21st September 2025

Welcome,

Autumn is here; temperatures and weather fluctuate, and plants adapt.

We are still picking some Beans and fruit but it is the cucurbits who are stretching out along the ground and producing Courgettes and Pumpkins.

We have harvested leeks, potatoes, and onions; sweet corn failed this year. Grapes thrived, and we picked hundreds of figs. Apples are now stored or pulped for frozen apple juice.

There is a definite crunch under foot from the fallen leaves and the trees are turning to their autumn colours.

White berries are on the Arbutus tree in the Daffodil area overhanging the path. Currently white, but they will soon ripen to red – hence their common name Strawberry Tree.

The Moat’s water level has dropped in the Bog Garden, but the plants remain healthy.

Termites have attacked the ladies legs (bifurcated tree trunk) on the edge of the Bog Garden. Admire whilst you can -it won’t survive much longer.

The Hemerocallis lining the stream in the Water Garden have been dead headed and tidied up. The leaves are still green and will be cut down later when the weather deteriorates further.

The Ajuga in the bed at the end of this path have been lifted, divided and then replanted in the space where we lost a shrub through Honey Fungus. There was an outbreak about 4 years ago which we thought we had controlled and then dug in corrugated iron sheets either side of the area. The ajuga is used as ground cover in this bed which is now predominantly a Spring bed with dwarf daffodils and tulips.

Deadheaded Roses are producing a second flush of blooms and the Japanese Anemones are in full flower.

The Nerines beside the front of the Hall are bright with colour. Two weeks ago, this bed was a disaster with the plants suffering from the drought and the foliage had turned brown. We removed those leaves, and I am surprised and delighted by their recovery.

Passionflower are covering the Clematis and Roses on the wall at the back of the West Lawn, and the Dahlias and Asters are coming into flower- earlier than those in the Autumn Border which get less sun.

Masses of squirrels in the gardens burying their nuts.

Take care walking on the grass.  Rabbits have been busy making scrapes which offer a degree of camouflage and a comfortable resting spot above ground.

 The widowed goose is still eating the Crab Apples in the Daffodil Shrubbery and there are some Tortoishell Butterflies and Humming Bird Moths feeding on the Verbena Bonariensis.

Red Kites fly overhead and owls hoot at night.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker