A Tip of the Trowel to British Gardening for Coronation Week

Season 5, Episode 25, May 3, 2023

This week, we’re making a lot of predictions about our gardens because we recorded back-to-back last week.

It’s time for King Charles’ coronation, so Carol and I turned our attention toward Great Britain in this week’s episode. We discussed those plants I have to grow because of my four trips—yes, four!—to England. I’ve been to Yorkshire, East Anglia, London and surrounds, and the Cotswolds. The first three trips were in spring, and the last one was in July last year. It was hot and dry. Spring was definitely better.

I bet you can guess roses top my list of plants I’ve seen in England that I have to grow. Carol is also looking for a yellow climber for her garden to grow on a small arbor. She even contacted Teresa Byington from the Rose Chat Podcast for help. She thinks she wants Proven Winner's Rise Up Amberness.

Want to know which other plants I covet after visiting England? You’ll have to listen to find out. Ha!

The garden show I mentioned in this episode was A Gardener’s Diary, hosted by Erica Glasener. Remember it? Here is the episode on pruning clematis. I use Jean Woodhull’s chicken wire suggestion too, but I buy the green-coated one. I also grow my clematis with roses. The dark red clematis in this photo is ‘Niobe,’ and the apricot rose is unknown.

Growing vegetables in England is very different from growing them in Carol’s garden and my garden. For example, they usually grow tomatoes and peppers in small greenhouses. But they can grow shelling peas very well, and Carol found a recipe for mushy peas. Their springs are quite chilly, like ours have been this year.

Continuing with our British theme: we found two books on our bookshelves: Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell, which is my favorite of her books, and The Bold and Brilliant Garden by Sarah Raven. My copy is nearly read to death. I was fortunate to visit Sissinghurst Castle, where Raven and her husband, Adam Nicolson, live at least part time, on our first trip to England. Here is part of the famous White Garden.

Carol and I then delved into the floral symbolism in King Charles’ and Queen Consort Camilla's coronation invitation. We’re such English gardening geeks, aren’t we? We’re both excited about the coronation too.

Our rabbit holes for the week included Great British Gardens with Carol Klein. It came out in 2022 but is new to us. In the episode I watched, she visited Gravetye Manor, designed by William Robinson. Carol found a History of Gardener's World, which has been on like forever.

Let us know if you’ve been to England to see their gardens and will you be watching the coronation on Saturday?

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For more info on Carol, visit her website.  Visit her blog, May Dreams Gardens.
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