Brilliant Brecon

Recently we made a visit to Brecon. This is not far from us, in case anyone was getting over excited about the possibility that I might have been travelling again. It’s in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons, recently re-christened Bannau Brycheiniog.

We went to see an exhibition of paintings by David Jones, at the library, museum and art gallery (Y Gaer), which looks like this from the front.

Wonderfully dignified and Victorian.

But this from the back:

New!

It is all very well revived and updated, but so far, you are thinking, so municipal. What’s interesting about that?

Well, we parked the car and had a wander. (I’m teasing you now…)

Charles, and the gesturing woman is, I believe, a statue of Boudica and daughters. All clothed you’ll be happy to note.

Well, what I did not expect in this municipal place was this:

I think perhaps Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ with two persicarias. Mixing the persicarias is brilliant.

and

What a treat! And this is municipal planting. Someone has done us proud.

More mixed persicarias.

Charles found a bench which he immediately wanted one of.

though there were several and this wasn’t bad either

Not sure why it’s quite so big. A platform for making speeches from?

The library looked dramatic from here:

And the planting went round the building

Charles got to work:

I wonder if you’re surprised because this is ordinary stuff where you come from? Our municipal efforts usually look like this:

I don’t know what Brecon’s planting looked like earlier in the summer, and these are perennials, so there could be no quick shuffle of plants as the season changes. (I hope) Maybe early summer was a bit dull?

And there were deader bits, just to hearten us gardeners,

But not bad! It was a 90% delight. And it is so good to see a townscape complement its context:

Congratulations Brecon.

Brilliant Brecon originally appeared on GardenRant on August 24, 2023.

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