16th September 2024

Welcome,

We are about to dig up the Oions to store and the Beetroot to use in the kitchen. Kale, Cabbage, Carrots and Chard are all in abundance and the Butternut squash is rampaging through the Sweet Corn and Leeks. Herbs are being harvested and we have just planted French Beans and winter Cabbage. The Broccoli is enjoying protection from birds in the Fruit Cage. Tomatoes are continuing to fruit both in pots outside and free standing in the Greenhouse.

We are starting to plant Daffodils and Crocus bulbs and attempting to find homes and plant the cuttings grown in the Greenhouse.

The rose growing up the Ginkgo is Mermaid. This is its second flowering and apart from guiding its initial upward journey we pay it little or no attention.

Autumn Cyclamen are to be seen in the Dell growing around the bases of the trees.

Autumn is the best time for renewal and removal whilst the ground is still warm enough to enable plants to survive.

We have taken out the Viburnum Tinus hedge outside the kitchen window. This had dead parts within it, was old and woody and incapable of being cut to any acceptable size.  The Viburnum has of course denuded the soil of any nutrients. We have replanted with an interesting plant, new to me, of Indigofera howellii which promises to flower all summer and into the first frosts- we shall see. Meanwhile ground cover plants and bulbs are being put in around it.

Another big job has been on the West lawn where the beautiful rose- Pauls Himalayan Musk had completely overwhelmed the Bay tree it was climbing through. Apart from the Bay outgrowing its intended size the rose has kept flowering on top of dead branches leaving 1 foot of dead rose hidden beneath the roses which were flowering beautifully. This drastic pruning will mean our display next year will suffer but it is a job we had put off for too long.

Still lots of colour in the garden with a lovely display from the Schizostylis ( Hesperantha) in the Water Garden and the pink Nerines up against the wall by the bridge. The Autumn Crocus on the East Lawn are also making a lovely splash of colour.

The Cormorant is now regularly swimming round the Moat and Heron are frequent visitors. Dragon flies are still active, possibly the House Martins have left but still a lot of noisy Blackbirds

 The Hebridean sheep have been moved to mow the Car Parks and having done that they will be returned to their home in the Water Meadow.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker