8th September 2024

Welcome.

A very busy time of year in the garden where we are busy enjoying the fruits of this year and planning for the next. There is a lot of cutting back, lifting and dividing and planting whilst the soil is still warm.

The first fruit cage in the Vegetable Garden had the raspberries removed as bind weed was a big problem. After digging out as much as we could, we planted potatoes in the hope that when they were dug up any surviving weed would be removed. This seems to have worked, and we have planted Courgettes, low growing French beans and Sprouting Broccoli as they will benefit from the protection of the cage.

The Butternut Squash is rampant and overtaken the Sweet Corn and Leeks in that bed, and herbs are being harvested and stored. We are picking tomatoes both outside and inside the greenhouse.

The Sweet Peas are being left for seed and we are waiting for the American Pillar Rose on the posts to finish flowering and then will prune it back.

The Senecio and Phlomis on the banks have been dead headed and the Iris bed cut down, crocus planted and the bed fed.

In the cool shade of the Water Garden Hydrangea and white and pink Schizostylis are in flower. The Toad Lilly ,with its erect stems and spotted flowers, line the small channel. The Hellibores have been lifted and divided and compost incorporated into the soil.

The white lavender edge to the bed over the bridge has been replaced by cuttings and the Nerines in that bed will benefit from getting more sun. The rose on that wall is Penny Lane.

Oleander are flowering in Pots at the bottom of the West Lawn, and they will be taken inside for the winter.  Infront of the pink Sedum is the ground covering  Ceratostigma Willmottianum with pretty blue flowers and the leaves will turn to aubergine as the autumn progresses.

Rabbits and squirrels are digging and the Cormorant frequently swims in the Moat looking for fish. We have seen Little Grebes and the House Martins are still resident. Owls are quite vocal at night.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker