Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: mark smyth on October 31, 2009, 07:06:47 PM

Title: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on October 31, 2009, 07:06:47 PM
This week Margaret Glynn, Bob Gordon and I went to visit one of N Irelands best woodland gardens underplanted with masses of home grown plants. We chose the best day of the week. Warm sun and almost blue sky according to the weather forecast. It was actually a warm-ish wet grey day. It's owned by David and Janet Ledsham. Not the best photos but the best I could do allowing for the weather.

I know David will see this because he's a lurker. Maybe this will encourage him to join and tell us more about his garden.

The first 3 photos are of a stunning Betula
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on October 31, 2009, 07:10:08 PM
A few more photos
Title: Re: David & Janet's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on October 31, 2009, 07:11:19 PM
last two

Margaret Glynn in blue, Bob Gordon with the flat cap and me behind the camera
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Maggi Young on October 31, 2009, 07:46:26 PM
What a lovely garden... I was thinking the planting looked a bit like ours here... until pix 17 and 18! :o 8)
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on October 31, 2009, 07:48:26 PM
He grows Proteas outside in pots. The planting mix is mostly sand
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: cohan on November 02, 2009, 02:00:37 AM
splendid garden! lots to see all year, i bet!
like maggie, i was a bit surprised by the proteas--lovely!
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on November 02, 2009, 01:51:53 PM
They are getting hooked on bulbs also
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Maggi Young on November 02, 2009, 02:19:10 PM
They are getting hooked on bulbs also
No surprise... Mr and Mrs Ledsham look like a charming couple of taste and discrimination!  8) ;D ;)
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 02, 2009, 03:32:55 PM
Looks like a smashing garden Mark !!  8)
I'm sure it's an all season garden !!
Would love to see more of it in Spring and Summer...  :D
But thanks for showing us what Autumn looks like to start with..  ;D
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on November 02, 2009, 04:01:07 PM
I'll be back on Decemeber 8th for the local HPS group 'Side Shoots' get together and then probably in Feb for Hellebores. Many of their plants are from Davids own seeds
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 16, 2009, 08:05:03 AM
Mark,
what would it look like in April/May?? ;)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on November 16, 2009, 09:17:00 AM
Fermi dont come to N Ireland in the first week of May.  :'( Our alpine show is on April 10th.

David watches this so this might prompt him to join and answer. Give him a day or two and then I'll answer
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Ragged Robin on November 16, 2009, 11:03:58 AM
Mark, thanks for posting photos of the Ledsham's woodland garden, what a wonderful place to wander through......

Quote
The first 3 photos are of a stunning Betula
are fabulous  :D  Do they have other trees with interesting bark? At this time of year they take centre stage.....

Wow, those Proteas flowering outside are just amazing - never knew it was possible in a NH climate I have only ever seen them in South Africa in the wild near Cape Town  :)
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on November 16, 2009, 11:58:38 AM
I'll be back on December 8th for another visit and if the weather is good I'll take more photos but the owner who is watching can post his own photos. C'mon David  :D
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 13, 2009, 03:26:00 PM
here are some photos from earlier this week. I'll be back at Hellebore time for a look.
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 13, 2009, 03:31:20 PM
David Ledsham, Knox Gass - hidden, Kay Dunlop, Shirley Gass, Hilary and William McKelvey
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 13, 2009, 03:33:31 PM
Gunnera and Lobelia
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Paddy Tobin on December 13, 2009, 06:47:25 PM
The arch over the stream is wonderful.

Paddy
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 13, 2009, 07:13:15 PM
I should have said the small arch runs under the road that goes by their house and is about the size of a door.
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: cohan on December 14, 2009, 12:18:10 AM
still a very lively garden for (what is here) midwinter :)
i dont know any of these plants, all nice..the gunner is the hairy one with orange berries? i think i have seen a giant species, this looks small?
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: Maggi Young on December 14, 2009, 12:35:03 AM
Gunneras are great fun..... varying from Gunnera manicata, a giant thing to tiny grounfd hugging species such as G. magellanica and prorepens. Not sure what species this is  with the hairy leaves and orange fruits.... someone will tell us ::) :D.....
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: cohan on December 14, 2009, 01:00:15 AM
Gunneras are great fun..... varying from Gunnera manicata, a giant thing to tiny grounfd hugging species such as G. magellanica and prorepens. Not sure what speices this is  with the hairy leaves and orange fruits.... someone will tell us ::) :D.....

always more plants to learn about :)
you're up late, or early!
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 14, 2009, 10:37:08 AM
I phoned David but he isnt in. He talks about the small red berried Gunnera here
http://www.alpinegarden-ulster.org.uk/POM/POM_Gunnera%20prorepens.htm (http://www.alpinegarden-ulster.org.uk/POM/POM_Gunnera%20prorepens.htm) I'm sure I could get some seeds for you. I'll be back there soon to show him how the forum works.
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: maggiepie on December 14, 2009, 01:08:02 PM
Wonderful gardens, Mark. I can't wait to see it when the hellebores are blooming.

Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 14, 2009, 05:38:51 PM
I was out this afternoon where David and I arrived at a crossing at the same time. The yellow berried Gunnera should be red berried and is the plant in the article - G. prorepens
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: cohan on December 14, 2009, 07:25:47 PM
I was out this afternoon where David and I arrived at a crossing at the same time. The yellow berried Gunnera should be red berried and is the plant in the article - G. prorepens

thanks, mark, i'll read it tonight :)
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on December 14, 2009, 08:19:11 PM
I'm sure David would be willing to share seeds of the Lobelia and Gunnera
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: cohan on December 15, 2009, 08:36:07 AM
I'm sure David would be willing to share seeds of the Lobelia and Gunnera

i'm going to read up a bit now, with attention to hardiness (in my climate), which is probably in serious doubt..lol

edit: yes, 'subalpine new zealand' are not words to inspire confidence --this will have to be admired from afar :)
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 17, 2010, 10:12:40 PM
6 months on and there was another visit to the brilliant Ledshams garden. David and Janet work very hard to keep it looking good. The site was just a field and house when they moved in. It is now cultivated from top to bottom. David grows many of the plants from seeds. Told tell anyone  - he has White Fever!

Here are the best of the photos I took today.
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 17, 2010, 10:21:35 PM
 more ..
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 17, 2010, 10:25:04 PM
more .
Title: Re: David & Janet Ledsham's woodland garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 17, 2010, 10:26:29 PM
If you come to N Ireland for a holiday this garden is not to be missed
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