The Bishop's Garden

I've been copping a bit of flack for not posting anything in a while (Harris!), so I thought I'd get stuck in again with a bit about this gorgeous, completely hidden four acre walled garden right in the heart of Norwich. It's manged for the Bishop of Norwich by gardening chums of mine, head gardener Simon and his assistant Will.

The double borders are stunning, and Simon is an excellent plantsman. I love going to visit because he fills his shrub borders with all kinds of rare exotics and subtropical wonders. The top soil in this protected walled garden is black and crumbly and about 2m deep, having been cultivated for about 1000 years by monks. Hence Simon can grow pretty much whatever he likes, and I'm so jealous I could spit.

The garden is open at certain times of the year for charity, and is well worth a visit. More info here.

The herbaceous borders

Pachystegia insignis, beautiful felty-leafed perennial native to New Zealand.
When they open, the flowers are white with yellow centres.

Musschia wollastonii, a rare shrubby perennial also called "Madeira Giant Bellflower".
Will return and photograph when it flowers - it's a spectacular sight, by all accounts.

Slightly fuzzy shot of Sinocalycalycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine', an unusual hybrid between
Calycanthus floridus and Sinocalycanthus chinensis (say those names with your mouth full).

I simply love the flower buds on this Grindelia chiloensis, which are filled with a hard, smooth resin,
which is extremely soft to the touch. Bright yellow daisy-like flowers follow.