Moors Meadow Open Gardens and Nursery - Bromyard

This Month

This Month August 2025 - Thursday, 31 Jul 2025

In mid July I went up to near Sheffield for a couple of nights to go to the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show. I don’t know if I would go to another large show as it was crowded, far too crowded for me, although others may not have found it so. I am glad I went to experience it, and by the amount of people who were there I am sure there could be a lot more garden shows through the year as it is a very popular pastime and draws in so many. I did not buy many plants, just the three Kniphofia poco Citron, Red and Orange. I decided to try a Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Ear, Lion‘s Tail or Wild Dagga). It is a shrub for sun or light shade but will need a sheltered position as it may only survive minus five. This shrub is very vibrant with its bright orange flowers. The day after the show, on the way home, we visited Sheffield Botanic Garden then Bluebell Nursery and Arboretum which were both good but I was very glad to be home to my own peaceful garden. That first cuppa sitting on the veranda hearing just the birds and insects was bliss.
It was great to get some rain but it may have been too late to save a few plants but you could almost hear all the rest giving a collective sigh of relief. It may have been some good showers but does not make up for the long dry spell. I would like to plant out but cannot risk it until we have had a lot more rain. A young friend brought me a car load of plants, including several trees but I do not know where I will plant them all although I have thought of places for some of them. I have since notice two dead trees including Ulmus wredei (Golden Elm) which is an upright Elm with yellow leaves. It was in a position when you could see the bright yellow in the distance from the top of the left bank and added to the general patchwork of leaf colour. They are not long-lived trees and, as quite recently I have planted a Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia (Yellow False Acacia) near by, there will still be a splash of yellow in that area as that tree matures. Where the Elm was I may plant a tall Acer for vibrant colour in autumn. It may tie in well as the top of the left bank is the main Acer bed which you look down through, and on down over other trees and shrubs to where the new Acer will be. I am toying with the idea of planting an Acer negundo subsp Mexicanum but by the time I plant I may have changed my mind.
I was going to cut the climbers up the front of the house before they grew into the eaves however I noticed a pair of Spotted Flycatchers nesting in the Campsis, the lovely red trumpet-shaped flower blooming now. One day I saw a group of these birds in the nearby shrubs as the young had fledged, I will still leave the climbers a little longer. It is great watching them catch flies with their distinct flight.
The garden feels more like the end of August or even into September with some leaves already developing their autumn hues. I was going to promote some time to see the autumn colours but choosing the best time is more luck than judgement.
I had a surprise email recently to say I had been nominated for a BBC Hereford and Worcester Make a Difference award.

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