Zinnia elegans in the gardens of Tredegar House in late September, 2015
You know how it is – you go to so many places in September that you suddenly find it’s January and there are autumn visits you haven’t had time to blog about yet. So I apologise that this post isn’t topical – although it is at least colourful during these dark, wet days of midwinter.
Tredegar House in Newport, south-east Wales, was taken over by the National Trust in March, 2012. Most of the red-brick house dates from the late 17th century but I will write a separate post about the house itself. This time I want to feature the plants in bloom in the gardens in September.
The main front of the house was in shade, but this picture should give you some context for the gardens
First the orchard and kitchen gardens…
African marigolds (Tagetes)
Kniphofia – red-hot poker
Berries of St John’s wort (Hypericum)
Pumpkin in the kitchen garden
Swiss chard
Shiny Kaffir lily (Hesperantha coccinea – although I still call it Schizostylis)
Euphorbia leaves go well with this pink Hesperantha
The Euphorbia also goes well with Verbena bonariensis flowers
This is probably tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) – but I always think Achillea when I first see it
Cornflower (Centaurea)
The orangery garden…
The orangery at Tredegar House
A lemon tree outside the orangery
Patterned beds in the formal garden
The white part of the paths is made up of cockle shells
The cedar garden…
Although I plan to learn more about conifers this year, there is one I have always recognised, the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani). This one at Tredegar House is 250 years old and surrounded by walled herbaceous borders.
The cedar garden
I had to look this up, but I think it’s Clerodendrum trichotomum, commonly called the harlequin glorybower or glorytree
I had to look this one up, too – I think it’s a castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis)
Yellow daisy-like flowers, possibly Helianthus?
Purple daisies – possibly Asters?
Agapanthus seed heads
And finally…
The gate of Tredegar House…
…is topped by a golden tree
A beautiful expression of brightness during these gray, cold and wet days. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
It certainly does bring light into a day that is windy with heavy rain Pat!
That’s really my only excuse for fitting it in so unseasonably!
Have you come across the just-announced Costa prize winner The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge? Sounds quite good.
All the best 🙂
Looks like a lovely garden and place to visit. Love the lemon tree.
And there are acres more I haven’t looked at yet!
I expect the lemon tree is tucked up in the warm orangery now…
All the best 🙂
I’m glad you have left it to now to take us here. The gardens look so lovely and are a wonderful reminder of what gardens look like outside these dismal winter months! The flower does look like a perennial Helianthus. we saw some amazing displays of these last summer and they will be on our wish list this year.
Thank you for your comment about leaving a job after so many years. I found it reassuring and hope I gain the same benefit as you have. Sarah x
Thanks for the reassurance about my unseasonability!
I am starting to panic now on the “retirement” front – I have always been the sort of person who can’t get on with anything, even those things I like, unless I have some other deadline to meet that I want to escape from. If that makes sense? If you want something done ask a busy person…
All the best 🙂
the gate looks like Versailles. Seems OTT for the house?
Ah, these rich people!
I think a lot of the garden flowers are probably native to South Africa…
All the best 🙂
Such a lovely post, SB! I love the grand entrance 🙂
Me, too, but sadly at the moment it opens on to a big, bare courtyard in front of the house.
All the best 🙂
I am with you Pat, it is good to save up post of summer garden visits to publish during the depths of winter. Thanks for the tour we haven’t visited Tredegar House.
It’s well worth it – and I hadn’t visited since it was taken over by the National Trust. Of course that’s great, as it is now “free” to members.
When we go again I really want to explore the parkland and find the redwood trees (Sequoia) – as part of my year finding out more about conifers…
All the best 🙂
It looks like they’re doing a good job with the renovations. It would be interesting to see the gardens now-it’s been so mild this winter you may find some of the plants are still flowering!
You are probably right.
We would have visited over Christmas and New Year but the weather was so wet – and most of the Tredegar House grounds are closed until February!
Cheers 🙂