20th July 2025

Welcome,

The rain has watered the plants………. and encouraged the weeds.

We are digging potatoes and carrots, pulling beetroot, cutting lettuce and courgettes and picking Broad and French beans. The Peas are over for another year but the Sweet Peas still need cutting to encourage more flowers.

As well as harvesting in the Vegetable Garden we are also removing vegetation which is relying on the same water source. Wherever possible we try to “companion plant”. This uses less garden space and can utilise the same water source- e.g. parsley and lettuce have been planted between the rows of French beans. They are now being removed to allow the French beans more water. Beetroot has been planted between the rows of onions.  Beetroot grows faster and can be pulled out before the onions reach maturity and require more space. Similarly, Squash is planted under the Sweet Corn- which would be harvested before the Squash. Unfortunately, this year we made the mistake of planting the Squash too soon before the Sweet Corn and rather than being a good companion they have overwhelmed them.

The espalier apples in the Herb Garden need selective removal leaving only one or two in a cluster to reach maturity. The lavender beneath has been cut back and dried.

In the Greenhouse the tender overwintered plants have all been placed outside and those grown from seed planted. They have been replaced by Tomatoes and Chili plants and soon will be joined by the large number of cuttings taken every year to replenish our stocks. An example is the Senecio bank, which has been thoroughly weeded and gaps filled by plants grown from cuttings taken last year.

All the buddleia on the bank of the Moat have been grown from cuttings -it is a very easy plant to propagate.

In the Dell the Cammomile lawn is at last beginning to impose itself on the space between the Himalayan Birch-Jacquemontii – planted to replace the huge fallen Chestnut. A special variety of Rhododendron has been planted (which does not require an acid soil) and they should clump up to provide an evergreen back drop. This area is a work in progress, but it has a unique atmosphere which is worth capturing.

Beyond the daffodil area the Bog Garden is enjoying the rain.  It’s a bumper cropping year for the two large wild plum trees in the Water Garden. There is a very small window of opportunity between them ripening and falling to the ground to be covered by wasps. The tree with yellow plums is a Mirabelle (Prunus domestica subsp. Syriaca) and makes a wonderful jam.

Lining the path the flowering stems have been removed from the Hosta but the Hemerocallis continue to produce their flowers which last just one day- hence their name Day Lillies.

We are getting a second flush from the roses around the hall and the large Pink Criniums are in flower by the Porch. The evergreen shrub at the side of the Porch is a Magnolia Grandiflora and despite being heavily pruned at the start of the year it is producing flowers.

There is still a lot of colour in the West Lawn. Geraniums and Alchemilla have been cut down for a second flowering and shrubs, that have flowered, are dead headed and tidied. The gravel garden at the bottom has been cut down or some plants allowed to go to seed.

There are a lot of rabbits digging in the gardens and the Heron seems to have abandoned the Moat in favour of wandering across the West Lawn. There are still fish in the Moat but millions of small frogs and toads around the garden.  Swarms of wasps to be aware of and look for the butterflies in the Buddleia.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker