was flowering last month. The look of a garden or flower bed can change so quickly.


There's now salvia and eryngiums flowering together in this border, you may remember there was this same pairing in one of the Leeds City Council's Chelsea Flower Show gardens which I wrote about in my Roundhay Park Gardens In July post.


The other side of the same border, you can see alchemilla mollis or lady's mantle flowering here.


My overall impression of the garden this month is that it's filled with hot, bright colours. Not everywhere but you're certain to see them as you look round the different areas. I'll leave you with a selection of my favourites.









July is a great time to visit Harlow Carr, there's so much to see, just make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.

28 comments:

  1. The allium is late - ours are well over. We are planning a visit to Harlow Carr this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A neighbour has these alliums in her garden at the moment so perhaps yours were a little early. I hope the weather improves for your visit to Harlow Carr, it hasn't stopped raining here today, though it's that fine, mizzly rain so I doubt the plants will have had a good watering.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJuly 13, 2015

    I love Harlow Carr and your lovely pictures make me want to come and see it again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a lovely place to visit, always plenty to see, even when we're making regular monthly visits we never get bored as things change so quickly.

      Delete
  3. Wow, fascinating! The flowers are really awesome! Flowers that I couldn't find here. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoy it, I feel I'm really walking through the garden

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pleased you enjoyed the post. Blogs are a great way of seeing flowers from around the world which we don't usually get to see.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJuly 13, 2015

    I really enjoy these monthly posts and lovely pictures. The changes over what is a relatively short period are both noticeable, and at times surprising. It's also good to see that they grow some of my favourites! Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find the changes very surprising, especially in some cases, in the period of just a month. There's always something new to see on each visit and it's good to watch how things progress too.

      Delete
  5. I love the huge beds you get at these big houses, so much colour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's so much you can do with a lot of space, but I think you can always take ideas home with you and put them in place in your own garden.

      Delete
  6. You do visit some lovely places Jo, I like artichokes I can't think what they taste like though. My son thinks they have a texture similar to pineapple & to be honest he's not far off x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're so lucky to have so many lovely places nearby to visit. Perhaps I'll give artichokes a miss then, pineapple is one thing I really don't like, there aren't many.

      Delete
  7. I must try to visit this place some time. One of my daughters gave me RHS membership as a Father's Day present, but of course I will be visiting my local garden first - i.e. Wisley!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a lovely gift, one I'm sure you'll make use of. The only RHS garden I've visited with my membership is Harlow Carr, the others are a little too far away but I'd love to visit Wisley, the glasshouse there looks so impressive. Don't forget that you get free admission to partner gardens with your membership too.

      Delete
  8. Lovely to see Harlow Carr in July. The colours of the plants and flowers look wonderful ... and I don't think I have a favourite - I like them all.

    Having just enjoyed a nice tasting salad with cucumber the one I bought was no-where near the size of the one in your photo ... but it still tasted good.

    Hope you have a good week.

    All the best Jan

    PS Hope you enjoy the 'fat bombs' !! I have replied to your question ... thanks for all your kind comments on the low carb diabetic blog, it's always good to read them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's so many beautiful flowers blooming just now, it's hard to choose a favourite. My cucumbers are just starting to grow, the plants aren't up to much this year but I'm hoping they'll come good in the end. Thank you for answering my, many, questions. I do always pop back to read your replies. I know some people don't reply, or some people reply by email. I too always reply underneath the comments, I think it's easier to find the answers this way.

      Delete
  9. Wonderful tour - I especially like the container plantings, both in the pots & stone troughs. I would love to have large pots on my back deck, just bursting with blooms. Life is a bit too busy now for that little luxury right now, but maybe in a few years, once the kids get a bit older.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love containers too, in fact, I used to use containers to grow my veggies before I got my allotment. I still grow some things in pots and I have lots of ornamentals grown this way too, they do add another dimension to a garden.

      Delete
  10. Another wonderful visit to Harlow Carr, Jo. I envy the foxgloves as I have no luck with them and have given up -- had a white one, but it lasted only one year. I planted alliums for the first time this year and I'm thrilled with them. Your photos are amazing. P.x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've got foxgloves growing in my garden for the first time this year. I bought one at a plant sale last year and since then, another couple have sprung up in the front garden, obviously self seeded. I love alliums though mine have disappeared this year so I'll have to buy some more.

      Delete
  11. I love a colour scheme of pink and purple flowers, so beautiful. I tried artichokes once, wouldn't bother again, so much fuss for so little xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pink and purple do go well together, I like the different coloured scabious planted together at Harlow Carr. I think I'd like to try artichokes just to see what they're like but they do seem very fussy to prepare.

      Delete
  12. I especially love the kitchen garden at Harlow Carr, you can get some many clever ideas from there, of plant supports, combinations etc. I think a visit soon is in order!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Kitchen Garden is my favourite area of Harlow Carr, it's one place I make a beeline for every time I visit. It's always so inspiring and as you say, you can glean lots of ideas to take away with you.

      Delete
  13. The difference is astonishing!I How interesting about straw bale growing method! I must say I love artichokes....scrumptious
    That Himalayan poppy is gorgeous!xxx...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The differences we see each month keeps each visit interesting, always something new to see. I'm looking forward to seeing how the tomatoes do with the straw bale method of growing, I shall look what's happening when I visit again next month.

      Delete
  14. Lovely photos, Jo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. It's a lovely place to visit if you're ever in the area.

      Delete

 
!-- Start of StatCounter Code for Blogger / Blogspot -->