Gardening in the Peak District can be challenging. I couldn’t help but notice, when I first came to this garden, that it was one of only three gardens in the village; ours is a village of farms and farm-workers’ cottages and the plots around each dwelling were largely uncultivated. Not only is the ground rocky and the soil very poor, but climatic conditions can be harsh.
Many Derbyshire villages are situated in sheltered vales or with south-facing sunny aspects. Our village, however, being originally settled by lead-miners, is open to the elements. On the plus side, this does afford us some delightful vistas.
A glorious day in early SpringEarly SpringSpring bank, photo taken on Spring Bank Holiday, May 1st 2021Acer Brilliantisima lighting up an evening in MayLate May, evening sunlight on Iris Jane PhillipsA long way off the beautiful haze of Bluebells I had envisaged, but they are beginning to bulk up and show themselves (May 2020)The Cowslips are beginning to wander delightfully (May 2021)The seasons can be unpredictable; hailstones in June.My plants have a lot to contend withA rare mid-Summer moment when everything has come together as intended.In the Summer of 2018 we hosted a garden party for our friends in the Pre-War Austin Seven Club; after a run through the Derbyshire countryside, they were able to park their cars on the field so that we could all get together for a natter and tea.A truly memorable dayWe love to sit and watch the evening sun light up the drystone wallsWe get to see some magnificent sunsets from the top terraceAutumn mistsAutumn tints in the hillside bedOctober colourIt’s taking a long time for the Autumn bloomers to bulk out sufficiently to give great impact, but we’re getting there.The Crab Apple providing Autumn colour as well as Winter birdfoodOctober evening, sunshine after rainI love the way the snow makes the walls describe the landscape like a drawn lineLooking down the village from our front gateLooking up the village The orangery is super cosy in winterSnow covered vegetable gardenBut we love the snow
What isn’t shown here, of course, are the far-too-many grey, overcast, cold, damp and tedious, unphotogenic non-gardening days.
Many are the times I have wondered why I didn’t settle in Herefordshire, Kent, or Somerset; but then, I do enjoy a challenge.
