A first visit to Penwood Nurseries near Highclere made a refreshing change from the overpriced garden centre chains. Staff were friendly and highly knowledgeable and it is all just about the plants. Not a garden gnome in sight, not that I have anything against garden gnomes. This will be my go-to place from now own.
Two plantings which produced very little last year and which I had more or less given up on have surprised me, this wild garlic for example. The aliums which took weeks and weeks just to get started last year are already looking very promising.
This, from Penwood, I have never seen before. Aquilegia ‘White Star’ I think it’s stunning. I am tempted to get more, but perhaps it looks best in its fragile, solitary beauty.
And here’s a snail. I can live with them. If they are being too destructive, a good solution I think is just to plant something they really like (such as marigolds which I don’t much care for anyway) and write it off as snail food.
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