The Mitcheldean Garden 2023
Living on the Wild Side?

This page is part of a series of garden blogs from 2023. Click here for the index.

The dahlia areas mark the end of civilisation as far as I am concerned. Beyond, the garden contains some very nice plants but there never seems to be enough time to crack the whip over them and they always give the impression that they will subside into chaos.

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There are two large shrubs which we inherited in front of the old greenhouse. This year the pink one produced nothing very much but the white one was quite pretty. These days both top shed and the top greenhouse have been swallowed up by the honeysuckle (right) which was totally insignificant when it occupied the space where the lower greenhouse is now.

I would classify crocosmia as an invasive species. When we last tidied Yuehong's lily bed some went to the vegetable patch (seen here) and some to the top peony bed. They are all now doing very well. 

The blue bulbs in front of the summer house have largely recovered from the last year's assault by our moles.

The lilies need a makeover roughly every three years, the permanent residents spread uncontrollably and new lilies soon outgrow their pots which they occupy for a year or two. These are definitely Yuehong's babies which I never touch without her asking! Most are dwarf lilies (right).

The small flowered ones are 'tree' lilies.

The beautiful pink / purple dwarf lily is a recent addition. The large red tiger lillies occupy three planters below the peony bed although they need regular rescuing from the large orange lilies which would collapse into them if given the opportunity.

The peonies had a mixed season. Two in front of the summer house have been around for quite a while but most at the top are newcomers. My principle has been to let the bluebells they share the bed with die back naturally. Unfortunately, especially in dry years like this, it means that the grass gets too tall and the new peony shoots aren't really strong enough to rise above it. Memo to self - water more and cut back grass and bluebells in early May if possible.

Even so there were some very attractive blooms which can only get better in future years.

We have a dispersed colony of classic wild poppies. I wait to see where they appear and then move some to a bed where they can do no harm. This one next to the bench by the summer house has done very well. Behind you can just see some new gladioli which came as part of an internet job lot and when they are ready to flower, the poppy will be removed. Finally. several years ago I transferred some 'rescue' hydrangeas to the top bed, they didn't look too happy for a while but now they have settled and the soil here must be different from lower down as they are not red, white or blue like all the others in or near our garden!

I confess I am struggling this year, reinforcing our defences against invading deer is hard going and time consuming and it leaves little time for normal care and maintenance duties, let alone time to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labours.

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