21st April 2024

Welcome

The weather has been cold, wet, and extremely windy and the soil too cold to plant in. Asparagus had started poking through but last weeks cold weather has halted their growth, however the potatoes are making a valiant effort and are being constantly “earthed up’. Sweet peas have been hardened off and planted onto their frame, and we have hardened off some vegetable plants from the Greenhouse and now must get them into the ground. The fruit trees have blossomed and so far, no night frosts but we really do need some warmer weather.

The Greenhouse is full of seedlings and the Tomato plants are ready to plant in the greenhouse beds but first we must move outside the overwintering tender plants.

Iris are starting to flower, as usual the first to appear are the purple but the white are hot on their heels.

The Dell is a mass of Bluebells, and this is the best time to see the carpet they produce. n.b. Look out for the Blue tits nest in the Large Beech tree next to the Iris bed.

In the daffodil area the flowers have largely finished flowering and the area takes on a dishevelled appearance. We encourage the Cow Parsley to cover the dying daffodils- but look out for the Cowslips and other wildflowers that have chosen to grow here. The Paulownia tree beside the path is in bud and its lovely lilac foxglove-like flowers will soon open.

The arch leading to the Bog Garden has Akebia in flower on it and the Caltha Palustris or Marsh marigold is in full flower. It’s yellow is echoed by the variegated leaves of the Water Iris and soon these too will be in flower. The level of the Moat in this area is still very high for the time of year but the Iris are enjoying it.

With your back to the Choisya on the path in the Water Garden look for the Judas Tree or Cercis Siliquastrum, whose deep pink flowers appear along the branches before the leaves.

We are striving to remove Bluebells from the Water Garden where they seem to have taken root – digging out and replanting in the Dell where it is possible.

On the front of the Hall trained along the wires is the yellow rose Is Banksia Lutea. What a sight it is.

We have trouble in the bottom West Lawn flower bed with Ground Elder and decided to take drastic action and dig up all the Asters and geraniums, wash their roots and replant. We shall see later how successful this has been.

We have had our first ducklings swimming on the Moat and the gardens and Fish Ponds seem full of birds, as well as the Blue Tit we have seen Pied Wagtail, Robins, Cormorant and Heron. Rabbits continue to multiply and menace the plants- including the roses, and the sheep have been moved to a temporary home in the Car Park whilst the farmer sprays his nettles and thistles.

Stay healthy and good gardening.

Lynda Tucker