Elizabeth Lind and Brenda Vali looking at the H e l i o ch ro n o m e t e r.
Right: The 12 foot Peony tree in one of the central beds.
The garden is sheltered and secluded yet right in the city centre.
flower. The Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill planted in 2001 is very perfumed and was also a gift from member. The garden has very personal connections to the library.” At the rear of the first lawn, take three steps up and you’re immersed in a new area, densely planted and full of things to d i s c ove r. “We have White Rose Madam Alfred Carrièrre here as it takes quite harsh conditions, I planted it around 1998. The garden gets quite dry as is sheltered and the three very tall London Plane trees, planted in 1875 take lots of moisture. “Acanthus do really well and the Holland
variety with its yellow leaves lighten the border. I’ve planted lots of perennial geraniums and this Dranculus vulgaris is an exciting plant. Its sweet flowers open like a hood attracting flies to fertilise it. It’s been growing here since 1996.” At the back is a shurbbery full of varieties
giving it the feel of a jungle. Elizabeth points out the highlight: “A huge Washingtonia is very dramatic – we had it lit up on the Light Night event. Then there’s Rambling Rector Rose, Apricot Foxglove, white Pyrancathus,
Myrtle against the back wall and an Acer Pensylvanicum, planted by Lady Buchanan for the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire in 2002. “Gardens are not just about the visual, they also need textures and aromas, scents can often evoke memories. “When I started here, our Philadelphus
mock orange covered more than one third of lawn, but because of its lovely scent, I want it to flower, I’ve trained it back. It would go wild again if I let it. “Hydrangea Annabelle with its lovely white
flowers, does very well here and we have a rare Rhodo Typos too. It has white flowers and black berries, I grew it from eight seeds and planted four here. I just let it get on with things. I always get asked lots of questions about it when we hold an open day. The garden is packed with interest. “Th e r e ’s Hellebores, Fuschias in pots, Camellia Jury’s Yellow and the Acanthus spinosa is doing well, it’s just about to flower. The soil feed I sue comes from heaps of composted leaves. “I’ve trained the Parthenosisus helyiana
(Virginia Creeper), along one wall - the leaves are red underneath with white veins –
Margaret Rose and Sam Henman looking at a White Swan Clematis.
they complement the colour of the brick wo r k ! ” Elizabeth adds.
Elizabeth, a retired fashion designer, joined the Library in 1991 and began tending the garden in 1995. “I do three hours a week and write up what I’ve planted at home. Th e r e ’s two other volunteers. “I’ve always been interested in historic gardens, collecting pressed flowers and learning about propagation. I got my first trowel and fork when I was two-and-a-half! “It’s important to keep the garden looking good when viewed from the Library windows above too. “A garden evolves, it needs to takes shape g ra d u a l l y.”
Elizabeth knows every aspect of this garden, having grown much of it from seeds herself. With so much to see from every angle, it all too easy to loose oneself, forgetting Nottingham city centre is surrounding you. It’s not just the garden that’s growing here, as Elizabeth adds: “We ’ve increased the number of benches and garden chairs as the number of Library members has shot up to around 1,000 now.”
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TODAY 133
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148