Masses Of Magenta And Purple

Sensuous, scented moss rose ‘William Lobb’ sets the theme in our eldest daughter Annie’s garden

Our next stop on my tour of the garden at Glebe Cottage is Annie’s garden. Our eldest daughter now lives in the USA but comes back to visit as often as possible. She hasn’t seen her new niece yet but she’ll be here at Christmas, and I can’t wait to see her.

Annie’s great with babies and little children and has always had a close relationship with nature and plants, too. Whatever the time of year she arrives, one of her first ports of call is to visit her own garden.

There are two trees that punctuate each end of her garden. One is crab apple ‘Golden Hornet’; the other a ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’. Both bear prodigious quantities of fruit.

Fruit trees like these give maximum value in small gardens and are of huge benefit to insect and bird life. In May they’re smothered in pink and white blossom and, day after day, abuzz with the sound of honey bees and other pollinating insects. In autumn, their boughs are weighed down with fruit, manna for birds, small mammals and us.