July 2008 Newsletter
A Misty Morning Fog...
has settled on the shoulders of the Wicklow Mountains on this day after the finest of the summer so far.I move lazily along, walking the dog in the softness of the new day, and ease out of that Sunday evening feeling of being sated with barbeque and sun and wine and good company. Climbing the hill to Hunting Brook, ever higher into the still dampness, I am welcomed by an embrace of grasses, foliage, flowers, the energy of all life at its most fecund prime resting quietly under a film of morning which coats each flower and seed head and spider's web.
I'm welcomed at the gate by the snapdragon Antirrhinum 'Day and Night', guided along the drive by Geraniums 'Jolly Bee' and 'Anne Thompson' which weave through the annuals and lilies, the Dieramas and dahlias which are starting to bloom, the last of the Lupinus, the soft, silvery velvet of the Geraneum pulchrum, orange Potentilla agrophyla with deep red Dianthus, and the beautiful orange Isoplexus to draw the eye into the shrubby depths of the border and up the bank to mingle with the blues of Eryngium alpinum and the lazy purple haze of Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'.
Roscoea and the Dactylorhiza orchids, braunii and fuchsii, give entry into the inner sanctum of the ring fort which is, on a morning such as this, full of the energy of these centuries of habitation, having yielded with gentle submission to the cultivation of so many hands and has returned its blessings with abundance. The scene amid the oaks and beech is one of utter tranquillity: ferns, scented primula, the perfume of the 15 Cardiocrinum in full bloom, the aruncus and digitalis drawing the eye toward the edge of the forest, the shrubby haven of hydrangeas and Styrax formosanus var. formosanus, the muted colours of Persicaria 'Painter's Palette', the seats to stop and meditate within this space, the chandelier reinforcing this sense of this as a place of human habitation, the subtle theatrical touch of the Spanish moss dripping from the oak tree giving me this sensation of southern moonlight and magnolias fused with celtic mysticism.
In light of this most inspiring of mornings, Jimi has decided to have a special wine and garden tour this Thursday night for those of you on our mailing list and any friends you would like to bring along in addition to our usual monthly Thursday evening tour which will be held on the 24th. Both evenings will start at 7 pm. You are welcome to walk the gardens at your leisure or join with Jimi on a tour. The special Cardiocrinum evening will be held this Thursday to celebrate the blooming of these magnificent plants eight years after Jimi started growing them from seed, subject to sufficient interest. If you would like to book a place for either this week or next week, ring Jimi on 087 285 6601. The cost is €15 including complimentary wine or homemade lemonade.
Hunting Brook will also be open this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 17th - 20th, with a tour to be conducted by Jimi on Sunday at 2 pm. The gardens will be open from 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. each day, and the cost of entry is €6. If you would like to make a day of it, we could recommend lunch at the Grangecon Café in Blessington every day except Sunday or lunch at the Kitchen Graden Café at Russborough House (www.russborough.ie) which is open seven days. Russborough also has a lovely walk and you can tour the house. Jimi's sister June Blake's nursery (www.juneblake.ie) is also just down the road and has newly expanded gardens which are open to view from Tuesday to Saturday. She will also be open this Sunday to coincide with Jimi's open weekend. Patthana, a fabulous garden in Kiltegan will also be open as part of the Wicklow Gardens Festival from 1 pm to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday. Ring TJ on 086 194 4547 for more information.
Jimi was recently in Scotland on an indulgent little trip buying and exchanging plants with other planty boffins and has come back with more than 120 new plants for the garden including a collection of new cobra lilies such as the statuesque Arisaema concinuum. A favourite stop was Cally Gardens which is about a half hour from Stranraer and has a mail order business for those who can't make the trip (www.callygardens.co.uk). Add this to the more than 350 Mecanopsis seedlings which are being grown for the woodland garden and the plethora of other seedlings growing in the nursery, and next year's garden promises to be better than ever! On the more spiritual side of life (if the spiritual nature of man can, in fact, be separated from the spiritual nature of nature itself), Jimi took advantage of the lull in courses over the summer to do a weeklong course with Deepak Chopra and has come back glowing, balanced and enthusiastic about changes for himself and for Hunting Brook.
Even now in the height of the summer, we are looking forward to next year's tours, courses, open days, planting, relaxing and whatever else the new year may bring. If you are currently planning outings for your garden club, women's group, etc. and would like to arrange a visit to Hunting Brook, we are currently taking bookings for 2009. You should allow approximately two hours for a guided tour of the garden and coffee, tea and biscuits in the garden or The Garden Room. An additional lecture and slide show can be provided by Jimi upon request. Please ring Jimi on 087 285 6601 for further information.
Upcoming Courses
We're looking forward to an exciting, full course schedule ahead of us for the end of summer and autumn. All courses include coffee and tea on arrival and lunch using fresh vegetable from our gardens. To book, ring Jimi on 087 285 6601 or download a registration form from our web site (www.huntingbrook.com).
Two Days with Fergus Garrett
Our premier gardening event of the summer is a lecture series by Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter in Sussex England (www.greatdixter.co.uk) which is the masterpiece of the late Christopher Lloyd. Fergus will be joining us for a weekend in August during which he will be giving two one-day lectures on designing with plants to create interest in the garden throughout the year. We are looking forward to this exciting, informative and inspirational weekend and hope that you will join us.
Day 1: Good Planting - Designing with Plants
Learn the Dixter way of planting as Fergus brings the secrets of this great garden to your back garden. Discover how to combine superior plants, learn whether colour is more important than shape or form and uncover the art of truly great planting. This course costs €200 and takes place on Saturday, the 23rd of August from 10:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Day 2: Planting for a Longer Season
Ever wanted your garden display to last longer? Fergus shows you how to extend the seasons using a mixed border. He will show you how to choose the best plants, interplant and underplant with bulbs, successfully use self-sowers and climbers and how to integrate the planting for maximum and longer impact. This course costs €200 and takes place on Sunday, the 24th of August from 10:15 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Photography in the Garden
Every garden offers a blank canvas for the photographer - the vibrant colours of the flora contrast with the rustic browns of the woodlands. Paul Flannigan, with his vast experience, shows how to capture 'the image', whether to create art or to re-create the art of nature within the tranquil and inspiring setting of Hunting Brook at the pinnacle of the summer show. This course costs €120 and takes place on Saturday, the 30th of August from 10:15a.m. - 4:00p.m.
Botanical Drawing
Join Susan Sex as she shows you how to capture the magic of the garden at its most picturesque on paper. Susan is a renowned botanical artist and has been awarded three gold medals by the Royal Horticultural Society. She will guide you in the best ways to bring the glory of the garden to life through painting and drawing. Please note that an intermediate standard is advisable to take part in this course. This course costs €120 and takes place on Sunday, the 31st of August from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Beginner's Gardening Course
This is a chance to join Jimi for six mornings from 10 am to noon for practical, hand-on gardening to learn what you should be doing in the garden this time of year. The course covers topics such as soil preparation, cutting back, pruning, growing plants from seed, cutting and division, selecting the best plants, how and where to plant them properly, plant combinations and many more techniques that you can put into practice in your own garden. This course costs €300 for six mornings and runs each Wednesday morning from the 3rd September to the 8th of October.
Gardening Masterclass
Rekindle your enthusiasm for gardening with author Helen Dillon and Jimi Blake on this day designed for the plant obsessed. Helen and Jimi will give illustrated talks and a class in the garden exploring the spectacular planting schemes for the late summer and autumn. This course costs €150 and takes place on Saturday, the 6th of September from 10:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Unlock the Secret of Effective Use of Plants in Garden Design
Join Jimi Blake on one of the most popular gardening days in Hunting Brook each year. Through illustrated talks and practical demonstrations, Jimi will explain what plant goes where in the garden and how to combine colour and texture for a stunning design. This course costs €120 and takes place on Sunday, the 7th of September from 10:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m