2nd May

The exceptionally cold, dry April with bad frosts has meant we are behind in the Vegetable Garden. Peas, sweet peas, broad beans and kale have gone out and we have made the first salad sowings. Asparagus is cropping but needs a little more sun and moisture to flourish. The fruit tree blossom appears not to have suffered and we will soon take that large cover off the peach against the North Wall.

The Greenhouse is bursting with plants ready to go into pots outside but we cannot put them out until all risk of frost has gone

The blue, white and pink bells are flowering in the Dell and we have encouraged the Cow parsley to cover dying spring bulbs. Chamomile has been sown in the centre.

With 48 varieties of Daffodil there are some still in flower and do be tempted to dead head as you walk through.

The Bog Garden is awash with Caltha Palustris and its bright yellow flowers almost hide the nesting white swan. The eggs are almost ready to hatch so please try not to disturb them.

On the arch leading into the bog there is the lovely Akebia Quinata or chocolate vine with its pretty delicate flowers-worth looking for

Infront of the Hall the white shrub is Spiraea Bridal Wreath and is all that remains of what must once have been a wide flower bed.

In the Courtyard at the back of the Hall is tulip Ballade with pink lily of the valley and the rose Zepherine Drouhin.

Lots of apple blossom in the orchard beside the Coffee Shop. The tulip is White Triumphator but the white Camassia don’t seem to have done so well. The leaves of the plants have been uniformly cut- my husband insists it was the Muntjjac and not his lawnmower!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker