Please! Post a picture of your honeysuckle hedge for me one day!

This is a phenomenon that I've read so much about whilst researching hedgerow planting. The British websites are always going on about hazel thickets and honeysuckle hedges but they never oblige with photos. And I really must have photos, in lieu of airline tickets. Because I think I am actually an English girl trapped in an Australian person. And what self-respecting English girl has never seen a copse of hazel or a honeysuckle hedgerow?

Camps - you always exhaust me just reading about all of the things you are planting! Sounds as if you are getting a handle on what grows in your woods, and are able to add things that may survive there - that is great.

I had to laugh about the honeysuckle - we have Japanese honeysuckle here, and every time I see a bit of it I pull it out - it is not only invasive, but it strangles other plants (like large rose bushes). Another example of the fact that any plant family probably has mannerly and thug relatives in it.

Jackie

It all sounds wonderful to me.

Lhude sing cuckoo.

One of the thrills of my life was stepping out of my rental car at the great garden at the Abbaye de Valloire in Picardie, France, and hearing a cuckoo. It sounded JUST like a cuckoo clock and I wondered for a bit if somebody was having me on. Maybe I will hear one again during my visit next month!

That garden is well worth seeing by the way. I stayed in the Abbaye in a room all by myself and figuratively pinched myself black and blue.

Love hearing about your plantings. I just read something written some years ago, worrying that bluebells would not survive global warming. I am glad that they are still in your woods. I'm afraid your rose season is coming on too early and that roses will be spent by the time of the Mottisfont conference.

Suzy, is there any chance that we GW people (Paula (rosefolly), Pamela (mendocinorose) and me) could meet you during our visit? It's possible to sign up for only the day's lectures in Winchester on the 23rd or maybe you could be around after our day at Mottisfont on the 24th.

We'll be so near - and yet so far!
Anita

Here is a link that might be useful: Jardins de Valloires

camp, reading your descriptions is almost as good as being there; your writing is so evocative. Your energy, on the other hand, is almost frightening for someone who's lacking in that department. It allows you to accomplish great things, though, and hopefully you'll aim your camera at some of them for us to enjoy in the coming months.

Ingrid

Lhude sing cuckoo.

One of the thrills of my life was stepping out of my rental car at the great garden at the Abbaye de Valloire in Picardie, France, and hearing a cuckoo. It sounded JUST like a cuckoo clock and I wondered for a bit if somebody was having me on. Maybe I will hear one again during my visit next month!

That garden is well worth seeing by the way. I stayed in the Abbaye in a room all by myself and figuratively pinched myself black and blue.

Love hearing about your plantings. I just read something written some years ago, worrying that bluebells would not survive global warming. I am glad that they are still in your woods. I'm afraid your rose season is coming on too early and that roses will be spent by the time of the Mottisfont conference.

Suzy, is there any chance that we GW people (Paula (rosefolly), Pamela (mendocinorose) and me) could meet you during our visit? It's possible to sign up for only the day's lectures in Winchester on the 23rd or maybe you could be around after our day at Mottisfont on the 24th.

We'll be so near - and yet so far!
Anita

Here is a link that might be useful: Jardins de Valloires

Sounds great. That was my response the first time I ever heard a cuckoo, too: "Where's the clock?" (this was in the middle of the Black Forest). We've had the same ecstasy of humming, buzzing life here, unfortunately yielding now to what looks like will be an early summer, but spring has been pretty wonderful. I'm glad you're enjoying it now.
We have several plants of Japanese honeysuckle in the garden, some deliberately put in place before we knew what we were doing, others that were supposed to be various forms of L. periclymenum, the European honeysuckle, but weren't. There seems to be much confusion in the nursery trade, with the Japanese plant taking over because it's just so easy to grow. Japanese honeysuckle is unkillable here as everywhere and sweet scented in flower, but it mildews and dies back horribly, this aside from its great invasive abilities. I have two varieties of L. periclymenum, 'Serotina' and 'Graham Thomas', currently sitting in pots while I try to find a place for them. I though I might actually try to kill a pair of my Japanese honeysuckles and replace them, daunting as the thought is.
"Groweth sed and bloweth med,/Springeth the wude nu!" Have fun!
Melissa

Lhude sing cuckoo.

One of the thrills of my life was stepping out of my rental car at the great garden at the Abbaye de Valloire in Picardie, France, and hearing a cuckoo. It sounded JUST like a cuckoo clock and I wondered for a bit if somebody was having me on. Maybe I will hear one again during my visit next month!

That garden is well worth seeing by the way. I stayed in the Abbaye in a room all by myself and figuratively pinched myself black and blue.

Love hearing about your plantings. I just read something written some years ago, worrying that bluebells would not survive global warming. I am glad that they are still in your woods. I'm afraid your rose season is coming on too early and that roses will be spent by the time of the Mottisfont conference.

Suzy, is there any chance that we GW people (Paula (rosefolly), Pamela (mendocinorose) and me) could meet you during our visit? It's possible to sign up for only the day's lectures in Winchester on the 23rd or maybe you could be around after our day at Mottisfont on the 24th.

We'll be so near - and yet so far!
Anita

Here is a link that might be useful: Jardins de Valloires

Ηmmmm what a difference the climate makes to one's perception of summer. Reading about all this work made me feel sweat-sticky. Here summer is, for gardeners and most plants, a time for rest. Summer weekends are for dipping in the sea, if you're lucky enough, which I did both on Saturday and on Sunday. The first swimming for the season in refreshingly chilly waters contrasting with the hot and humid air on the beach.
Nik

Well hey, Anita,
I got straight onto rail journey planner and can be in Hampshire by lunchtime! Really, it would be fabulous to meet up with mythical G.Webbers (after all this time) - I am slightly awed and humbled by your expertise (and therefore cannot miss a chance to do some interrogating and knowledge gathering).It is 2 miles from the station, across fields (which sounds really lovely....or I can take my bike on the trains. So yep, 24th June sounds great to me - I can hang out in the gardens while you are at your lectures or whatever....and meet you all afterwards.
Should I book a train ticket now? Do I need to do anything else? I assume I can just pay my National Trust entrance fee and hang around looking recognisable.......

Ha, getting excited now.

and I am green with envy... that trip sounds so wonderful!

Suzy - I usually worry about the dirt under my fingernails but now you've got me worrying about feet of clay! You are the professional gardener who tosses off botanical names that send us all scurrying off to learn about the plants that you are growing! So don't be in awe of any expertise - I am sure that Paula and Pamela feel the same - although we will gladly share any knowledge that we have while we interrogate you in turn, Mostly, it would be so nice to meet you. We're not sure how best to make this work. We are going to Mottisfont by bus from Winchester and have a full day of lectures on the 24th. We could definitely be free for dinner that evening, but easiest for us would be to meet in Winchester if you aren't attending the conference. I had thought about staying late in the garden, if it's open late (which appears not to be guaranteed - closing time is 5 pm per website), and walking to the train station and taking the train back to Winchester that evening, but don't know that will work out. It's certainly more complicated than simply piling on the bus and being returned to our lodgings. I think it would be good to continue this discussion by email, including Paula and Pamela. Mine is anitac 5159 @ gmail.com. (No spaces.) I'll give you my cell phone number, too, which should work in the UK. I'll be there this Friday, 30 June - the others will be coming later.
Anita

Suzy, I've been in contact with Anita and Paula. It sounds like dinner that evening would be the thing. The day at Mottisfont is all like walking lectures and workshops. I hope we can make it work to get together. I would so enjoy to meet you and you'll find out how very not intimidating I am.