21st June 2025

Welcome

The hot weather continues, and we limit the amount of water we use and we are now pumping water out of the moat for the Vegetable Garden. We have perforated hoses round the climbing vegetables so that when we use tap water it goes directly onto the roots.  We do not water everything and have lost quite a few of our lettuce plants but this is an unusually hot spell of weather.

We are picking the soft fruit- white, black and red Currants, Strawberries and a few Raspberries. A flock of small birds have been feeding on the pea- Kelvedon Wonder, and even though we have netted the peas they are still managing to get inside. We are digging Carrots and new Potatoes, pulling Beetroot and cutting Globe Artichokes.

The rose on the Pergola is American Pillar rose, and the opposite bank of the moat is covered with Daisy and Phlomis.

The Senecio on the bank outside the Greenhouse is in flower and enjoys this sunny south facing situation. In the Greenhouse the Tomatoes have been planted and they will be joined by Basil as an insect repellent. It’s the time to take cuttings and they are in the Greenhouse, but the Orchids have now been placed in the shade between the Greenhouse and the Potting shed where they will spend their summer.

Delphiniums are flowering in the Iris bed, and the blue chicory (Cichorrum pumilum) has supports to prevent it falling onto the Iris bed.

Not long to go before the Daffodil area is mown. The many varieties start flowering from February and the last finished in May, but the hot weather should hasten their demise.

The Bog Garden lost its large willow tree last year and the shade it provided but the plants are adapting well to their new conditions.

The white flowers of Zantedescia brighten the cool shade in the Water Garden and the Honeysuckle growing on the large Holme Oaks is in flower and creating a lovely  perfume.

Hemerocallis and Hosta lining the path are all in flower.

Roses throughout the garden are continuing to delight and with over 104 dead heading is time consuming. Some, such as the Albertine on the front of the Hall will only flower once and have finished for the year but most of the roses on the Pergolas will flower again- if we dead head them.

Whilst enjoying the colourful gravel plants at the bottom of the West lawn look across at the 30ft high flowering white rose- Wedding Day, growing through the tree.

Enjoy the cool shade of the Nut walk- it takes 2-3 weeks in January for the branches to be tied or woven back into the framework. Best done at that time of year after the leaves have dropped and the stems visible.

Last chance to walk through the Ox eye daisy in the Wild Garden before it has its annual cut.

The Fishponds are very exciting now as a wild Orchid (albeit a common spotted orchid!) has been found and a visitor photographed a Four Spotter Chaser, a dragonfly that feeds on mosquitoes, gnats and midges- so a thumbs up to them.

Muntjac have been seen in the garden, moles not so evident, but quite a few squirrels and rabbits. The birdsong is amazing starting with the blackbird at 3.30 am and finishing with the cooing of the Pigeon at 9.30pm. Lots of busy House Martins under the eaves of the Hall and a Kestrel visited the Greenhouse. In the Coffee shop there is a list of the birds spotted in the gardens so please add to the list should you spot any additional ones

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker