23rd June 2023

Welcome,
And along with you we welcome the sunshine-something that has been missing
The Vegetable Garden is coming into action. We have been digging first early potatoes (Duke of York) and had our first Charlotte.
We have been eating Rocket and Lettuce, Carrots, Beetroot, Spinach and Chard. The Herb Garden needs a serious haircut and the roses along the Pergola are American Pillar Rose.
The Greenhouse is filling with Tomatoes, Basil and Peppers and cuttings and seed sown inside are now outside “hardening off”
The Iris have finished for the year and are being cut down and the Delphiniums are taking centre stage.
In the Dell it is still “work in progress” and we are determined to get a chamomile lawn established where the big Chestnut blew down.
The Daffodil area should be cut this week- if the sun continues to shine, but sadly the large Weeping Willow on the edge of the Bog Garden has fallen over. The tree had started to lean and last year we had removed a large branch to lessen the weight but perhaps the excessive amount of water this year contributed to its downfall? We are planning to remove the Willow branch by branch to limit the damage to the other Bog Garden plants.
Hosta and Hemerocallis are narrowing the path along the stream and the Water Garden has become an oasis of shade .
The wonderful smell as you enter the West lawn is from the evergreen Honeysuckle on the house wall and the white rose clambering though a tree on the other side of the Moat is Wedding Day. The Pergola is covered with roses, most have an accompanying Clematis, and the gravel beside the Moat is a riot of colour.
Yet another lamb born this week and the shepherd is due to come on Monday to shear them all. They are doing a good job of mowing the Car parks but once they are shorn, they will return to the Fishponds and Water Meadow.
The Heron has returned. The list of birds seen by garden visitors is posted in the Coffee Shop- do add any new ones. Rabbits are nibbling plants – even in the Cold frame!! The Song Thrush is continuing to sing its heart out ……

Stay healthy and good gardening
Lynda Tucker