Jelly Bean Garden

The Jelly Bean Border is a very early garden which I dug in the Pond Paddock to provide shelter from the blustery nor-west winds. It's one of the few areas in my garden that hasn't really been able to expand wildly. And yes - it did start life shaped like a jelly bean sweet, and still looks like one, if you peep from the house balcony above.

Roses sprawl along the fence-line, and from time to time the shrubs in the interior of the garden get a huge trim. The original elm trees are huge now, as is the original Cabbage tree. Dear thing - it was a knee-high juvenile seedling when planted.

Altogether the Jelly Bean Border is best described as a no-nonsense, no-frills garden, with no paths, very few flowery things, and definitely no garden gnomes. Phew!

Introducing the Jelly Bean BorderIntroducing the Jelly Bean Border...
Early in its life the Jelly Bean Border was definitely shaped like a Jelly Bean. This was one of my earliest borders, and has had many modifications since those heady early days - a bit of digging here, a small curve modification there.
Cat StoryCat Story...
There's a special tree in the Jelly Bean Border where I first caught sight of Minimus, my grey cottage cat. There she was, on one of the long branches of the Elm, tiny, starving, and wild. My dog Rusty had found her and chased her up it. It was summer, Friday 23rd January, 2009.
Jelly Bean Rhododendron GardenJelly Bean Rhododendron Garden...
Over several winters, some short and sharp snow storms broke many branches of the large Pittosporum in the Jelly Bean Border. Eventually I decided to saw it down completely. This opened up a large area of garden on the semi-shady side of the border. In went four rescued rhododendrons...
Flowery TreasuresFlowery Treasures...
The middle of the Jelly Bean Border is full of trees and evergreen shrubs. But around the house-lawn edges I've planted some colourful little flowery treasures. Nice - I can see them all from the house.
Corner CordylineCorner Cordyline...
The Cabbage Tree (Cordyline) in the Jelly Bean Border was one of my first shrubby plantings. Now it towers above the hostas and ligularias in the shady Jelly Bean Border corner. It's an iconic New Zealand tree.
Dandelion WeedDandelion Weed...
Dandelions in the lawn - aargh! I wonder how this weed survived Non-Gardening Partner's lawnmower? Dandelions are very common paddock weeds in Canterbury, so one could argue that this picture represents the natural vegetation of the place. Aargh again!
Summer ShrubsSummer Shrubs...
Mid-summer means hot gardening days, lazy summer holiday days, and yellow summer flowering shrubs, like Hypericum and Senecio. Both shrubs lean over the fence of the Jelly Bean Border.
Graham Thomas Yellow RosesGraham Thomas Yellow Roses...
I knew I'd like the rose Graham Thomas - the soft, eggy yellow colour definitely appealed. He was one of the very first English roses I bought for my country garden, and I planted him on the fence at the back of the Jelly Bean Border.
Ram PaddockRam Paddock...
The ram paddock backs onto the Jelly Bean Border, and naturally there's wire sheep netting to keep the ovines in their place! It's a tiny paddock, in which the ram can be separated from the rest of our small merino flock. It also makes a great paddock for any pet lambs.
Ligularia FloweringLigularia Flowering...
In the shady hosta garden under the Cabbage Tree I grow some Ligularias. These are the common type, whose bright orange flowers are as welcome as the round-leafed foliage.
Spring Flowering ShrubsSpring Flowering Shrubs...
The Jelly-Bean Border doesn't have any feature spring blossom trees, but there are many spring flowering shrubs to enjoy. The Choisya shrub blooms in mid-spring, and a neighbouring Clematis Montana is slowly but surely creeping along the fence-line...
Pretty PrimrosesPretty Primroses...
Primroses are so delicate in spring gardens - especially ones with yellow flowers. I have a small patch of these growing in the Jelly Bean Border, and I can see them from the house. That's so nice!
Rose Canary BirdRose Canary Bird...
The rose Canary Bird lives just over the fence in the Jelly Bean Garden. It is the first rose to flower in spring, and spreads out its arching branches covered in single smallish yellow blooms.
Deciduous AzaleaDeciduous Azalea...
There were two deciduous Azaleas in the Moosey Garden when I arrived. I shifted this pinky-red one around a bit - it ended up in the top of the Jelly Bean Border, and is finally growing well. Some plants just need their gardener to leave them alone...
The Big Gum TreeThe Big Gum Tree...
The large Eucalyptus Tree, affectionately called the BIG GUM, imposes its bulk and stature over the house lawn and the shrubs in the top of the Jelly Bean Garden. It is surrounded by a ring of plants in pots - particularly daffodils in Spring.
Early Hosta GardenEarly Hosta Garden...
My first hosta garden was in the shady Jelly Bean Border, between the Lemonwood and the forked Cabbage Tree. Things started slowly with a few tiny mail order hosta purchases, plus some dwarf white agapanthus (which have naturally never flowered).
Lemonwood - Pittosporum EuginoidesLemonwood - Pittosporum Euginoides...
As you go through the archway to the Jelly Bean Border you'll first pass a Lemonwood tree, or Pittosporum Euginoides. This tree has wavy green leaves which shine in the sun and smell like lemons. It's one of my most favourite New Zealand native evergreens.
Cerise DahliaCerise Dahlia...
My dahlias have rather randomly appeared in different parts of the garden. This cerise beauty lives underneath the Graham Thomas roses in the Jelly Bean Garden. I can see its flowers from the house decking.
Variegated Apple MintVariegated Apple Mint...
In the house border of the Jelly Bean Border I grow some variegated Apple Mint, underneath a neighbouring red Berberis shrub. This mint is not too invasive, and although it spreads out via runners it is easily cut back.
Flax & Berberis - a Cautionary TaleFlax & Berberis - a Cautionary Tale...
Once upon a time, when the Jelly Bean Border was young, a little red flax sat proudly at the corner of the fence underneath the Liquidamber tree. Its best friend was a self-seeded Berberis shrub.
Early Cats in the GardenEarly Cats in the Garden...
I have many favourite pictures of the earliest Moosey cats in the garden. They've always tended to sit in interesting places - some silly, some sensible. Just as long as they can see what's up and going on...
A Red Flax CatA Red Flax Cat...
Here is a charming study of the tabby cat Sifter sitting underneath the corner red flax. He lazily surveys the lawn, hoping for a bird visit. Sifter could be described as an 'heirloom' Moosey cat. Sadly he is no longer with us.
Feverfew DaisiesFeverfew Daisies...
The top corner of the Jelly Bean Border used to be filled by a dark bronze New Zealand Phormium, or flax. Feverfew daisies with golden foliage have self-seeded in front, and they're still alive and well.
Jelly Bean Garden RosesJelly Bean Garden Roses...
In the early days, roses along the house side of the Jelly Bean Border would cover the fence-line with colour in summer. Phyllis Bide would start off with her fluffy pink and apricot flowers, followed by red Dublin Bay, yellow Graham Thomas, and the trusty white Iceberg.
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