14th June 2026

Welcome,

A stunning year for roses but now its dead heading and more dead heading to get the repeat flower that will continue through the summer. As a back up we plants Clematis and you will notice some stunning examples as you walk around.

The Vegetable Garden is in full swing, and we are still busy planting. New potatoes are being harvested as well as Chard and Spinach, and we have had our first broad beans. The soft fruit is ripening- Tay berries came first but now Strawberries and Raspberries. The  Currants , Gooseberries and Cherries will soon be ready. Herbs need cutting down and most are dried for later consumption.

Not so the basil and Dill which are happily growing inside the Greenhouse along with our tomatoes- Marmande.

Quite large Carp can be seen swimming in the Moat. Presumably too large for the Heron to pick up. Standing on either of the bridges is the best place to spot them.

The Fishponds are mown by our sheep- Hebridean, which co -exist between the Fishponds and Water Meadow beyond.

The Ponds, together with the Moat, have existed since the 12^th Century and are Spring and Stream fed. Birds can be seen swooping down to scoop up the water in the early evening- and talking of birds over 40 varieties have been heard/seen in the gardens this year.

The Hosta and Hemerocallis are in flower and line the path along the stream.

Blue Angel is the name of the Clematis along the wall inside the Moat. The rose on the same wall is Penny Lane and lavender and Nerines fill the bed in front.

The white sheets on the small lawn are fleece. This grass suffered badly last Summer and we are late in sowing and have fleece down to warm the soil and help germination.

The flower beds in the West Lawn are a mass of colour. Paeonies now need cutting back but other plants are rising to take their place. The gravel at the bottom is full of Ox eye daisy, Geranium, Thrift, Alchemilla, Californian Poppies and Nigella.

Next to the very large Copper Beech on the drive is a Liriodendron Tree, also known as the Tulip Tree because of its tulip shaped flowers. It takes 25 years for the first flowers to appear. It has green and orange flowers which are inconspicuous from a distance but do look as it is in flower now.

Over 40 birds singing in the gardens, Shoals of fish in the Moat, Hebridean sheep contentedly baa ing- just stop, look around, smell the roses and enjoy.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker