Hydrangeas

A couple of weeks ago I headed over to Darley Park to see the hydrangea garden which is looking fabulous this year.

In hot, dry summers hydrangeas can look a little worse for wear, but they've obviously loved the rain we've had this year; the plants look so lush and green, and their flowers exuberant.

There seems to have been a little change in the overall planting scheme since my last visit, now grouping by colour and shape, and giving emphasis to the peniculata varieties.

This comparatively small space, a walled garden tucked away where you might easily miss it, is the home to the National Collection of hydrangeas so every shape and colour is there.

 The sun came out, the day warmed up, and it was a delightful afternoon.

Hopton Rose Garden

July is the second time in the year that the gardens at Hopton Hall open to the public; the first is in February for snowdrops, this occasion for the magnificent roses.

Set on a south-facing slope, the garden acts as a suntrap which along with its Italianate styling gives the impression of being somewhere warmer than the Peak District. 

Not all the roses are in full bloom at once, so mid-month is the best way to catch most of them, though a second visit would be worthwhile.

I wouldn't say I'm come late to loving roses but a garden like this makes me realise how much was missing from my parents' garden of formal beds of roses underplanted with lobelia and alysum.

I don't have space to add this many roses to my garden but I'd love to.

 

Markeaton flower gardens

Markeaton Park is a large open space on the edge of Derby with a huge children's play area, craft workshops, a boating lake, and a pitch and putt course. When the children were small we frequently visited (mainly the play area) but in recent years I haven't been so frequently, so I was surprised to hear people talking about a walled garden. This used to be an area where the parks department raised bedding plants but it's now looked after by a team of volunteers, with a lovely flower garden and  productive vegetable patch.

The flower garden feels much larger than its actual small size, with  paths winding between the flower beds and excellent use being made of archways and trellises with roses climbing  up and over them. There are seats to encourage visitors to relax and take in the sights and scents, and plants and vegetables for sale.

Crossing what used to be the entrance drive to Markeaton Hall, I discovered another small garden area; this one, according to a sign was planted by dementia sufferers and their carers. 

It's another peaceful place of scented roses growing over walls and archways, and a good spot to sit for a while.

 

Suddenly it's Autumn

From a last burst of summer heat we've descended quickly into full-blown autumn.

On my daily local walks, I've noticed leaves turning yellow, and with the least breeze they seem to be piling up along the edges of paths. 

Nights are drawing in, accentuated by dark, wet evenings, and we'll soon be at the solstice, heading rapidly towards winter.