Since moving further into the Bavarian countryside last year I have managed to keep up the ‘old garden’ and rockery at our village house and have been constantly surprised at how self-sufficient it is – a recent visit confirmed this yet again. Come and take a look with me.
The Acer and early peonies in the south-west rockery
The grasses, Lysimachia, perennial Geraniums and Golden Rod have already filled out this part of the rockery, suppressing the dreaded ground elder. An early peony is just showing a little colour. 🙂
THE rose that has probably been there since the house was built in the 70s has plenty of promising new growth and buds and some lovely Camassia are flowering in front of it. But the nicest thing in this picture below is the peony in the front, planted about five years ago. Paeonia itoh ‘Shining Light’ looks like it might finally flower this year at last – I can see two buds! It may be brought over to the new garden in autumn as it would love the Sunshine Bed I am creating, although I realise it might not flower again for a year or so after being moved.
Finally, out the front in my spring corner the perennial Honesty (Lunaria redivida) is flowering. The eliptical seedheads were featured in this Monday vase a few weeks ago, producing a lot of interest. I think most people only grow the annual which has round seedheads and flowers a little earlier.
Thanks for visiting. 🙂
Words and Herbs 
Two gardens! Well done. Your Camassia looks purple – nice!
I suppose the Camassia aren’t quite true blue but near enough to bluebells as I can get! 🙂
I’ve only just come across Camassia, buying a white one from Greenway House (Devon), whish is actually a lovely cream colour. They also had blue ones for sale and I wish I had got those as well.
Are there no bluebells in your area?
No, no bluebells as we have the wrong kind of woodland with lots of evergreens and I have not seen a single one since living here. (25 years!) Perhaps in the north of Germany there are some. I can recommend the blue ones and they have come up reliably year after year too.
I bet it was difficult to leave this beautiful garden. I think you should move the peony. It might surprise you and go ahead and bloom the next year.
Yes, I am pretty sure I will bring it to the new garden Lisa. I have been hesitant to remove plants so far, partly due to ground elder in some parts of the garden, but also because I want the old garden to continue for as long as possible. 🙂
Lovely. Your care of the garden over the years is evident. Good luck with the peony.
Thanks Susie. Can’t wait for those peony buds to open!
The best kind of garden is one that comes back every year.
Exactly. That is what I aim for. 🙂
Nice to see the ‘old’ garden again. Looks as lovely as ever!
Yes, I feel a little nostalgic when I visit it and guilty for neglecting it, but it seems to be thriving without me!
I hope you will like the itoh peonies as much as I did. They did take a year or two to start blooming, but it is well worth the wait. Their blossoms are simply fantastic.
I can’t wait to see mine open John! I looked up the purchase date and it was planted in 2015 so it has been a long wait! 🙂
Cathy your “Old Garden” is spectacular: all your plants I love. It seems that the gnomes have been taking care of him !! 🙂 🙂 The rose is a jewel. The Camassia has a fantastic color. Take the peony to your new garden: even if it does not bloom a year, it will be wonderful to see its flowers in your Sunshine garden. Cathy now you’re busy with the two gardens: enjoy gardening. 🙂 Have a wonderful week. Greetings and memories of Margarita.
Oh yes, the gnomes or the fairies have been doing magic! 😉 Yes, I have decided to move the peony this autumn. 🙂 Have a good week too.
Wow, Cathy! I am so impressed that you are caring for so much garden, incorporating old with your new. I think what you’re saying in noting how stable the old garden has remained is that all the work you’ve done in the past is paying off. You have a very healthy garden. The rose is very special and I think getting it to your new sunshine bed sounds like a very good idea. You’d probably enjoy it more. Nice work! I’m sure you’re very happy with what you’ve discovered. 🙂
😃 Thanks Debra. Yes, I am very happy with how things have turned out. The weather will of course always be a challenge as we have such unpredictable extremes. But wouldn’t it be boring without such challenges! 😜
You have done very well to create a garden that is so self-sufficient. I have three Itoh peonies laden with buds this year, and I just can’t wait to see them! I have one shy one in a North-facing aspect with no flower buds though – I might have to wait longer for that one!
I shall look forward to seeing your itoh peonies Ali, as they are new for me. Most of my lactiflora peonies are from my partner’s Mum’s garden and have done so well for me, so I hope I have success with these too!
Great planning and execution! I like the sound of Itoh peonies. Definitely worth transferring to the Sunshine garden to enjoy every moment of its season.
Thanks! Some planning was involved, but a lot of good fortune too! 😉
I’m amazed that you’re caring for two gardens, but like you, I’ve learned that a good mix of plants in the right conditions can look after themselves. Even the weeds have a harder time finding a foothold.
Yes, there is one area that will never be weed free, but much of the old garden is covered in wild strawberries as ground cover – they have set themselves but are not aggressive to other plants and they do stop other weeds getting a hold. And they taste nice too if the mice, birds and snails leave any for me to pick! 😃
Self-sufficient peonies?! The idea boggles my mind. How nice to have a garden that virtually cares for itself – and one you can borrow from if the mood strikes too.
The peonies are very easy Kris. Perhaps I just have the right position or soil. I was given most of the lactiflora ones by my partner’s Mum, so they are a wonderful reminder of her when they bloom. 😃
That looks like a happy peony! I think I would find having 2 gardens to be pretty stressful.
Well, I have only done a few hours’ work in the old garden this year, so we will see how it goes….
How nice that you can still maintain it. So many of the cabins here are not landscaped. They only need the forest to be cut back away from them. I sometimes feel badly for the buildings, as if they would be happier with flowery stuff.
I don’t believe a house can be a home without at least a little bit of garden or even just a pot of flowers on the front doorstep!
Fortunately, those who live in high rise buildings don’t know that.
I am very impressed with your Camassia. I love them but none of the ones I have planted in the soil have flowered. Perhaps they do not have enough sun or water. The ones I plant in pots are very successful. Amelia
It was the reverse with me Amelia! I planted some in pots and some in soil the first year and the ones in pots didn’t do so well. So I planted them out, added a few more and since then they have all flourished. I think this must be the third or fourth year.
Fairies must be keeping an eye on your garden…it does seem to be doing very well.
Thanks Karen. Yes, some magic must be at work! 😉
It’s amazing how gardens will sometimes get on with it without any assistance from us. I do hope that you get back to see ‘Shining Light’ in flower Cathy. Do show us a photo if you do.
I have been back twice since this photo was taken and the buds are bigger but still not opening…. hope I can get there this week too, and I will definitely post a photo! 🙂
The lunaria is such a beautiful colour.
Yes, a lovely pastel shade of mauvy pink. 😃