24th May 2026

Welcome,

Very unexpected heat for May and some plants are loving it, others not so much.

In the Vegetable Garden, on a south facing slope, we need to water where new plants have recently been added. They will have been hardened off before planting out from the Greenhouse, but this heat could soon shrivel them.

The Globe Artichokes in the bed at the top of the Garden however, are flourishing and looking as if there will be a massive harvest all at the same time!!

The Iris in the Iris bed are largely over and the Nepeta at the front is hiding their demise but the Delphiniums in that bed are still to flower.

The Dell has its tree canopy now and offers a shady place to walk. In the centre, where a huge Chestnut blew over about 5 years ago the site is now open and gets some sun. Betula Jacquemontii have been planted there with a Chamomile Lawn and are fenced for rabbit and Deer protection.

The Daffodils in the Daffodil area are left to die back but the large Paulownia (Foxglove tree) beside the path is struggling. If you touch the branches, you will hear a loud rattling from its seed pods. Planted about 25 years ago It was magnificent last year and is still alive so fingers crossed it will recover.

The iris in the Bog Garden are flourishing. We have 3 varieties-Psedacorus Variegata, Gamecock and Lady Lava. We also have Iris Pseudacorus or Yellow Flag Iris. We struggle to remove it as it is invasive. Plants removed are planted alongside the Moat and help to prevent water erosion where the banks are not walled. They are currently in flower.

Other plants coming into flower are the Water Lilies. These all grew from some plants given me by a friend who was thinning out her very small garden pond about 15 years ago

There are 3 types of Hosta lining the path to the Water Garden but look back to see the Wisteria in flower on the bridge and the erigeron growing on the brick walls. If you look across the small stream you will see the Geranium growing on what we believe was an old water mill and growing with no soil at all.

Crossing the bridge the rose on your right is Pink Bells -sold as a ground cover rose. The scent comes from Rose de Rescht growing in the rose bed in front of you and the beautiful rose Albertine on the wall behind.  Enjoy whilst you can as this lovely rose, bred in France pre-1921, flowers for a short time and doesn’t repeat.

The West lawn, and the gravel bed beyond, are full of colour but do not miss a walk up the cool shade of the Nut Walk.

The spring bulbs in the Wild Garden have all died down and it is now a mass of Ox Eye Daisy. The largest old tree is a Mulberry.

After circling the Hall you might enjoy a walk back down the drive and along the Pleached Hornbeam, where you will find very good  views across the Moat to the Hall.

I hope you stop to listen to some of the birdsong in the garden. In the Coffee shop you will see the list of over 30 birds spotted in the garden and visitors are welcome to add to it.

The sheep have been moved to the overflow Car Park to mow the grass there and they will enjoy the shade from the large Chestnut trees.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker