11th September 2022

Welcome,

With the heavy dews there were lots of beautiful cobwebs on the plants this morning and there is the definite smell of autumn in the air.

In the vegetable garden we are still being well fed by beans, courgettes, chard, carrots, beetroot and squash. The strawberries were cut down after fruiting and a second crop has appeared-the first time this has happened here. The ferns are from the Asparagus which are being allowed to die back and the Autumn Bliss Raspberries are being enjoyed- not as big a crop as usual but perhaps the heat was not to their liking.

It broke my heart to throw away lots of the apples on the espaliers which had grown in bunches, but the reward is the size of the fruit.

Along the path by the Greenhouse is Cystis Monsplensis an evergreen Cystis from which we take cuttings every year to replace plants that have outgrown the site. The intention is to have an evergreen groundcover edge to that path.

Also in progress is work on the Iris bed. Every 3 or 4 years the rhizomes are dug up and older parts discarded before re planting. When they get overcrowded the plants lose their vigour and flowering suffers. I would love to have the plants in colour bands but even marking them when flowering the markers somehow get lost and one iris looks very much like another iris when not in flower.

The Dell has lots of bright cyclamen in flower at the moment.

In the Daffodil area the very large seed heads on the tree are from the very beautiful Spring flowering Paulownia or Foxglove tree. The crab apple trees are Malus Red Sentinel and Rudolph- does look a little like his nose?

Leaves are taking on their autumn colours and the garden is transitioning from flowers to foliage being the show stopper.

In the Autumn Border you will find Asters, Dahlia and Japanese Anemones and Schitzostylis and Toad Lillies are lining the small culvert in the water garden.

Lots of colour in the West Lawn borders but do not miss the Lespendeza whose long strappy branches carry magenta flowers along their length- just near the large Bay tree. One of my favourite plants.

The sheep have mown the Car Park and been moved back to the Water Meadow. At least one Heron visits daily and we still have the 3ft eel and Swans with 7 cygnets.

At this sad time do take time as you walk around the garden to reflect on what has passed and take strength from the renewal of the natural world.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker