Tuesday 15 December 2015

Harlow Carr in December

I've visited RHS Harlow Carr every month this year and there's been lots of differences to be seen on each visit, however, there's been some huge changes since my last visit in November. The first thing which hit me was the lack of colour. Many plants have been hanging on this year due to the mild autumn but they're nowhere to be seen now, there's hardly any colour in the gardens, though many of the trees are evergreen so there's plenty of greenery still around.


I liked how there were plenty of seasonal decorations in the gardens.


You couldn't miss this mistletoe sculpture, it's huge. The stainless steel structure was made by sculptor Steve Blaylock. I wouldn't fancy kissing anyone underneath it in case it came crashing down on our heads.


The area around the stream looks very bare. One bank has been prepared for planting and the plants on the other side have all died back since our last visit.


I remember seeing the gunnera at the beginning of the year in a similar state as it's in now. It reminded me then of the film Gremlins when the new batch are cocoons waiting to hatch and it did again when I saw them here.


Many of you have admired the tea leaf teapot bin when I've shown it in earlier posts. It's quite full now and you can see all the leaves at the bottom of the bin starting to turn in to leaf mould.


They say that if there's an abundance of berries it's going to be a harsh winter. I don't think there's many berries about at all this year so I'm hoping that it's going to be very mild.


The Kitchen Garden is a totally different scene from that I saw last month, all the summer's growth has been cleared away and many of the beds are now empty. There's still some winter veg growing but there's a lot of bare earth to be seen.



This rhubarb plant has started in to growth already and one or two forcing pots are being used in the rhubarb bed.


The plants in the bed I've been following throughout the year have all been cut down to ground level. This is how I saw this bed at the beginning of the year, it's now come full circle and it will be a few months before anything starts to grow here again.


The crab apple trees are hanging on to their fruit. We paused and watched many blackbirds enjoying the bounty.


So that's a full year that I've been following the changes at Harlow Carr and it's been very enjoyable. I'm sure you can tell from my posts that there's always plenty of things to see here and lots of interest. I've decided not to renew my RHS membership next year, not because I don't think it's worth having, it most certainly is, but at the moment I'm quite short on time and I can't see me making full use of it. I've thoroughly enjoyed all my visits to Harlow Carr this year though.

26 comments:

  1. I love evergreens. Bare earth is a reminder that anything is possible. Nice tour.

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    1. I think evergreens mixed in with deciduous trees look good. That's the thing with gardening, everything can be cleared away at the end of the year and the following year is a whole new story.

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  2. I have been every month too but have still found things on your blog that I missed on my way round. I found lack of interest in late November http://thirdageblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/harlow-carr-in-november.html but, give it a few weeks, and the new season will be in evidence.

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    1. That's the beauty of such a large garden, there's always something new to see no matter how many times you visit. It won't be long now until the spring bulbs are pushing their way through the earth and then it all begins again.

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  3. A most enjoyable post and photos. I really like that teapot bin.
    It's been interesting to see this garden month by month through the year. Flighty xx

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    1. I'd love something along the same lines as the teapot bin in my own garden, that would make a great talking point. I've enjoyed seeing how the garden has changed each month, I shall miss visiting.

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  4. I've enjoyed following you along on your visits. As I visit Rosemoor quite frequently it's been so interesting to compare the northernmost RHS garden with the southernmost. I read somewhere that Rosemoor is actually colder in winter because it's in a valley frost pocket. I don't know how true that is.

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    1. Harlow Carr is the only RHS garden I've visited, I'd love to see the others but haven't had chance yet, perhaps in the future. It would be great to compare them.

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  5. It all looks a bit sad doesn't it?

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    1. It does in some respects but there's still lots to see and it won't be long until everything starts springing in to growth again.

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  6. It seems that you have had a wonderful year of visits! It has certainly been interesting seeing Harlow Carr along with you through the year. That sculpture of the mistletoe is incredible isn't it! A lovely last visit - for now! I hope that you enjoy whatever you decide to do next year. xx

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    1. I've thoroughly enjoyed all my visits this year. The mistltoe is a perfect sculpture for this season, it's really huge. I'm not sure what I'll do next year, if anything given my lack of time at the moment.

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  7. I've enjoyed your monthly trips to Harlow Carr Jo - thanks for sharing them with us. Perhaps you will still be able to make the odd trip next year. I'm looking forward to the opening of the fifth RHS garden which will be relatively near to us :)

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    1. It will be good to have another RHS garden in the north, I'm definitely looking forward to visiting that one, and you're right, I might still make the odd trip to Harlow Carr next year.

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  8. It's definitely looking like winter is settling in. Almost like the garden is taking a much deserved break from all of the summer abundance :)

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    1. It does. It's a bit of a blank canvas at the moment waiting for the new season to begin, but there's still things of interest to be found.

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  9. I've really enjoyed your monthly posts from Harlow Carr, we have so few gardens open to the public here. Interesting to see that their rhubarb is also showing growth the same as ours is.

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    1. It's a shame there aren't more gardens to visit where you are. We're spoilt for choice really. I was surprised to see the rhubarb poking through already, perhaps a crumble will be on the menu early next year.

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    2. I don't want to force the rhubarb too much Jo, we were picking from February right through to Sept, the crowns have been well fed.

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    3. No, it can weaken the plants if they're forced too often or picked for too long.

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  10. It has been interesting coming along with you when you've visit Harlow Carr and seeing the different areas as they change throughout the year. The seasonal decorations are a good way of adding some cheer and like our own UK garden we know there's life going on underneath the earth and in some cases buds are beginning to appear in this mild weather.

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    1. I think they really do make an effort in the garden with the Christmas decorations, it all looked very festive. Every post about Harlow Carr this year has shown how much has changed each month so I doubt it will be long until more plants are pushing their way through the earth and buds start to burst.

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  11. Well, I've enjoyed my visits to Harlow Grange with you to!

    I think the weather is so un-seasonably warm the bulbs and plants may struggle to decide what they should be doing ... I'm sure in the end all will be sorted, nature has a way of sorting things ... eventually.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You're right. We always worry when we see things flowering out of season but as you say, nature has a way of rectifying things. I do feel sorry for the wildlife though, I don't think they'll know whether they're coming or going.

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  12. That mistletoe sculpture is certainly unique!I really do like that teapot composter too. Oddly enough we have lots of berries this year and it's as mild as can be. It's nice seeing everything coming full circle.xxx

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    1. The mistletoe sculpture is fabulous at this time of year, very festive. I haven't seen many berries this year, we'll have to see what this winter brings.

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