Dixter Diary - Day 19

The fog was heavy this morning at Great Dixter but it didn't affect the momentum for pre Plant Fair arrangements.  I did get through the gardens this morning and captured some excellent photos and particularly love this spider web below.  The fog held on until about 12 noon and then the sun arrived and the skies cleared for the afternoon.  It was a flurry of activity this morning with more vendors arriving, Great Dixter staff and volunteer involved with tasks and that jolt of pre-event adrenaline (and coffee!).  I helped with car parking and was actually quite excellent to be honest.  The only "selfie" you'll see of me is further below.  Fergus helped with the car parking as did many volunteers which included Great Dixter staff, volunteers, past students and many others.  It was a fun "family feel" to the day and I really enjoyed the Plant Fair (see below) which really had a fun "vibe".  I saw some amazing plants and it's frustrating that getting them home is more work than I care to take on at this point.  However, tomorrow should be great as well and I'll have an afternoon shift with car parking and as a veteran of this process...shouldn't have any problems.  It was nice seeing the Great Dixter Booth (at the Plant Fair), the Great Dixter Nursery and the Cafe all have excellent business.  The gardens were absolutely jammed today with lots of positive comments (of course!) about the gardens.

 the Plant Fair awakens early before visitors start arriving

 Maria had the grill going early (I had an excellent veggie sausage sandwich)

 Jonny (above) hauling bales of straw...

 Michael above

 foggy Plant Fair had a Medieval "feel" this morning

 Andrew above (one of many Great Dixter volunteers)

my only "selfie" above

 the car parking went smoothly today

 Enjoy these photos of the Plant Fair which included periodic presentations, food and lots of networking!

 Simon above (of Great Dixter) working on some carpentry

 Yuko above working the food station

 It was nice to see the Great Dixter Nursery busy as well!

Dixter Diary - Day 18

Many of our preparations today involved getting ready for the big Plant Fair.  Above and below are some neat decorations for the Great Dixter booth (nice job Cornelia!) which will be one of many represented.  Fergus took me around to see some of the booths and I was amazed at the variety of plants.  There are nursery folks from England, Scotland, Austria, France, Netherlands, Germany, etc....  I met many of them at a gathering tonight.  We didn't neglect our gardening duties today though as it will also be a busy weekend out in the gardens.  I'm helping both days at the Plant Fair as a parking "facilitator" which should be interesting!  Regardless, the weather looks good for an excellent event this weekend.

Great Dixter booth above and the two photos below which also show some neat woodworking projects made "in house"

the layout is solid for the Plant Fair above and Fergus (center below) is on top of the details!

strawflower (Helichrysum sp.) decorations (above) adorn the booth seen below with Rachel

Dino Pellizzaro (France) to the left with Fergus Garrett. Dino offered me French wine this afternoon which I couldn't refuse!  Fergus is seen below showing Caroline (Germany) some signage needs

some booth set ups can be seen above and below

Sunk Garden with surrounding Barn Garden continue to entrance me

ironweed (Vernonia crinita) starting to bloom here - I think I'm right on the ID

you can't go wrong with "dewy" asters

'Bulls' Blood' beet (Beta vulgaris)

Viburnum davidii

Aster 'Alma Potschke' looking nice above - perennial

I potted these seedlings (Echium vulgare 'Blue Bedder') up today

Fergus can be seen above showing us what to transplant next and below are some of the finished product

Jana and Thies...note how Jana is done and Thies still working...

Hayden (left) helping haul some of Simon's (seen to the right) carpentry creations to the Plant Fair

bold chimneys on the main house

Dixter Diary - Day 17

While it hasn't rained in about 10 days or so, the morning dew is still quite heavy as seen on the cosmos above.  I continue to enjoy my morning walks before work out in the gardens.  I sometimes run in to a photographer but really enjoy the quiet and all the bird song which is quite significant.  The big Plant Fair is looming this weekend with "all hands on deck".  I think I'm helping with the parking detail which requires quite a few people as parking can be tricky along the edges of the gardens.  I worked on significant garden clean-up today as well as preparations for the Plant Fair and some "pricking out" of seedlings.  Fergus shared more "tricks of the trade" and seems to be everywhere at once!

 love this golden prickly briar (Rubus cockburnianus 'Golden Vale'...I think) coming over and through the Cotoneaster horizontalis....awesome

grove of Melianthus major I stumbled upon today

wet little bird footprints today!  cute

compositions abound

one of three compost piles in the large Vegetable Garden

monkshood (Aconitum henryi 'Spark's Variety') nestled amongst 'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii)

apples (Malus) above photographed in this beautiful area below (morning light)

excellent lighting on perennial geranium above and fern (Dryopteris wallichiana) below

I spent lots of time tidying in the Exotic Garden (seen above)

Frank (left) and Lewis getting the grill ready for the weekend

Rachel (top) and Jana getting hay bales ready with Mike (below)

dried strawflowers (Helichrysum sp.) will be used as decorations

Frank (above) and I potted up seedlings.  Frank used to be in the Queen's Guard and wore the red uniform and tall hat!

double sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) above - perennial

border above in the Barn Garden

afternoon light coming through this arch separating the Wall Garden and Barn Garden (foreground)