Seasonal garden notes

Seasonal reflections on ecological garden design, biodiversity and the landscapes of Hurstpierpoint and Mid Sussex.

The long game of spring flowers
Plants + planting, Wildlife friendly gardening, Garden design insights Helen Codd Plants + planting, Wildlife friendly gardening, Garden design insights Helen Codd

The long game of spring flowers

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a plant reach this stage of maturity. The early years are all about patience. The roots are getting settled, the stems strengthen, all the time the plant is working hard behind the scenes. And then suddenly, one year, it steps fully into itself. This is that year for my clematis.

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More from the studio…

The meadow always wakes up quietly, but once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. At this time of year, the meadow slope is full of tiny beginnings: new blades of grass, rosettes forming at soil level, and the first hints of wildflowers pushing
First signs of life… #wildlifegarden #sussexgardens #pondlife #ecologicalgardening #gardendesigner
Round headed rampion is a new discovery to me. Where has it been all my life? I love it! No wonder it’s common name is ‘Pride of Sussex’ #wildflowers #Sussex #roundheadedrampion
A selection of beautiful wildflowers with visiting Burnet moths from my walk this morning. #wildflowers #sussex #moth #smallscabious #roundheadedrampion #greaterknapweed
Salvia nemorosa (Purple wood sage) grows wild on motorway verges in France. 😍
Lagurus ovatus (Harestail grass) in the wild! #fontainbleu Forest.
Lichen on sandstone in #fontainbleau #fontainbleaubouldering
The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden by Zoe Claymore, my personal top favourite at #rhschelsea this year.
I really enjoyed meeting @mrfoxsgarden at #rhschelsea this year. These awesome shrooms have popped up in my woodland bed at home.
The absolute cutest sculptures by @dasculpted, featured on the #sparsholt #rhschelsea exhibit this year. I will find a way to get at least one into my garden.