convent garden – CONVENT AND CHAPEL

One of two standard Wisterias under the arched windows, just over a year old.

I have two Lilacs - a pale pink and a mauve. They were small when I bought them two years ago but look healthy and have flowered this year. — I have two Lilacs – a pale pink and a mauve. They were small when I bought them two years ago but look healthy and have flowered this year.

It’s been three years since I discovered the Convent and nearly two years since moving here. For the garden, this means that some of the plants are now hitting two years of planting and beginning to show themselves as future garden champions. Some have surprised me in how they have taken off and others have been, quite frankly, a tad disappointing. I’ve also had my share of losses and learnings with my first large garden, establishing plants from scratch and adapting to what is often a harsh environment.

A Kerria Japonica with lovely deep buttercup blooms.

I’m finding that it’s taking at least two years to get the garden beds in a healthy condition, given none of them were here and I’ve had to clear and build the beds from scratch. The plants are much better in matured garden beds that have been well fed and mulched and left to settle over a period. This means that in some of my garden beds, plants are really just starting to kick off.

I have two Snowball Viburnums which are great visually and also make great cut flowers.

The roses (which will have their own posts) are now feeling at home and many are showing signs of strong growth, thickening and are more bountiful with their buds (which I hope will give me a great display). I should know by now that bare rooted roses aren’t my strength and no matter what I promise myself, they won’t be getting planted within days of delivery! Anyway, the old ash fence at the front is now not so exposed as plants begin to show over the top and a few of the rambling roses are working their way over it.

This post displays some of the plants that are showing great promise early in the garden’s development.

The lavenders are all spectacular and must love this area.

The old Ivy Geranium is giving the Climbing Pierre de Ronsards more than a run for their money. This should look great covering the old garage once established.

Can you feel sorry for a tree? I did with this one - firstly it's name is 'Tortured Filbert' and it looks so twisted. It's actually a very pretty unusual little tree and I hope it grows to an interesting height. — Can you feel sorry for a tree? I did with this one – firstly it’s name is ‘Tortured Filbert’ and it looks so twisted. It’s actually a very pretty unusual little tree and I hope it grows to an interesting height.

The newest residents - two Madonnas on plinths welcoming visitors to the Cloisters. — The newest residents – two Madonnas on plinths welcoming visitors to the Cloisters.

The Convent once had beautifully maintained gardens, helped greatly by having a gardener, volunteer parishioners and schoolboy workers. I’ve seen photos and been told many stories of the glory days of the Convent with her lavish rose beds and trellises and formal garden beds.

Those days are long past and the Convent was made low key with the removal of all garden beds and shrubs, and a remaining legacy of only half a dozen of the old roses remaining in the overgrown lawns.

My beautiful angel, sitting reading near the frog pond with the Grotto in the background.

In the last two and a half years, I’ve been working to restore the garden. Beds are going back in and over 120 roses have made their way into the Convent garden. It’s slow work but beginning to reap rewards. Having a Convent garden I feel means being a little more than a garden surrounding a Convent. I’m fortunate that the Convent comes with a chapel and, of course, the Grotto, which means I have some inbuilt advantages, but it’s important to add a few more atmospheric touches.

One of these has been adding to the statuary and I’ve recently introduced a few more members to the Convent family, including 2 Madonnas on plinths, welcoming people through the back garden gate which is the main entrance, a lovely angel reading in the garden and an additional cherub to keep the lone one company.

I already have a few sculptures in the garden, mainly created by local artists, but some ecclesiastical ones add another dimension and seem to fit in well. I’ve discovered St Fiacre, the patron saint of gardens, but am yet to find a suitable version. I’m sure he’ll make it into the garden one day, complete with shovel.

I don’t do “twee” and avoid cluttering the garden with “stuff” but I think the latest additions work well and help the set the scene for the garden even more, without me resting on my laurels.

Original inhabitants - Mary and Bernadette in the Grotto which was built by locals in the 1950's. — Original inhabitants – Mary and Bernadette in the Grotto which was built by locals in the 1950’s.

Tag: convent garden

Emerging Stars

Creating a “Convent” Garden