Icicles hang over the stone arch in this view from the Cloister Garden to the pool at Aberglasney
We love visiting Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire and it’s a bonus when the weather conditions are a bit out of the ordinary. A week ago, on probably the coldest day of winter so far, there was frost at dawn and to our delight it lasted all day, with the gardens glinting with icy diamonds everywhere. Here are some of my pictures – where I caption them “Mystery #1” etc, I invite you to help me to identify the plants!
The Cloister Garden with frosted trees in a field beyond
The herbaceous Upper Walled Garden at Aberglasney in winter
Mystery #1
Mystery #2
Mystery #3
Mystery #4
I think this is frosted Alchemilla mollis, also known as Lady’s mantle
I think this is a topiary ball of box (Buxus)
Mystery #5
Colourful Swiss chard in the Lower Walled Garden, which is a kitchen garden
Cavolo nero or Italian black cabbage – currently very fashionable (and delicious)
Can you identify the mystery object?
…looks like globe artichoke to me (Cynara cardunculus var scolymus)
Then we walked through the wilder parts of the garden, although one or two slippery and steep places were closed to the public on this day.
Winter oak leaves
Mystery #6
Beech leaves and fallen fruit under foot
Mystery #7
Frosted twigs look like early white blossom
Even the lichen is frosted
Hydrangea
Hellebore leaves
This one was labelled – Helleborus orientalis Harvington Double Pinks
Then we went into the wonderful Ninfarium created in the ruins at the rear of the house – and of course my camera immediately steamed up. But see how you get on in helping me to identify some of these tropical plants…
Inside the warm Ninfarium – these are possibly banana palms
Ninfarium Mystery #1 – thanks to Diana Studer in South Africa for identifying this as a Clivia – her blog can be found at eefalsebay.blogspot.co.uk
Ninfarium Mystery #2
Ninfarium Mystery #3
I think this is a delicate maidenhair fern, possibly Adiantum aethiopicum
Ninfarium Mystery #4 – thanks again to Diana Studer for recognising another Clivia
I think this may be Platycerium bifurcatum, known as elkhorn fern or staghorn fern
Ninfarium Mystery #5
Aberglasney Gardens are now flourishing thanks to a trust – a group of enthusiasts who saved them when the place had fallen into ruin in the 1990s. They have a steady long-term plan for both the house and gardens (some parts of which date to Tudor or Stuart times). The house is now looking good and a few downstairs rooms are used for events such as art and craft fairs. On this day all was quiet and empty – but I was most impressed by the glittery chandelier…
Chandelier in Aberglasney House
View from a French window of the house…
We had a good lunch in Maryellen’s Tearooms, run by sisters Mary Barnett and Ellen Plowman and overlooking the pool – warming cawl (traditional Welsh soup) with crusty bread and a chunk of cheddar cheese, and a warm salmon quiche with a colourful salad. Yummy!
The Pool Garden – we were told an otter had been spotted here at the weekend!
Time to head home – but finally a mention of this tree I always admire, which I think is a Thuja plicata, also known as a Western red Cedar…
Muscular Thuja
I think these are the female cones of the Thuja plicata
Here is the official Aberglasney website
The Squirrelbasket 
Superb photo’s. Especially of the trees.
Thank you. I just wish I could make the pictures sparkle the way the sunshine on ice crystals did.
All the best đŸ™‚
I love that pic of the frosty hillside above the stone work. No help with the plants I’m afraid but it looks a super place to visit- how great that it’s been saved :o)
Indeed, it’s a long job but the trust have made such a good job of developing it steadily rather than going for everything to be perfect straight away.
That Carmarthenshire hillside was typical of the county – lots of oaks and field hedges, I seem to think.
Best wishes đŸ™‚
Oh dear – I don’t know what any of the Mysteries are! Beautiful gardens, love the icicles.
Well at least it proves I’m not missing any obvious plants!
I took loads of pictures of icicles but they have to be seen for real to be appreciated properly.
All the best đŸ™‚
tropical 1 and 4, are from South Africa (temperate, rather than tropical).
Two species of Clivia.
Thanks for that. I hesitated before calling them tropical mysteries for that very reason. I am a sub-editor by trade so should have acted on my hesitation. I will go back and call them “Ninfarium mysteries”! And I will put the identification on those two.
Best wishes đŸ™‚
Thanks for that. I hesitated before calling them tropical mysteries for that very reason. I am a sub-editor by trade so should have acted on my hesitation. I will go back and call them “Ninfarium mysteries”! And I will put the identification on those two.
Best wishes đŸ™‚
about the me-sem-bry-an-the-mums?
To their friends, they are mesems (like ‘mums)
OK then, that makes a lot of sense!
Although I know friends of chrysanthemums who can’t stand them being called ‘mums.
So just between ourselves…
Best wishes đŸ™‚
Another lovely outing. I”m quite taken with the frosted lichen!
I was taken by several patches of frosted lichen and moss, but sadly didn’t get a really clear and textured image.
All the best for 2015 đŸ™‚
Might mystery number 7 be (very frosted) Hamamelis?
It crossed my mind, but it seemed a bit pale? Are there any that aren’t golden yellow in colour? And it seemed like a proper flower with a corolla and stamens etc, while Hamamelis always seems like clumps of ribbons to me.
Since your comment, I have had another think, as my first impression had been honeysuckle. I have now seen pictures of Lonicera fragrantissima and wonder if it’s that. What do you think?
Best wishes for 2015 đŸ™‚
I agree, looking more carefully it’s not Hamamelis and your idea of honeysuckle may be correct. Best wishes for 2015.
And to you đŸ™‚
We thought Ninfarium Mystery #3 might be a calla lily but looking at the photos via Googling, not quite right! We used to have this in a previous house and it’s so frustrating when you can’t remember …
Fabulous photos (as always Pat).
Shaz
Thanks for that – I think you have maybe prompted me to work it out for myself, as we had a houseplant like it, too. I think it may be some variety of Spathiphyllum. Shame I didn’t take a picture of the leaves to check!
All the best đŸ™‚
Thanks for that – I think you have maybe prompted me to work it out for myself, as we had a houseplant like it, too. I think it may be some variety of Spathiphyllum. Shame I didn’t take a picture of the leaves to check!
All the best đŸ™‚
What a beautiful frosty morning that must have been. I’m not certain but I think the plant you identify as Italian black cabbage is what we call Tuscano (or dinosaur) kale. If so, it is popular here too–and delicious.
Yes, it was much better than the wet and windy weather we are having now!
And I see you are right about the black cabbage. It’s apparently Brassica oleracea and Wikipedia seems to favour the name Lacinato kale. All the other names are here. I must admit, having eaten curly kale for years, ideally with a tasty shepherd’s pie (including lots of Worcestershire sauce), I do prefer this Italian kale, but I don’t find it on sale often enough.
All the best to you for your busy “kidding” season đŸ™‚
I love Aberglasney, I live not far away from it and love going there for inspiration. It’s a magical place.
Indeed it is magical! And the friends have done such wonderful work bringing it back from ruin.
You are lucky being so close – we can only do day trips so it’s usually midsummer or midwinter. I’d love to see spring and autumn!
All the best đŸ™‚