13th July 2025

Welcome,

Unlike last year watering has been a problem with the heat. so we have watered just the Vegetable Garden and tried to keep it to a minimum. The row of Sweet Peas has suffered with very poor growth and short stems and the mint has powdery mildew. The Radish and Rocket, in front of the rose Pergola, have also suffered as has the lettuce. We have been harvesting Broad Beans, Peas, Beetroot, Courgettes,Carrots and Potatoes.

The Marmande tomatoes are ripening in the Greenhouse and along with it we plant Basil whose strong scent deters common pests such as aphids but attracts bees which help with the pollination.

The yellow rose growing up the Ginkgo tree is Mermaid.

The Buddleja is a mass of butterflies- Red admiral, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady and Tortoiseshell. There are also swarms of white Butterflies in the garden.

The Dell is enjoying the shade, and the Daffodil area has at last been cut. Dierma or “Angels Fishing Rods” are the pink flowering plants growing along the side the Moat and have all been grown from seed.

The Water Iris have finished flowering in the Bog Garden and that area is drying out as the level of the Moat falls in the heat.

Honeysuckle is in flower growing up the Holme Oak and the steps opposite will take you to a shaded seat surrounded by laurel where you can decipher the notice.

The pink flowers growing at the front of the Hall porch are Criniums

In the West lawn Crocosmia and Phlocks are making a bold statement. The geraniums have been cut down for a second flowering and the large white flower at the bottom of the lawn is a Romneya. The terracotta pots have Oleander in flower- they need taking inside for winter protection.

Roses have been dead headed with the hope of a second flowering and if you want to identify any of them there is a map on the wall of the Coffee Shop

On a hot day you can’t beat the shade of the Nut Walk- not cut but tied in by the gardener during the first two weeks in January. Squirrels have been enjoying cracking open the nuts growing here and you might find some on the floor.

The Wild Garden has a path through its waist high vegetation and the two trees growing there are an ancient Mulberry and a Quince.

There is a list of birds seen in the garden in the Coffee shop and do add any that you see that are not recorded. This week a Kestrel has been flying around and there are many Dragonflies- particularly in the Fishponds. A yellow frog has made its home in the Greenhouse and the shoal of Carp seems to have diminished to just one? The horrible barking of the Muntjac is heard early in the morning or in the evening marking its territory. We do our best to deter it from the gardens by closing gates but it is only a deterrent not a prevention.!!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker