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6th August 2019

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Sophie Simpson

sophiesimpsongardendesign

Sophie Simpson Garden Design creates individual gardens which add style and exclusivity to any setting. Email- design@sophiesgardens.co.uk

I’m always drawn to the whites, various pinks an I’m always drawn to the whites, various pinks and purple dahlias but to be in a sea of magnificent, saturated colour from across the spectrum at the #dahlia fields of @hallsofheddon was a thrill on a sunny morning. They are in tip top condition and so much taller than I ever manage to grow at home! I am a bit lax with the watering can! Fantastic show!!
I have been sent this video and lovely message fro I have been sent this video and lovely message from some happy clients. It’s so heart warming to get feedback like this. Their garden was designed for them 20 years ago but they felt it needed updating and asked me to see what we could do with the existing paving and water fountain. They had lots of plants left too and I left the planting to them. I am so pleased they’re thrilled with it!! Hi Sophie We.ve been loving the garden since the project was completed  and the planting has filled out. We thought we.d share this short (a bit jerky in parts) video so  that you can see how the colour palette is working out and how the different  borders  work together to make a truly pleasing and restful space. Do feel free to pop in for a cuppa if you are in the area and thank you again for your transformational ideas Elizabeth & Philip
Hydrangea seemanii is a very useful evergreen clim Hydrangea seemanii is a very useful evergreen climber. It flowers in mid to late summer and will clothe a shed or fence or north facing wall in glossy leaves although it takes a year to get its roots down before doing much up top. This one is growing up the shady side of a beech stump which is about 20ft high and rather an eyesore. We couldn’t remove the whole stump when the tree fell down a few years ago but I’m glad we didn’t as it’s home to solitary bees and small wasps which use the rotting trunk for their nests.
Today’s harvest. 🍅 Today’s harvest. 🍅
A client asked me how to cover up a blank wall on A client asked me how to cover up a blank wall on her house today and then I drove past this 💡💡#northumberlandgardendesign
The butterflies love this area which we call the C The butterflies love this area which we call the Crack Garden and I have just disturbed the pair of goldfinches who feed on the. many self seeded Knautia Macedonica and sea pinks and clover which are producing masses of seed now. It’s so pretty as the mixed pinks, lilacs and crimsons merge together amongst the rather shaggy box hedges. It’s a mixture I could probably never replicate if I tried to. Nature is so clever!
Some white-flowered shrubs looking luminous in the Some white-flowered shrubs looking luminous in the garden at the beginning of summer.  In no particular order!: Stewartia pseudocamellia flowers are held intermittently along slightly twisted branches. It’s a medium to large shrub here and loves our acid soil. The camellia-like flowers are so pretty but unassuming compared to the generous offering from Philadelphus ‘Virginal’. Unlike other mock oranges, this one doesn’t seem to have any scent but it makes up for that by getting to at least 10ft tall. The humble but useful climbing Hydrangea peteolaris with its lace cap flowers is covering a massive copper beech stump which is gently rotting underneath.  They are normally used to cover north facing walls and fences but the more organic shape of this shrub makes it a brilliant addition to the woodland end of the garden. I have a trio of Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’ which are really spectacular when in full flower. They do produce fruit afterwards but it is pretty tasteless!! I’m sure the birds appreciate them though. Rosa Climbing Iceberg has done well, as have all the roses in this dry weather. It covers half the arch and Madame Alfred Carriere is on the other side. They follow on from white wisteria so the scent down here is lovely for many months over summer. #northumberlandgarden #midsummer #whiteshrubs
Wonderfully cryptic plumage. This little owl is pe Wonderfully cryptic plumage. This little owl is perched on a broken oak stump only about 3 ft above ground. So confident in its ingenious camouflage it barely twitched when my dog walked past only a few feet away. I only spotted it because of its eyes!
I thought a piece of blue tissue was blowing acros I thought a piece of blue tissue was blowing across the lawn but then realised it was fluttering by. This is a Common Blue. In fact there were 2 flying around together but both are males as the female is drab by comparison. I am thrilled to have them here as they may be common but I have never seen one in my garden. Apparently the caterpillars feed on Birds Foot trefoil which is normally plentiful in our lawn although the drought has halted its progress slightly but they also eat Black medic which is plentiful through my rather wild borders. I am hopeful we will see more of them in the future. I wonder if my more relaxed approach to weeding and winter clearing has made a difference already? I hope I can proudly declare the chaos is a wildlife haven if anyone dares point out the weeds!!
Some happy colour combinations in the garden this Some happy colour combinations in the garden this week. Aquilegias which started off as the double ‘Ruby Port’ have thrown up a lovely selection of seedlings and, as often happens, they’ve positioned themselves expertly next to other plants. There are lots of self-seeders in this long border. Bright acid green foliage of lemon balm is popping up amongst dark pink and purple roses but, at the moment, it highlights the purple wisteria and blends with the pale yellow pincushion flowers of Cephalaria gigantea.  Geranium ‘Bill Wallis’ is a prolific gap filler and flowers for months and looks fantastic with everything else here. Knautia flowers in shades of mauve are a brilliant contrast to the bronze peony leaves. It’s all looking spring fresh and lovely!
A Carden! A full load packed up ready for a day of A Carden! A full load packed up ready for a day of planting tomorrow. There’s only just room for me and my lunch in there now! Thanks to @cowellsgardencentre @claireaustinhp and @crocus.co.uk for great quality and interesting plants.
Rheum palmatum ‘Atrosanguineum’ looking rather Rheum palmatum ‘Atrosanguineum’ looking rather lovely in the sunshine. The undersides of the leaves and the flowers are a rich cherry red and the huge leaves are brilliantly sculptural. This plant thrives here despite being in dry, sandy soil with a rabbit warren underneath it! Received wisdom says it needs plenty of humous-rich soil and moisture. I expect if it had those conditions it would be twice the size but it is still as tall as me at 5’7”!!!
Well the rain has made a swerve away from us which Well the rain has made a swerve away from us which means the magnificent wisteria flowers live to see another day. So richly scented, I wish I could sit out here all afternoon to enjoy!
This black cloud is producing some sporadic rumble This black cloud is producing some sporadic rumbles of thunder. We are desperately in need of rain but I fear it’s going to pass us by. As I wrote that, one droplet landed on my phone screen!! Might dash home just in case! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Another day of planting. This time a little back g Another day of planting. This time a little back garden which @crowcroftsam finished at the end of last year. The design gives plenty of space for lots of plants, two areas to sit and a summerhouse all packed in neatly. I’m really delighted with how it has turned out and can’t wait to see how the warmer weather we are forecast brings those little green tufts out of their shells!
A full-on day setting out plants which were ably a A full-on day setting out plants which were ably and enthusiastically planted by the owners of this beautiful garden. The yellowhammers were feasting on the new wild flower seed and the skylarks sang their hearts out. I’m still waiting for a few items to fill the gaps and an orchard will be created next! Very exciting job which I love! I wish all my clients were as amenable to taking on the hardest part!! #northumberlandgardens
Can anyone identify this tool? My eccentric husban Can anyone identify this tool? My eccentric husband wants a hazel thumb stick and bought a job lot of sticky things in an auction which included, amongst others already in a skip,  a hospital crutch, a few home made thin sticks, 2 long rulers and this scraper! Hopefully he can find one useful thumb stick amongst them. This might be for gardening, wallpaper removal, turf lifting or carpet fitting! I just have no idea. A beautifully turned longish handle with a flat knob on the end. Thank you!!
My latest project will involve making sense of the My latest project will involve making sense of these monumental steps! They are way out of scale and the new owners of the house have a toddler so I have to work out how to make them smaller, safer and still usable. I’m going to suggest a slide! #northumberlandgardendesign #stonesteps
I am almost sad that the weather is going to chang I am almost sad that the weather is going to change tomorrow. The house is bitterly cold and we are wearing multiple layers to keep cosy but the days are beautiful. Blue sky and a thick hoare frost to show off the skeletal seed heads and stems. The garden has plenty of winter structure in the form of beech hedges, clipped box and airily pruned rhododendrons which all look their best in this weather. After a dreary year of what seems like constantly grey skies, it’s lovely to feel fresh air and sunshine on my face! I’m not sure what jobs I can do in the garden so I thought I’d get some oranges cooked for this year’s marmalade. I might even be brave and enter the @dalemainmarmaladeawards🍊🧡
I finished planting this garden a few weeks ago an I finished planting this garden a few weeks ago and it shows how important autumn colour and structure are. The bare bones were there already with the summerhouse, a few trees, box balls, pleached hornbeam and the timber arch. However the arch was against the hedge at the back, creating a focal point but with nowhere to go and the box balls were planted in a grid across the lawn. By moving the arch to a newly created path with the bench beyond, the garden suddenly becomes more inviting and seems larger with less clutter in the centre. The newly created beds near the house are shady and this provides an ideal home for textural ferns, grasses, Actaea etc. A simple plant palette of white hydrangea, Sesleria grass, nepeta and alliums along the long boundary I hope gives it a contemporary yet rural atmosphere to be enjoyed through the year from inside and outside.  #northumberland gardendesign
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