Its January 2024

Happy New Year to you all.

The days are getting longer but the worst of the winter could still be to come?

In the Vegetable Garden we still have Leaks and Kale and the Sprouting Broccoli is standing well. All other vegetables have been removed and a layer of our own compost laid onto the soil.

The Raspberry bed, which had terrible bindweed, has had all Raspberry canes removed. Their roots have been thoroughly washed and planted in a new cage on the other side of the Vegetable Garden; the bindweed will be dug out when the currently waterlogged soil dries out. The soil is so wet we are avoiding treading on it. The plan is to plant potatoes in the hope that any remaining weed will come out as they are dug up. We do not have the space to leave the bed empty for a year- which is the perceived wisdom, and want to avoid weed killers- time will tell if this works!!

The Greenhouse has been lined with bubble wrap and the Orchids for the Hall are stored on the benches having spent the summer outside beside the Greenhouse. We keep Fuchsia and Geraniums in there and the Oleander and Olive Tees from the West Lawn are kept frost free in the Coffee Shop. Pots with Tulips have been stored beside the Greenhouse and covered with wire mesh and some Chilli powder to deter the Squirrels and mice. The large pots with the Bay Trees have been taken from the Herb garden and also stored out of the wind.

White winter Cyclamen are flowering in the Dell and the winds are bringing down leaves and branches. It’s a good time to clear leaves from the gravel paths and soon we will be busy replacing or repairing the gravel board lining the paths. Time to order more gravel as it seems to disappear but we use wood chip where we can as it is readily available.

We haven’t suffered too much from the strong winds- a dead tree along the fence and the odd branch down here or there. We try to clear them up quickly as soon the ground will be bursting with snow drops, aconites or daffodils and we wouldn’t want to tread on them!!

We have finished pruning the long pleached hornbeam hedge and almost finished the roses. The cuttings are too thick to compost and will be burnt and the ash added to the Compost heap or put around the raspberries and apple trees.

Lovely Clematis Freckles is in flower on the Hall and beneath it the purple Iris Stylosa (aka Unguicularis- ugh!!) and yellow Jasmine. There is the odd Primrose in flower but no sign of the Hellibore yet.

Muntjac are in evidence along with Kites and Buzzards. Moles are having a wonderful time and we see the odd Rabbit, Fox and quite a few Jay. The sheep and Geese in the Fishponds are thriving and the pair of Swans have returned.

Looking at the rain outside the window this is a wonderful time of year to hunker down with a seed catalogue and catch up on all those magazine articles you failed to read and comfort yourself with the knowledge that, apart from some pruning, you will do more harm outside than good. Happy New Year to you all and……

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker