Month: August 2011

Thanks to Rachel’s great journal and album on Altamont we headed off straight after lunch for a visit of our own! I’ve seen Altamont in February for the wonderful snowdrops, in the Autumn for its lovely autumn colour but this is the first time I’ve made it to see it when the borders are so full of colour!

I’ve come away with my head full of ways to fill my borders so that they brim over with all the exuberance so evident in the Altamont borders. The herbaceous border in the Walled Garden is particularly good at this time of year – one side is shades of blues and mauves, very gentle and peaceful, the other is hot and vibrant with shades of reds wines, yellows and orange.

I enjoyed the woodland walk as well, particularly the ferns underplanting. There was a lovely group of Japanese Painted ferns looking wonderful, and other ferns that I didn’t know as well.

What is so really special about Altamont is the peace and tranquility of the place. Sitting in front of the house now sadly decaying, it is easy to imagine the past generations that loved and cared for that special place. Even the peacocks were enjoying the peace! There was a mother and baby roosting together on the balustrade, while the proud father kept an eye on them!

The OPW are doing a great job in maintaining the garden, even down to putting some cheery pots on the steps of the house to soften its poor state. We met some other visitors with small children, who were marvelling at the way their children had enjoyed the visit "even though there were no playgrounds" … gave me pause for thought – as did their concentration on the sad state of the house and the lack of money to repair it, rather than the magnificent state fo the grounds!!! 

…..And of course I had to visit the Plant Sales …. and got yet another Campanula! 

Elizabeth has mentioned quite a few Croscomia’s in her journals recently this is one that I have had for a few years really lovely flower on foliage that I can only describe as smokey brown unusual combination