Orangery Bed
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This bed is tucked in between the orangery and the southeast corner of the house. It is 14 m2 in area :
It is a relatively sunny position in summer, less so in winter. The area was partly a weedy and derelict patio and partly wild grassland when we took over in 2015. Today's soil is largely backfill from the excavation further south and west that created the formal garden and is not very good although we did add compost to try and improve it. The bed is also in the rain shadow of the house so it is relatively dry.
We started work on the bed in late 2016 once the orangery was complete and the dwarf sleeper wall had been installed between it and the Asparagus Bed to retain its soil. The main feature of planting is a group of modern repeat-flowering roses. We also planted some asclepias [milkweed] but they are proving to be short-lived, perhaps because of the climate or perhaps because of the location. We need to think again. The bed also has an existing creeper climbing up the wall of the house, assumed to be Japanese Creeper [Parthenocissus tricuspidata], not its close relative Virginia Creeper [P. quinquefolia].
A full list of the plants in this part of the garden is available in the Formal Garden East plant list and the context of this area within the garden can be found on the Plan and Areas page.
