REDHALLGARDEN
Redhall is built on moraine left by the Prosen and Clova glaciers.
The soil is thin, (3” – 18”) and very well drained so that it is neutral and lacking nutrients.
Digging is difficult in that you soon hit a layer of consolidated pebbles which requires a pickaxe. There are also layers of pure sand and occasionally clay, sufficient for there to have been a tile works at the corner of the track in the early 19thC.
This means that new plants have to be supplied with a footing of compost, basically for moisture retention.
It also has its advantages in that it is possible to tailor the pH to what is required by the use of sulphur or limestone chips.
The coloured areas of the map are described below starting with the southerly ones and then moving clockwise.
NB The names of the Rowans have been updated in according to Dr. McAllister’s monograph on the Genus Sorbus.
The former names can be found in the garden section of our website.
GARDEN AREAS
South: yellow area
Directly across the gravel in front of the garage is a row of Rowans. At the left is a pair of Sorbus decora, the smaller of which is the most northerly Rowan yet found; coming from Greenland.
Next to these is a pair of Sorbus scalaris, then a pair of Sorbus esertueana, the smaller of which has yellow berries.
Next in line are Sorbus commixta ‘Embley’, Sorbus x ‘Ghose’ and a pink berried rowan collected by the Coxes of Glendoick, Sorbus C&H 7172.
Beyond these rowans is a red oak, (Quercus rubra), a sugar maple, (Acer sacarum), a Silver maple, (Acer sacharinum) and a hybrid Rowan, Sorbus ‘Eastern Promise’. Behind these is the pink-barked version of the Snake bark maple, Acer rufinerve ‘Winter Gold'
Moving around the stone pile there are two magnolias, Magnolia wilsonii and a struggling M. sieboldiana sinensis which was grown from seed from CrathesCastle.
The laburnum is one of a small number of plants which survive from the original cottage gardens.
Behind the Sorbus decora is a Korean Hill Cherry and on the mound, behind the Red Oak is the Great White Cherry, (Prunus ‘Tai Haku’).
The pond in this area has rwo groups of willow which are grown for the stem colours in winter. The yellow/orange/red clump nearest the gravel contains three forms of Salix alba; ‘Golden Ness’, ‘Cardinalis’ and ‘Britzensis’ and S. x rubens ‘Basfordiana’.
The group at the other side of the pond contains Salix daphnoides, S. daphnoides ‘Blue Streak’, S. x erhartiana and S. ‘Black Maul’; one of the weaving willows.
Other willows near this pond are S. hastata 'Wehrahnii', S. fargesii and the larger plant leaning over the pond is S. gracilistyla melanostachys which has black catkins with red anthers.
The other tree near the pond is the Dawn Redwood, (Metasequoia glyptostroboides).
The hedge is mainly Hawthorn with one or two Blackthorn, a few Rowans, some rampant cottoneasters and a Berberis wilsonii.
South: green area
To the left of the garage is a patch of grasses and four rowans. By the fence is S. eburnea up which is climbing another of the original plants; the Redhall rose, for which we’d welcome an identification.
To the right of this is a triple-stemmed S. rosea which is now marketed as S. ‘Rosiness’. Next to the gate is one of several examples of S. frutescens and tucked away in the corner is S. californica which I think is the best orange-berried rowan of all.
To the right of the garage is an area newly planted in 2005/6 which is mainly used for Irises as it has the most southerly aspect of the garden.
On the garage wall is Parthenocissus henryana with Chamaecyparis lawsoniana elwoodii and ‘Snow in Summer’ in the corner. In front of these are yellow irises including ‘Holden Clough’ and three bearded iris.
The conifer in the larger of the cuboid planters is Juniperus meyerii which is being trained in the bonzai, semi-cascade style. Behind the cuboid planters are Abies balsamifera prostrata, Juniper communis depressa aurea and Salix boydii. Behind this, on the fence, is Wisteria x ‘Caroline’.
The Box in the corner is another of the original Redhall plants although we’ve moved it about twelve feet East of its original position. Below this is a Juniper ‘Grey Owl’ and Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Carpet’.
Looking from the Box, the fence side is planted with Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ behind the Pyrus salicifolia pendula, Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’, Vibernum bodnantense ‘Dawn’, Cotinus ‘Grace’ behind S. McLaren D84 and Daphne bholua.
The Ash at the corner has a rose, ‘Souvenir du Dr. Jamain’, climbing up it.
The round planters have Glendoick’s new red Rhododendrons in them. The larger planter contains Rh. ‘Wine and Roses’ with the red under-leaf and the smaller has the totally red-leaved Rh. ‘Ever Red’.
Behind the planters is a group of roses; 'Heritage', 'Rhapsody in Blue', ‘William Lobb’, ‘Cardinal de Richelieu', ‘Nuits de Young’ and an un-named moss rose.
To the left of the roses is a group of Peonies including the white tree Peony, ‘King of White Lion’ and the herbaceous peonies 'Sarah Bernheardt' and ‘Lady Alexandra Duff’.
The rest of this area is planted with Phlox, the black iris, I. crysographes and annuals.
West: blue area
Moving round the side of the conservatory, there is a wildlife pond with a bog garden at the edge which contains Ligularia ‘Desdemona’, a number of Shuttlecock ferns, (Matteuccia struthiopteris), a host of primula, Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’, the Lappland willow, (Salix lapponum), and the original and largest Salix gracilistyla melanostachys.
Next to the wildlife pond is the Koi pool which now has only two fish and the water lilies, Nivea alba and the larger N. gladstoneana.
At the end of the wild-life pond is a group of Acers and a black pine. The first two, smaller maples are A. palmatum ‘Chitoseyama', on the left and A. palmatum ‘Shishio', on the right with A. cappadocia rubrum behind it. At the edge of the small courtyard is A. sieboldianum and between it and the seat is A. palmatum atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’.
The sink by the seat contains Rh. 'Dora Amateis' with Spirea japonica behind it and the pots have A. palmatum atrolineare, A. palmatum ‘Kinshi’ and A. palmatum 'Seiryu'in them. The larger pot on the steps up to the next area contains A. palmatum ‘Shigitatsu Sawa’.
West: green area
Coming up the steps from the small courtyard you enter the first of several grass areas.
None of these can be considered to be a lawn. They habour a number of flowers, Snowdrops, narcissus, Ox-eye daisies, etc. and they are left uncut until late June to allow the flowers to seed.
The hedge by the side of the track contains several Sorbus cashmiriana, the snake-bark maple A. grosseri hersii, A. capillepes and a purple-leaved variety of the Sycamore. at the end of the hedge is a style onto the track with a balsamic poplar and a young Katsura tree, (Cercidifilum japonica).
The hedge also contains a yellow Burnett rose, a Jacobyte rose and Rosa x 'Frühlingsgold'.
The rowans in the grass by the hedge are S. americana and S. aucuparia asplenifolia.
The trees along the west boundary of this area include a number of purple Elders including Sambuccus nigra ‘Black Beauty’ and another purple Sycamore.
There are a number of rowans, starting with a group of S. koehneana, then S. vilmorinii ‘Pink Pearl’, S. sechwanensis and finally S. foliolosa.
The central border has, on this side, moving up towards the house, the yellow-berried S. aucuparia fructo-lutea, S. psuedohupehensis, one of several forms of S. psuedovilmorinii and one of two S. muliensis. In between the trees are Heucheras, Foxgloves, an patch of polygonum ‘Red Dragon’, Daphne bholua, D. retusa and D. tangutica. There are some Dogwoods including Cornus alba sibirica and C. ‘Midwinter Fire’, Phytocarpus ‘Diabolo’ and two examples of the decorative bramble, Rubus koreanna, (or coreanna?), which is not as vigorous as R. cockburniana which used to be here.
Next to the S. muliensis is Euonymus phellomanus which has pink and red fruit and a rose, R. ‘Ruby Wedding’.
The bank bordering the ponds is planted with Salix lanata, another S. boydii, several lavenders, S. hastata 'Wehrahnii’, Lonicera nitida, a Cottoneaster, (C. franchettii) and more Spirea japonica. The rowans in the grass by this bank are S. sargentiana and two S. gongashanica.
West: yellow area
Coming through the gap at the west boundary, you’re in another grass area which is dominated by the mature Sycamore. This tree is shown on the first 6” O.S. map of 1861 and is thought to be at least 200 years old.
The ring of trees which surround the Sycamore are, anti-clockwise from the left, S. redheriana, (though this identification is not certain), S. eburnea, S. americana, another S. muliensis, S. minima, (one of the few Whitebeam Sorbus in the garden), S. x pekinensis, S. koehneana pogonpetala, S. bissetii , S. aucuparia pohuashenensis and the shrubby S. ovalis.
This side of the dividing border is planted with an unknown rowan, probably S. commixta which was sold to me as S. matsumarana, Osmanthus delavayi, Parrotia persica, Euonymus tingens, S. forrestii, Euonymus planipes, S. ‘Joseph Rock’ and Berberis x ottawensis.
The border in front of the house has a variety of Peonies, S. aff. munda ‘Borde Hill’ and S. munda, a flowering current, a tree peony and a rosa rubrafolia.
The pergola leading into the cottage garden is covered with several varieties of Clematis alpina including 'Blue Dancer', ‘Helsingborg’, ‘Frances Rivis’ and ‘Pamela Jackman’, C. japonica aureo-reticulata and a C. armandii. On the left side of the pergola is the climbing Hydrangea, petiolaris.
The shade border to the left of the pergola is mainly Hostas with Cimicifuga ‘Brunette’ and ‘James Compton’ with Aconites and Hellebores at the back and a group of ferns at the left.
There is a group of birch in this area which include some self-seeded ones together with B. utilis ‘Jacqumontii’, B. albosinensis septentrionalis, B. ermanii 'Grayswood Hill', B. fetisowii and B. utilis 'Inverleith'.
At the north side of this area is one of the hen runs with Kirsty and Chicky who are the parents of the Scots Dumpies in the larger run.
The Cottage garden area
This is the cottage garden.
It contains a selection of large, blousey plants which are left to sag into each other and over the path!
There are several varieries of Astrantia including ‘Hadspen Blood’, ‘Lars’ and ‘Roma’. There are a number of Nepetas, one of which, ‘Six Hills Giant’ is fenced off from the cats, a group of perenial wall flowers which are fenced off from the pea-fowl as they eat them as salad leaves if they get the chance.
At the west side is a group of Budlejas including davidii ‘Black Knight’, ‘Royal Red’, ‘Harlequin’ and ‘Summer Beauty’ and B. fallowiana 'Lochinch', A little way up from these is the original Hoheria lyalii.
At the south of the area, next to the wood store, is a bed of geraniums, Viburnum x carlcephalum, Salix fargesii and a white Azelea, (Rh. ‘Oxydol’).
The pyramids support Clematis 'Medley', the perennial Sweet Pea, (Lathrus latifolia) and annual Sweet Peas.
At the north of this area, by the gate, is an Acer japonica ‘Osakazuki’ and, to the right, a Lonicera fragrentisima.
Following the path by the fence you pass between Sorbus glabriuscula and another S. rosea. This path leads to a small area of Scotch, Burnett roses, (R. pimpinelifolia), which includes ‘Mrs Colville’, a pale pink marbled semi-double, a pink, a white and also the hybrid, ‘Stanwell Perpetual’.
Against the fence near the Burnett roses are another small group of roses which includes ‘Reinne de Violettes’, ‘Charles Rennie McIntosh’ and ’Ispahan’.
North: green area
Through the gate, on your left, is one of two Abies koreanna. This one is a fast growing form which, ‘though the younger of the two, is much bigger than the other form in the hen run ahead.
The fir is underplanted with Hostas which continue along the fence, together with clumps of Maianthemum racemosum, and more Burnett roses, including the species!
Following this border, there is a Sambuccus nigra ‘Black Beauty’ and, in front of a clump of low laurel, (Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'), is S. harrowiana.Within the laurel is the first of a string of Virburnums, V. bodnantense ‘Dawn’, then V. sargentianna with V. rhytidophyllum behind it. There is then a group of three Guelder Roses, V. opulus, opulus ‘Park Harvest’ and opulus (Notcutt’s form). This area is underplanted with Heucheras; mainly 'Rachel'.
There is then a good example of S. carmesina before a group of shrubs including several large-leaf box, a white, deciduous Azelea, Rhododendron 'Persil', and a group of yellow Azelea luteum follwed by an Acer griseum.
There are then more Viburnum starting with the small V. opulus compactum, behind which is V. carlesii. In front of the A. griseum is a white peony, (P. obavata).
You then come to the first of three Wellingtonia and this border then ends with a group of shrubs and a pergola through to the next section which has Boston Ivy, (Parthenocissus tricuspidata veitchii), at the left side and a hen run to the right where are kept our laying hens, (White leg bars), and a small flock of the endangered breed of Scotch Dumpies.
North: blue area
To the right of the pergola is a group of R. moyesii ‘Geranium’ and some Crocosmia including ‘Lucifer’, ‘Severn Sunrise’ and ‘Culzean Pink’.
Against the fence is a Magnolia 'Leonard Messel' which flowered for the first time in 2006, and another selection of Astrantia including ‘Shaggy’AGM.
Inside this section of the hen run are two cultivars of the Scots pine, (P. sylvestris watereri and ‘Bonna’), and a Douglas fir against the far fence, (Psuedotsuga menziesii).
Turning to your left along the border are more Viburnum, including another sargentiana, V. x burkwoodii, V. trilobum and a V. tinus to the right of carlesii. This section also has an Abies fraserii, another shrubby lonicera, L. chaetocarpa and another V. xburkwoodii.
The S. carmesina marks the start of a long shade border which continues with another of the purple-coned firs, Abies delavayii, and then a block of Mecanopsis which includes 'Jimmy Bayne', ‘Slieve Donard', 'Ascreavie', 'Willy Duncan' and horridula.
Beyond the poppies is the deepest part of this border at the back of which is another Wellingtonia but this one is the glaucus form which is also more fastiagate than the type.
The rowans in this area are, to the left of the stepping stones, an unknown and S. oligodonta(?) with another S. vilmorinii ‘Pink Pearl’ to the right and a pair of S. discolor.
There is then a group of ferns which include Athyrium ‘Ghost’, A. ‘Lady in Red’, A. otophurum okanum, A. niponicum pictum and Oncoclea sensibilis with several Shuttlecock ferns behind them.
This border and its continuation along the Western boundary have samples of all the Cardiocrinums. In front of the V. trilobum is a single C. cathayanum. To the right of the V. tinus is a trio of C. cordatum and a little farther along, just before the group of Mecanopsis, is a trio of the small, (for Cardiocrinums!), C. cordatum glehneii. The border to the West has groups of C. giganteum and C. giganteum yunnanense; seven of which will flower this year.
The ferns are followed by a block of Sorbaria, planted as a wind-break, and a group of three Rosa moyseii before the border turns to follow the western boundary.
At the back of the border are groups of variegated privet and box with purple elders, ‘Black Beauty’ and ‘Black Lace’ farther up.
This area also contains three Japenese acers, one unknown, an A. acontifolium and a Moon Maple, (A. shirasawanum aureum), and another group of deciduous Azeleas; Rh. luteum and the orange flowered 'Baltic Amber'.
There is then a group of three birches grown for their bark colour which are just begining to display the pink bark for which they are named, Betula sinensis septentrionalis 'China Ruby'.
By the birch is a purple cultivar of the Katsura tree, C. japonica 'Rotfuchs', which isn’t too happy and I’m not sure it’ll prove to be hardy with us.
Behing these there is a trio of unknown pines and a heavily chewed Arolla pine, (Pinus cembra), with a P. wallichiana a little higher up.
At the top of this area is a Euonymous hamiltonianus ‘Koi Boy’ which has white and pink fruit, Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' and another Phytocarpus ‘Diabolo’.
The rose against the Oak is R. fillipes ‘Kifsgate’ which we have been trying to get to climb trees without any success.
The next area is left undisturbed for wild life.
At the other side is a clump of bamboo grown from seed at the edge of the first Rhododendron bed.
This bed has, from left to right R. pruniflorum with R. 'Arctic Tern' in front of it, then R. yakushimanum x pachysanthum, R. pachysanthum itself, R. bureavii and finally R. roxieanum cucullatum. The latter four all have white or pink flowers and will be no more than about 3’ in final height and width.