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Sheringham Park:  Rhododendron surprise and Repton’s buttercup heaven

10/6/2015

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Nepal! This, surely, is what Nepal must look like? I was standing on a look-out platform and all I could see was a sea of rhododendronrhododendron. Most were still in bud rather than full bloom, unfortunately – but you got a sense of what an amazing spectacle this must be in a week or two’s time.

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View across the rhododendron canopy, Sheringham Park

We had gone up to Norfolk for a weekend and stopped at one of the National Trust properties there. The choice had been random as I didn't know any of those in the area. But, according to the description in the NT's guide book, it seemed a good spot for the children to run around and let off steam and for me to see a new park. Well, it surely was. One of those unexpected pleasures that make you want to sing with joy. Whilst the guidebook did mention a rhododendron collection, I hadn't paid much attention as the entry was in the "Outdoors" section - along with nature reserves, coastal beauty spots etc., rather than manor houses and their gardens.

And then I happily and almost deliriously skipped from one bush of blazing yellow or orange azaleas to the next red, pink or white rhododendron and couldn't believe my luck that I had stumbled upon such unexpected treasure at the perfect time of year. Unlike the view from the look-out, at ground level they were all at their best, with thousands and thousands of perfectly formed blooms.



20 hectares of rhododendron, the earliest plantings dating from around 1850, flank the main approach drive to the house according to Sheringham Parks own guide book. Once there were at least 65 species and hundreds of named varieties. And yet, Sheringham Park isn’t famed for them in the first place, but for (same source) “the most complete and best preserved example of a park and house designed by the great landscape gardener Humphrey Repton (1752 – 1818).” Humphrey Repton of the ‘before and after’ drawings in his Red Books, marketing his design ideas to prospective clients. Along with William Kent and ‘Capability’ Brown the most prominent figure in the English Landscape Park Movement. Apparently, Repton even considered Sheringham his most favourite work of all.

It surely is incredibly beautiful: out of the rhododendron woods you come to a sweeping drive, with the house and stables visible at the end, tucked in at the foot of a wooded hill. In the distance you’ll see the sea, framed by trees, and in front there are gentle waves of green turf densely sprinkled with golden buttercups. Happy children wallowed in them, mine included. With not a cloud in sight, it seemed all truly serene and Arcadian – just as intended, I guess. But I wonder: did Repton plan for the millions of buttercups or did they simply appear by chance? It's unlikely yet if he did, I’ll declare him not just a master but a genius.

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Coffee culture in London? Well, with a twist

3/6/2015

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Enthusiasm for coffee in all its hip guises seems to have no bounds these days in London. They even decreed the “Flat White Economy” after one of the most popular brews. I'm not into coffee. My body doesn't handle caffeine very well: Anything after lunch and I can't sleep. But I do have my own coffee culture!

A couple of years ago, friends who had been on holiday to South America gave me some seed they picked up somewhere along the road. Didn't know or remember what it was. I planted them and now have a little coffee tree in the living room, about one and a half metres high. At the moment, it has its second ever fruit ripening:


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Coffee bean on the tree, London living room
Quite a feat, I think, as it is in a really shady corner and I have no idea which insect might have pollinated it. Or are the flowers self-fertilizing? Should check it out. This time, I must admit, I didn't even notice the rather insignificant white flower that has gone before.
The fruit has gone from green to orange, then red and will finally be a very dark red. Then it should be ripe and I can harvest it. There'll be two beans in it and if I plant them straight away, chances are my plantation will increase. Last time both seeds germinated and the seedlings are 40cm tall already.


As said, shade does not seem to be much of a problem - although a light spot is preferable. Full midday sun, however, would probably burn the leaves if plants are kept on a windowsill or otherwise close to glass. I also found it better to keep coffee plants a bit on the dry side. Not like a cactus, of course. But the surface of the soil and perhaps down to an inch can well dry out between drinks.

In one of my books, by the way, I found the interesting remark that only tip cuttings will grow into little trees: while cuttings taken from lateral shoots will root equally well, it declares, they will never develop a vertical main shoot but could be used as unusual “hanging basket plants” instead. I should try this one day, if only to verify. Don't think I can offer a cup of "single origin coffee" to visitors anytime soon, though...

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    About the Author,
    Stefanie


    Born and raised in East Berlin, Germany. Has moved a few miles west since, to East London. Gardening since childhood, though first attempts were in what should properly be described a sandpit (yes, Brandenburg’s soil is that poor). After 15 years of indoor-only gardening has upgraded via a small roof terrace to a patio plot crammed with pots. Keeps dreaming about a big garden, possibly with a bit of woodland, a traditional orchard and a walled garden plus a greenhouse or two. Unlikely to happen in this lifetime - but hey, you can always dream.



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