I've mentioned in previous posts that I am planting up a bed with red and yellow perennials. This is half planted but I needed more plants to fill the area and was on the lookout for astrantia Ruby Wedding - coincidentally it is our Ruby Wedding anniversary this year but that wasn't why I was looking for it.
I had tried local garden centres with no luck but found plenty of sources online. Rather than order online I decided to check the plant list for Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens Nursery. Most of the plants already housed in the border were bought here during an earlier visit last September. After checking that the searched for plant was in stock and deciding that the listed astrantia Ruby Star also sounded a good option we set off on Friday - the garden is only open Wednesday and Friday afternoons -intending to combine a visit to the gardens with a spot of plant acquisition.
The garden is a privater garden and the parking area more resembles a well tended lawn than a car park. Here we left the car in the protection of a few watchful guinea fowl.
Before we visited the nursery we paid a visit to the garden.
The gardens area flow from the more traditional lawns, perennial borders and courtyards near the house which transition into more wildlife oriented areas as you walk away from the house. I especially like the way that wild flower patches were growing in the middle of an otherwise fairly formal lawn.
Human visitors were not the only ones strolling around the gardens.
I liked the idea of this small bug hotel - It's something that I may copy at some date.
Furthest from the house is a beautiful wild life pond ...
... and a wild flower meadow.
Some plants caught our eye as we wandered around.
I particularly liked the creamy, yellow magnolia but that wasn't something that would be on offer in the perennial nursery.
We also had our attention drawn by this plant - Geum Herterton Primrose.
Just the sort of plant for a red and yellow border.
After a drink and a piece of cake or in my case flapjack we headed for the nursery which is where our intended two purchases became eight.
Astrantia major Ruby Wedding
Astrantia major Ruby Star
Geum Herterton Primrose
Geum Hybridum Luteum
Geum Lemon Drops
Kniphofia Mango Popsicle
Helenium Chelsey
Heliopsis helianthoides Summer Nights
Mango Popsicle was the only small growing kniphofia available and I am in two minds whether the orangish colour will be in keeping with the colour scheme but if not I can find it a home elsewhere. I'd really like a small growing red or yellow kniphofia but not one that is both red and yellow. I also was looking for helenium Ruby Thuesday (Tuesday) but these were sold out so I am hoping Chelsey will fit the bill.
Just a word of warning if you do visit Stillingfleet Lodge you will need to take your cheque book as they don't accept credit cards and there is no way you would be able to resist coming away with armfuls of plants.
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