To brighten you up at this
damp and dreary time of year are a selection of pictures from Basil
Billinger of his garden last year.
Basil has lived in the same property in Nailsea, North Somerset for
the past forty years. The garden has naturally evolved over this
time. From having a large cottage garden and many bedding borders it
is now minimalist in many ways.
The cottage garden in now gravel and the borders are mainly foliage
plants and shrubs. Colour in the summer is almost exclusively
begonias which are so versatile and long lasting and even these have
changed.
The many hanging baskets of pendulas have been replaced with half
baskets.
Plants are no longer pendulas but are multi flora and Boliviensis
type that have been introduced over the past years. These tend to
withstand what any weather can throw at them and the half baskets
give a stable display. The added benefit is that sun scorch in
minimal in these varieties.
The only problem is vine weevils which appear to be very prevalent
in the warmer climate in the South West. However, Provado and moth
balls usually do the trick.
Also, pedestal baskets are used, mainly being planted with
semperfloren. These have the advantage of being easy to move to
brighten up areas as the season progresses.
With plant catalogues falling through the letter boxes it is hoped
that these pictures will give inspiration for the summer ahead.
