7th August 2022

Welcome

Like everyone we are suffering from lack of rain. Vegetables and pots continue to be watered but apart from that it is new plants that we focus on to keep alive.

With the temperatures this week forecast to get even higher, plants, such as the Oleander in pots on the West Lawn are loving it, but others such as Viburnums are turning up their toes. Dead heading will help and this is a never-ending job at the moment, but some flowers seem over almost before they have flowered.

We are picking French and Runner Beans, Chard, Carrots, Sweet Corn, salad crops, Tomatoes and Courgettes.

There seems to be more wasps than usual and it is a race to get to the apples and figs before them. Be careful near the Bullace plum by the Greenhouse and the wonderful yellow Mirabelle on the ground in the water garden – we have made pounds of jam from this delicious fruit this year.

We have dead headed the Hosta and Hemerocallis along the water garden path but it is the Clematis in the Garden at the moment that are starring. I would draw your attention to Comtesse de Bouchard on the first Pergola Post in front of the Hall and Princess Diana on Post 5. I love Beauty of Worcester on Post 7 and the wonderful white Kaiu on the first Post in the West Lawn.

To get out of the heat try the Nut Walk on the West Lawn. Planted to provide shade for the Ladies of the Hall to exercise out of the sun and keep their treasured pale skins.

We are seeing many Moths and Dragon Flies that we haven’t seen before. We have seen an Emperor moth and a visitor pointed out the lovely Hummingbird Moth.

The Heron visits daily and there is even too much fish for it to consume and 2 dead fish were left on the steps of the West Lawn. We are hoping they were left by the Heron and not an Otter as the 7 cygnets must be near maturity and ready to ready to fly.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker