The orangery at Powis Castle

It’s been a little while since I left you admiring the terraces here, so let’s pop back today and check out the orangery - and I do love a good orangery, thankfully there’s a superb one nearby at Belton House our nearest National Trust property.

But back to Powis, and that view.

The view from the terrraces at Powis Castle across the gardens below and countryside beyond.

I had a good feeling about this space as we saw the multiple pots of tulips as we got closer.

So many different colour tulips in pots flowering in the April sun

And I wasn’t disappointed, though at first glance you may be wondering what on earth I was thinking.

Looking along the length of the orangery, damp and all

But just look at the plants.

Gorgeous orange blooms against the foliage

Though this one getting ready to flower did remind me of one of those plastic hands on a stick, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Who’d have thought this peculiar shaped thing could turn into such a beauty?

not quite flowered yet, but looking like a plastic hand on a stick

There were places to sit and enjoy, and I particularly liked this pale yellow flower as it cascaded out of its pot.

pale yellow flowers leaning towards a white metal bench
delicate flowers on the money tree

I was intrigued to see the money tree flowering, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in flower before - and I used to have a very large one on my open porch a couple of houses ago. That is until someone stole it when I was out - to this day I still don’t know how, it was huge and extremely heavy. But I guess if someone wants something badly enough, they’ll find a way.

Multiple cheery red blooms in this pot
delicate crimson buds against the green leaves of the plant
A pale yellow flowering plant with the window behind

Isn’t it a great space?

As we headed back up towards the castle we spotted these brick arches, and thought we should explore.

A series of brick arches built into the terrace above

It was another great space, though I’m not sure what to call these as it didn’t seem to be referenced on our guide map.

Inside the brick arches and the raised brick planters are filled with ferns and greenery
Inside the brick arches and the raised brick planters are filled with ferns and greenery

You can just feel how cool it is here can’t you? I think in someways I preferred this space to the orangery, though they were completely different in feel and in planting.

Statues on the balustrade - I like to think they're cheering the view!

And then I realised I wasn’t the only one enjoying the view, and smiled to myself once more.

At the heart of the jungle

* I was invited to this year’s Gardeners’ World Live preview and provided with a pair of tickets for the show, therefore all my posts will be marked as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

This was the last garden we saw at the preview event before heading into the marquee for the welcome and awards presentation, but even so the garden designers, Briony and Jonathan Dakic, were still generous with their time and answering our questions, despite us all needing to move into the marquee, and I’m very grateful for that.

I hadn’t expected to be quite so captivated by this garden, and it was great to see it close up and without the crowds that naturally flock to the show gardens on show days.

I loved the garden for its planting and because it was pretty much everything I’ve been trying to explain to MOH for one section of our garden, and now he gets what I’ve been trying to explain. This garden focuses on the foliage, it’s shape, size, colour and texture and the planting is dense - both of these get a huge tick from me.

The bold pink square arches which lead you through the garden

The bold pink architectural arches were a great way to lead us through the space, but surprisingly I was less taken with these than MOH. Who knew, he’s finally getting the pink vibe maybe?! It’s not that I didn’t like them, but I think my lens for this garden was how I could replicate it in a section of my own garden, and for me, that meant no pink arches.

But pink and orange plants, yes please.

Looking down at one of the planted beds with pink and orange flowers among the foliage
The green and dark red striped leaves of one of the tropical plants

But it’s the foliage that I love the most. I’ve already ‘collected’ a new variegated fatsia for the space, having fallen for their charm in our previous garden. It’s also a given that we’ll have cannas and maybe even a banana - I’ve seen how MOH eyes them lovingly. I hadn’t planned to add any Lords and Ladies (shown bottom right in the photo below) into the main part of the garden, as they do spread but the orange berries do look good, so maybe, who knows.

Fatsias and Lords and Ladies densely planted

It’s uncanny though as even the garden furniture is similar to the set we bought last year.

The struts of the arches and a glimpse of the seating area
Looking along the side border of the show garden

What I also liked about this show garden was around the sides there was also the detailed planting, which perhaps not everyone would notice or even see, though I’m sure the judges did.

I also picked up some new ideas for plants to add into this potential space in our own garden. These arum lilies are definitely going on the list, I love the sculptural and dark element they bring.

The dark arum lilies among the foliage

But I think with MOH’s hayfever and general aversion to lilies I may be struggling to include the ones below.

Orange lilies laden with pollen on their stamens

The other thing I noticed was the pink on pink clash that really worked. Nature has a way doesn’t it of making colour combinations you think really wouldn’t, or shouldn’t work, go together brilliantly.

A wispy purply-pink penstamon clambering alongside the pink upright of the arch
A close up of the lime tree on the seating area, pink archways in the background

The lime tree would be another great addition to my space - just perfect for those G&Ts, and it looks great too.

But for me the plant showstopper was this white fatsia, isn’t it gorgeous?

A very beautiful white fatsia - it's love from me!

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for once again inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was another great show! I’ll be sharing more from my visit to this year’s show throughout the year - I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Post Comment Love 17 - 19 July

Hello there, welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a relaxed, friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked, comment and share some of that love.

Please don’t link up posts which are older as they may be removed, and if you see older posts are linked then please don’t feel that it’s necessary to comment on those. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

Ah well, the dream that it’s ‘coming home’ is over for another tournament. We went to our local pub to watch the England game against Argentina last night, and it obviously wasn’t the result that everyone hoped for. Nevertheless our team have done us proud and can hold their heads up high, and it’s probably best I don’t pass comment on the behaviour of our opponents last night, both during and after the game.

Anyway in slightly more cheery news, my first tomato has ripened - and I’m looking forward to the rest catching up!

Have a good week, and come on Spain!

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