4th May 2025

Welcome

We are taking the opportunity given by dry weather to cut the Box in the Vegetable Garden. This is time consuming as we need to collect the clippings and disinfect the shears between cuts. We then feed the Box.

Vegetable plants, grown in the Greenhouse, all need planting out before they get too leggy and supports need to be put in.

The Iris bed is predominantly white. They are sweetly scented and are always our first to flower. The Delphiniums amongst them will take over after the Iris have finished flowering. Opposite is a flowering tree -Cheals Weeping Cherry.

Blue, white and pink bells are filling the Dell where they enjoy the shade of the huge trees. A large Chestnut blew down in the middle of this area creating a less shady area. We have planted Betula Jaquemontii and are attempting to grow a Camomile lawn beneath.

The beautiful purple flowering tree in the daffodil area is a Paulownia or Foxglove tree. Quite rare to see in gardens and this was planted 20 years ago.

The yellow rose- Canary Bird is in full flower in the daffodil Shrubbery but is best viewed from the West Lawn- across the Moat.

Hosta and Hemerocallis line either side of the path along the stream. Last year we attempted to get the Hosta back into matching sections and this appears to have been successful.

The Tulip along the wall beside the hall is Queen of the night and the delicate yellow rose on the house is Banksiae Lutea. The Wisteria is in full bloom and the artist palette-like flowers of the climbing shrub against the wall is Actinidia Kolomikta.

We still have a Greylag Goose sitting on a nest on top of an urn but the other 3 pots have been replaced by our summer Geraniums and Fuchsia.

We have managed to seal the leak by the sluice gate in the Fishponds and the water is returning. The Fishponds are a scheduled Ancient Monument, and they are mown by the black Hebridean sheep. We have Eels and Tadpoles in the ponds and a Chinese and Domestic Goose.

We used to have annual visits by Swans but the Greylag geese have taken up residence and chase them off. We saw our first Swallow last week and have Goldfinch, Wagtails, Fly catchers and the occasional visit from the Heron.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker