10th September 2023

Welcome,

Vegetable Garden Potatoes have been dug and Pea crops harvested and the ground is being prepared for a layer of mulch which will be worked in by the frosts before being dug over and planted in the Spring. We are still picking Salad Crops, some Beans, Sweet Corn and butternut squash- growing under the Sweet Corn- but it is the Raspberries, Apples, Plums and Pears that we now harvest. We are cutting and drying herbs which I understand will be in short supply this winter because of the cost of commercially drying them.

The Tomatoes in pots have done well this summer but our main supply is grown in the Green House and are fruiting later this year.

In the Iris bed, Iris and Delphiniums have been cut down.

Cyclamen are brightening up the shady Dell and the chamomile “lawn” between the Jaquemontii birch is slowly taking shape.

Not yet ready for the autumn leaf colours but the Autumn Border with its Asters and Dahlias is colouring up. This is fenced in the hope of deterring rabbits but you will see from the grass areas near it that we have a serious challenge.

Enjoy the path through the Water Garden where the Toad Lilies are in flower and the Hydrangea are enjoying the cool shade.

At the front of the Hall Magnolia Grandiflora is in flower by the Porch and the white flower at the bottom of the West lawn is Romneya.

Roses are having their second flowering and Clematis that covered them are dying back but look for Kaiu which is the small white clematis on the West Lawn Pergola – still beautiful.

Don’t miss the lovely Lespendeza- next to the Bishop of Llanduff and the orange Cosmos- with its wafting branches of small pink flowers.

I have mentioned our rabbits but we also have Moles and Muntjac,  and need to keep the gates to the West lawn closed!

We have Heron and at least 2 Great Cormorants feeding off the Moat but the white Swans have made a welcome return to the Fishponds. About 6 o’clock most evenings groups of birds swoop down to feed off the ponds-mostly house martins and swallows.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker